As the buzz around the Google Pixel 9 family intensifies, many tech enthusiasts are curious about the upcoming Tensor G4 chipset that will power these devices. Recent leaks provide a closer look at the Pixel 9 specs, but the news about Google’s Tensor chips might not be as exciting as expected.
Minimal Upgrades in the Google Tensor G4
According to a new report citing an “inside source at Google,” the Tensor G4 is set to be the smallest upgrade in the Tensor line’s history. The CPU configuration for the G4 includes eight cores: one Cortex-X4, three Cortex-A720, and four Cortex-A520. This marks a reduction of one core compared to its predecessor, the G3, which featured one Cortex-X3, four Cortex-A715, and four Cortex-A510 cores.
While the new Cortex-X4 core is expected to boost single-core performance by approximately 11%, multi-core performance is projected to see only a modest 3% increase. This limited improvement is largely attributed to the removal of one core from the configuration.
Balancing Power and Efficiency
The decision to reduce core count in the Tensor G4 seems to have been made to manage thermals and power consumption more effectively. A significant contributor to power draw in the G3 was the Exynos 5300 modem. The Tensor G4 will instead feature the more efficient Exynos 5400 modem, which is up to 50% more energy-efficient than its predecessor and includes support for satellite connectivity.
Interestingly, despite these advancements, Google is rumored to be planning a release of a device using the Tensor G4 paired with the older Exynos 5300 modem. This device is speculated to be the Pixel 9a. The Tensor G4 retains the Mali-G715 GPU from the G3, albeit with a higher clock speed of 940 MHz compared to the previous 890 MHz.
The Strategy Behind the Minimal Changes
Aside from these tweaks, the Tensor G4 maintains many similarities to the G3, including Google’s custom IP blocks for AI, camera functionalities, video encoding and decoding, and the Titan M2 security chip. The modest upgrades in the Tensor G4 are reportedly because Google aimed to develop a completely new chip for the Pixel 9 series. However, the new chip was not ready in time, prompting Google to opt for this interim solution to avoid delaying the launch.
Despite the modest hardware enhancements, Google’s strategy to keep thermals and power consumption in check while waiting for a more significant upgrade could indicate a shift towards focusing on software optimizations and user experience improvements.
The Pixel 9’s specs, particularly the Google Tensor chips, may not offer groundbreaking advancements this year, but they promise incremental improvements and better efficiency, setting the stage for more significant changes in future iterations. Stay tuned for more updates on how these developments unfold as we approach the official release of the Pixel 9 family.
Google Pixel 9 and the Tensor G4: A Modest Update with Surprising Efficiency Gains