Google is working on a dedicated chip design for Pixel phones
They seek to replace the semi-custom chips it currently designs in collaboration with Samsung
Google has experienced delays in the development of its own chips for Pixel phones, according to what is known by sources close to The Information newspaper. To understand the context, these are mobile devices developed by the technology company that have special features.
Initially, it was planned to launch the first custom chip, internally called “Round”, seeking to replace the semi-custom chips designed in collaboration with Samsung. However, Google has decided to maintain its partnership with the company for another year and postpone the launch of the fully customized design, known internally as “Laguna,” until 2025.
Google’s goal in developing its own chips is to further differentiate Pixel phones from the competition by offering new features and faster performance thanks to custom on-chip designs.
While Google has already achieved significant improvements in photography and machine learning with semi-custom designs, using its own chips could enable even greater performance and power efficiency, following the path Apple took years ago with its customization for the iPhone.
The company plans that when it makes the switch, it will also change its manufacturer to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to produce the chips, which will be called Tensors. TSMC is the world’s largest chipmaker and has an outstanding reputation in the industry.
In that sense, opting for TSMC would allow Google to include more powerful and efficient processors in its devices without significantly increasing their size. So far, both companies have refrained from commenting on the matter.
Structural changes
It should be recalled that Google introduced its first mobile chip, called Tensor G1, for the Pixel 6 in 2021 after several years of development. While the chip design was largely based on a collaboration with Samsung, the silicon team has made significant modifications with each generation.
Tensor has added advanced machine learning capabilities that allow the Pixel to perform data processing tasks on the device, rather than relying entirely on the cloud.
The above has accelerated features such as live captions, language translation and speech recognition, while saving battery power. In addition, Google has highlighted improvements to the Pixel’s photographic capabilities thanks to Tensor, such as removing unwanted elements, accurately rendering skin tones and eliminating blur in photos of faces.
Pixel phone features
Pixel phones offer fast and direct software updates, free Google Photos storage and access to Google Assistant.
These devices have a call spam detection feature, which automatically identifies and blocks unwanted or suspicious calls. This helps avoid the annoyance of telemarketing calls or scammers.
The Night Sight feature is acclaimed for its ability to capture high-quality photos in low-light conditions. Using advanced algorithms, these phones can illuminate dark scenes without the need for flash, resulting in outstanding images even in the dark.
They usually have a generous amount of RAM to ensure smooth performance and efficient multitasking. This may vary depending on the model and generation of the Pixel phone.
They feature high-quality displays with OLED or AMOLED technology. These displays offer vivid colors, high contrast and excellent brightness levels for an immersive viewing experience.
They generally feature a high-resolution main camera, accompanied by secondary cameras for functions such as optical zoom, portrait mode and wide-angle. In addition, they use advanced image processing algorithms to capture high-quality photos and enhance the photographic experience.
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