Google Pixel 9 won't get the processor we all want

The Google Pixel 9 won’t get the processor we would want to see. This information comes from a Google insider, and has been relayed by Android Authority.

The Google Pixel 9 won’t have the breakthrough processor we all want and need

So, what’s the deal here? Well, we’re talking about the Google Tensor G4 SoC here. Google introduced its own Tensor chips with the Pixel 6 series two years ago. They were inferior to the competition from the get-go, and it seems like that trend will continue this and next year.

Major parts of the design of the Tensor chips are derived from Samsung’s Exynos chips, although they do feature parts made by Google. Samsung’s Exynos architecture is not the best around, and that is kind of a problem. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon flagship processors are ahead in terms of performance and power consumption.

The Tensor G3 will bring some notable improvements, but it won’t be as powerful as the competition

The Tensor G3 that will be included in the Pixel 8 series this year is said to bring some notable improvements compared to the Tensor G2. Still, it won’t be on par with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, not even close.

Now, it was reported by The Information (a couple of months ago), that Google initially planned to release its 2024 Pixel series (aka Pixel 9 series), with a “fully custom” Tensor processor codenamed ‘Redondo’. It’s also known as ‘RDO’, by the way.

That chip was supposed to be built on a TSMC process node. For those of you who don’t know, TSMC manufactures all Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processors, and is considered to be the top dog these days.

Missed deadline is to blame

Well, it seems like we won’t get that chip next year. It’s reported that it won’t happen due to a missed deadline. That chip seems to have been too late to be included in the Pixel 9 series. As many of you know, it’s a lengthy process.

Things should change in 2025, though, with the Pixel 10 series. That’s when we expect to get a proper Google-made Tensor chip.

The Pixel 9 will use the ‘Zuma Pro’ chip. That’s just a codename, of course, the Tensor G3 is referred to as ‘Zuma’. That chip will also be co-designed with Samsung’s System LSI division. It will likely be a small upgrade over the Tensor G3.

So, if you really want to get a new Pixel flagship, and only upgrade every two years, getting the Pixel 8 may not be a bad idea. Next year’s batch likely won’t be a huge jump, but the Pixel 10 series could be quite interesting, at least from the SoC standpoint.

Do note that the next-gen fully-custom Tensor chip for the Pixel 10 series is referred to as ‘Laguna Beach’ or ‘Laguna’. Those are just codenames, of course.