Since the Pixel 6, Google has been using its custom-designed Tensor chips in its phones, but they haven’t quite kept up with the performance and efficiency of chips from other brands.
That could be about to change, though. Leaked documents from Android Authority reveal that Google plans to improve with its upcoming Tensor G6 chip, code-named “Malibu.”
The main changes for the Tensor G6 are expected to focus on making the chip more efficient and improving heat management. Big jumps in performance are not expected. In fact, the upcoming Tensor G5 will likely only offer a slight boost over the current chip. So, it looks like Google isn’t focusing on huge performance gains for now. In some areas, the Tensor G6 may even be a downgrade compared to its predecessor.
For example, Google is reportedly using an older GPU design for the Tensor G6, which was originally planned for the Tensor G4. As a result, the Tensor G6 may not support ray tracing, which the Tensor G5 is expected to have. This would be a step back in terms of graphics performance.
The reason for using the older GPU design is to make the chip smaller and more efficient. The current Tensor chip in the Pixel 10 is pretty large, measuring 121 mm². In comparison, Apple’s A18 Pro chip, made with the same 3nm process, is smaller at 105 mm². Google’s goal for the Tensor G6 is to shrink it down to around 105 mm² by using a newer 3nm process called N3P. This would save about 4% of the space compared to the current process, N3E.
To achieve this smaller size, Google is also cutting some components. The G6 will have one less core in the digital signal processor (DSP) and a smaller system-level cache (SLC), which is being reduced to 4MB. However, the CPU size is expected to remain the same.
In short, Google is focusing more on making a smaller, more efficient chip, rather than pushing for major improvements in performance.
