For long-time observers of Google’s Pixel smartphone series, a significant development in the future of its custom Tensor chips has emerged. A recent report suggests that Google may not only engage TSMC for the production of its Tensor G5 chip, expected with the Pixel 10, but that this manufacturing partnership could extend for up to five years, potentially encompassing devices through the Pixel 14. This reported shift represents a critical juncture for Google’s in-house silicon strategy.
Since their introduction in 2021, Google’s Tensor chips have faced consistent scrutiny regarding their raw horsepower, battery efficiency, and thermal management. Much of this criticism has been directed at Samsung, the manufacturer of all Tensor chips to date. If this reported transition to TSMC materializes, it could mark a pivotal phase for the Google Pixel lineup, potentially addressing some of these long-standing concerns.
This move by Google carries substantial implications. If the switch to TSMC proves successful, it could usher in a new era for both Tensor chips and Pixel phones, significantly altering their competitive standing in the smartphone market. Conversely, should the change fail to deliver the anticipated improvements, it would represent a considerable setback for Google’s hardware ambitions.
The narrative around Google’s Tensor project has been consistent since the debut of the Tensor G1 in the Pixel 6. Users have frequently pointed to issues such as performance limitations, thermal throttling, and less-than-stellar battery life. While these issues were most pronounced with the Tensor G1 and G2 in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series, Google has made incremental improvements with subsequent generations, such as the Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 and the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9.
However, despite these year-over-year enhancements, Tensor chips have consistently lagged behind competitors utilizing flagship silicon from Qualcomm or MediaTek in benchmarks for performance, battery longevity, and thermal management. This has been a persistent challenge for Google’s Tensor experiment since its inception. The perceived slow pace of improvement has meant that while Pixel phones evolve, the core chip performance often remains a step behind the leading alternatives, creating a widening gap with each passing year.
A significant factor contributing to this perceived disparity has often been attributed to Samsung’s chipmaking division, Samsung Foundry, which has a documented track record of being less competitive in terms of manufacturing efficiency compared to industry leader TSMC. A relevant comparison can be drawn from Qualcomm’s experience in 2022, where the TSMC-manufactured Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 demonstrated a reported 10% performance boost and 30% better power efficiency over the Samsung-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, despite largely identical chip designs.
Considering this precedent, the prospect of a TSMC-made Tensor G5 chip, combined with a new generation of chipset technology, raises expectations for potentially significant improvements in both performance and efficiency. If this long-term partnership with TSMC materializes, it could provide Google with the manufacturing prowess needed to bring its Tensor chips closer to par with industry-leading Snapdragon or Dimensity counterparts.
This potential shift to TSMC is widely seen as a crucial opportunity for Google to address long-standing criticisms of its Tensor chips. A modern Pixel phone unburdened by these historical performance and efficiency concerns is an appealing prospect for many. However, the success of this transition is not guaranteed.
There remains a possibility that the core design of Google’s Tensor chips, rather than solely the manufacturing process, could be a limiting factor. If this proves to be the case, a switch to TSMC might not deliver the dramatic improvements many anticipate, potentially leaving Pixel phones with similar issues. Such an outcome would represent a significant challenge for Google, given the substantial financial and strategic investment involved in changing foundry partners.
This potential move is viewed by many as Google’s most significant remaining opportunity to recalibrate its Tensor strategy. If the company cannot achieve its performance and efficiency goals with TSMC, there are few, if any, other major foundry options of comparable caliber to turn to. This scenario would leave Google with a difficult choice: continue with potentially underperforming Tensor chips or reconsider its entire custom silicon approach.
Ultimately, the reported shift to TSMC marks a critical period for the Google Pixel lineup. Whether this strategic change ushers in a new era of competitive Tensor chips or falls short of expectations, the trajectory of Pixel phones as we know them is on the cusp of a potentially defining transformation.
