Google Tensor Chip: Google recently announced the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro with a new SoC developed by the company itself. Most people might think this means the end of Google using Qualcomm chips for future Pixel Phones. Well not really – at least not yet.
For one things, this is going to be the first time a pixel phone will be using this Google made Tensor chip. And we honestly don’t think that Google has made enough tensor chip to power other Pixel phones – aside the Pixel 6 lineup.
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Also, a spokesperson for Qualcomm has come out to clear the air. He said:
Qualcomm will continue to work closely with Google on existing and future products based on Snapdragon platforms.
Lastly, the Qualcomm has a bigger chip distribution network compared to Google. For now, Pixel phones are not available in some regions and this means Pixel phones are not available globally. So, the Tensor chip is not much of a threat to Qualcomm chip just yet – limited Tensor chip will be produced.
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Some Pixel phones may not come with Tensor
Going by the statement from Qualcomm’s spokesperson above, Qualcomm is ready to work with Google “now and in the future on products based on Snapdragon platforms”.
This means Google might decide to also power some of its Pixel Phones with Qualcomm chips. According to recent leaks, the Tensor chip is built on 5nm process technology. And this makes it a flagship SoC.
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But Google also makes mid-range pixel phones and won’t likely power those with a flagship chipset. Maybe in the future, the mid-range Tensor chip will be available but for now, the company will still have to use Qualcomm chip to power its mid-range devices.
Over the years, Google has invested allot in AI and to bring these features to its mobile users, the company decided to develop its own mobile platform (SoC).
A blog post quoting Google CEO Sundar Pichai in parts reads:
AI is the future of our innovation work, but the problem is we’ve run into computing limitations that prevented us from fully pursuing our mission. So we set about building a technology platform built for mobile that enabled us to bring our most innovative AI and machine learning (ML) to our Pixel users. We set out to make our own System on a Chip (SoC) to power Pixel 6. And now, years later, it’s almost here.
It might have taken at least 4 years for Google to come up with the Tensor chip. And it appears that its friends over at Qualcomm must have been aware of this chip.
So, the Tensor chip is a big move but it doesn’t necessarily mean that Google is dumping Qualcomm – at least not for now. Future Google Pixel phones will still be using Qualcomm chips.
