Google Tensor G4: Pixel 9 SoC to launch with marginal upgrades over the Tensor G3

Even though the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are yet to be launched, a torrent of leaks have revealed pretty much everything about the duo. It will be powered by a Tensor G3 SoC, which, based on its Geekbench performance, lags behind current-gen offerings by quite a bit. Those looking for improvements in its successor (Tensor G4, tentative) will be disappointed to know they won't be nearly as remarkable.

Android Authority has learned from renowned leaker Kamila Wojciechowska that the Tensor G4 will still be an Exynos derivative, much like its predecessors. It will build upon the Tensor G3 (aka Zuma), as confirmed by its codename Zuma Pro. Samsung LSI's custom SoC team has been working closely with Google since 2020 and will continue for the foreseeable future. It is too early to estimate which Samsung Foundry node the Tensor G4 will be made on. 3GAP is an optimistic assumption, although the chances of it being 4LPP or 4LPP+ are higher.

Kamila says Google plans to wean away from Samsung eventually by building its IP library. This will allow it to design some parts of the SoC from the ground up and license others. Ideally, we should see a fully custom SoC by Google debut in 2025 alongside the Pixel 10 series. By then, TSMC's N3E and N3P nodes should be fully operational. Whether or not it will get any capacity is a different matter. This may force Google to look at Intel's 18A node, which Arm plans to use to make reference SoCs.

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