Google is teaming up with Taiwanese company KYEC to test its own Tensor chip. The collaboration, set to kick off mid-year, signals Google’s potential shift away from Samsung’s processors in its Pixel phones.
Dubbed “Laguna” and speculated to be the Google Tensor G5, this chip is eyeing a 2025 debut and is likely to be crafted using TSMC’s advanced 3nm process.
With a primary focus on artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, aligning with Google’s commitment to AI-powered features in its Pixel devices, this move represents Google’s first foray into a fully custom chipset design.
Shifting production to TSMC could be a game-changer for Google, allowing more control over chip design. This might translate to more robust and efficient Pixel phones, a departure from Samsung’s Exynos chips that currently trail Qualcomm’s Snapdragon series.
Despite this exciting prospect, Google’s immediate collaboration with Samsung continues. The Tensor G4, destined for the upcoming Pixel 9 series, will utilize Samsung’s 4nm process, promising incremental improvements over the G3 in the Pixel 8 series.