The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro may not receive a substantial chipset upgrade next year, with a new report stating that the Tensor G4 powering the flagships’ innards will have minor upgrades over the Tensor G3. This can mean that Google will rely on Samsung’s Exynos design while also sticking with the South Korean firm’s manufacturing process instead of heading in TSMC’s direction.

Tensor G4 is also rumored to feature the same ARM GPU as the Tensor G3, bringing zero graphical improvements

A report published by Kamila Wojciechowska on Android Authority mentions that according to a Google Insider, the Tensor G4 carries the codename ‘Zuma Pro,’ while the Tensor G3 is codenamed ‘Zuma.’ The similarities in codenames are sufficient evidence that the G4 will be a small update over the G3, so the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro will once more be behind the competition.

Additionally, Revegnus has posted on X that even in the GPU department, the Tensor G4 will not bring any upgrades over its predecessor, sticking with the same ARM Immortalis-G715 part, suggesting that the SoC launch next year will be a disappointing one. It is possible that Google does not wish to invest more resources in 2024 as it extends its focus towards the distant future, where it will introduce its first-ever fully-custom chipset, dubbed the Tensor G5.

From the looks of it, Google has a long-term plan to compete with Apple in bringing a custom chipset to its Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro. Unfortunately, the Tensor G5 is not expected to launch before 2025, but the advantage here is that TSMC is said to mass produce the custom solution instead of Samsung, meaning that Google may finally keep pace with its competitors in improved performance-per-watt.

The report mentions that the Tensor G5 is codenamed ‘Laguna Beach,’ with the development board internally called ‘Deepspace.’ However, it should be noted that previously, the G5 was codenamed ‘Redondo’; this change has more significance than one would believe. For starters, Google will not be responsible for the chipset designing part, a responsibility that is currently done by Samsung. Though it is disappointing that the Tensor G4 will not be a major upgrade, the future for Google’s chip division appears promising.

News Source: Android Authority