Pixel 6 specs: Google chooses Samsung for Tensor chip’s 5G modem report says

Photo credit: Mitchell Luo / Unsplash

Friday, August 27, 2021 10:14 AM UTC

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Pixel 5a won’t launch with Google’s first in-house SoC; Tensor chip to power Pixel 6 phones this fall

The first Google Silicon chipset, officially called Tensor, is confirmed to launch later this year with the Pixel 6 series. Its technical specifications are still under wraps, but it is expected to support 5G network. To do that, Google has reportedly chosen Samsung to supply it with 5G modems for the Tensor chipset.

For the most of 2020, Google was rumored to follow other tech companies’ steps in launching its in-house SoC for its mobile devices. The company confirmed that earlier this month, as well as telling its customers that the Tensor chipset will debut with the redesigned Pixel 6 series this fall.

Shortly after the partial announcement of the Pixel 6 series and the Tensor chip, Nikkei reported that Samsung will be the one to supply Google with the chipset. Reuters now says, citing two sources with knowledge on Google’s plans, that the Pixel phone maker is also going to supply the company with Tensor’s 5G modem.

We made a chip!#Pixel6 is powered by our first ever smartphone SoC: meet Google Tensor

(5/13) pic.twitter.com/0Kts53Tfqm
— Made By Google (@madebygoogle) August 2, 2021

While Google and Samsung have yet to confirm the report, it is deemed a significant move for the latter. This is going to be the first time that Samsung becomes the main supplier of 5G modem chips for a smartphone vendor that primarily ships its products to the US market. As the same report notes, Exynos Modem parts have been widely used in Samsung phones shipped to Asia and Europe. But the South Korean tech giant has been using Qualcomm chips to power its flagship phones for US customers.

Meanwhile, Samsung currently has two Exynos Modem chips powered by its 5G NR (New Radio) technology. The latest model is the Exynos Modem 5123 that uses the 7nm EUV process and supports both sub-6GHz and millimeter wave (mmWave) bandwidths. This 5G modem has been used on Samsung Galaxy S20 devices in some regions.

Google is confirmed to launch the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro sometime this fall. The company has already revealed the massive redesign it has planned for the devices. They are rumored to sport other significant changes, including bigger cameras and bigger screens. Unlike these flagship phones, though, the recently released Pixel 5a is not powered by the Tensor chip.

Photo by Mitchell Luo on Unsplash