Google’s next Tensor chip has just surfaced in a fresh leak, and the early details are painting a mixed picture. The details shared by Mystic Leaks of the upcoming Pixel 11 point to a redesigned CPU, which is built around ARM’s newer C1-series cores. The rumour also hints at a high-performance “Ultra” core clocked at around 4.11GHz, paired with multiple “Pro” cores clocked at 3.38GHz for better performance overall.
But it’s not all good news.
How the Tensor G6 is improving
Google’s Tensor chips have historically lagged behind Qualcomm and Apple in pure CPU horsepower. So the focus on performance with the newer ARM cores could help the next-gen Google mobile AP finally close that gap. Aside from this, there are also broader improvements expected on the Tensor G6. A big one is the move toward TSMC’s advanced manufacturing process. The upcoming chip could be based on the 2nm process, which could bring better efficiency, improved thermal performance, and better battery life.
In the past, many Pixel users have complained about various issues plaguing their Google smartphones, especially regarding heat and power efficiency. In other words, the Tensor G6 is getting more than just a speed boost.
Gaming might not be the focus
All of the aforementioned improvements are great, but there’s still a big question mark on the graphics side. The lake claims that Google may switch to a PowerVR-based GPU architecture for the Tensor G6. This might be more of a name change than an actual upgrade, with early reports suggesting little to no improvement in GPU performance compared to the previous generation. You probably won’t notice or feel the difference in everyday use. Though gaming or graphics-heavy workloads could remain a weakness for Google’s next-gen flagship phones.
Google has bigger plans
Apart from the CPU and GPU, Google might be working on other components of the upcoming SoC. The Pixel 11 might move away from Samsung modems in favor of MediaTek’s M90 chip for better connectivity and power efficiency. Rumors also point to a new Titan M3 security chip and an enhancement for on-device AI processing.
The uneven upgrade story is hard to ignore. Still, Google has never really advertised gaming as a focus with its phones, and it might just be sticking to that narrative.