Google initially wanted to equip the Pixel 9 family with a fully custom chip but since that chip isn’t ready yet, the company will reportedly opt for a semi-custom SoC called Tensor G4 co-designed with Samsung. And while the Tensor G4 will reportedly switch to a different configuration and employ new cores, the fact that it’s codenamed Zuma Pro makes you wonder if it’s merely a slightly updated version of the Tensor G3, which is known as Zuma.
According to a new report from Android Authority, the two chips have a lot in common and the Tensor G4 will barely be any faster than the Tensor G3, which fuels the Pixel 8.
The Tensor G4 will feature one Cortex-X4 core running at 3.1 GHz, three Cortex-A720 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz, and Cortex-A520 cores with a peak frequency of 1.95 GHz. In contrast, the Tensor G3 is based on an older Arm design, uses four medium cores, and features slightly slower clock speeds.
It looks like any performance boost offered by the new and faster cores will be offset by the removal of one core, resulting in multi-core performance that will only be an improvement of 3 percent over the Tensor G3. The single-core performance will get an 11 percent boost, per a leaked Geekbench listing.
Apparently, Google has updated the core layout to prevent overheating, which is a common problem with the Pixel 8. Another thing Google is reportedly doing to make the devices run cooler is equipping them with the Exynos Modem 5400, which is around 50 percent more power-efficient than the Exynos Modem 5300.
The chipset will feature the same Mali-G715 GPU as the Tensor G3 but it will be clocked a little higher.
As for what’s not changing, the Tensor G4 will allegedly have the same custom IP blocks as the Tensor G3. These custom blocks perform specific functions and allow Google to bring advanced features to its phones.
The Tensor G4 will also use the same packaging technology as its predecessor instead of the thermally efficient FOWLP tech.
While we doubt that the Tensor G4 will prevent the Pixel 9 from making it to the best phones of 2024 list, what’s surprising is that Google will allegedly market it as a “game-changing” chip, which sounds like a bold claim for a chip that will essentially be a spruced up version of its predecessor.