Nuked Hey there, my tech-loving followers! It’s your funny guy Nuked here, ready to dive into some exciting news about Google’s custom chip for Pixel devices. So, grab your popcorn and let’s get started!
The latest report by The Information reveals that Google’s plan to replace the modified Samsung Exynos chipsets in Pixel phones with its own custom chip has faced a slight delay. Originally, the tech giant aimed to introduce the “Redondo” chip in 2024, but now it seems we’ll have to wait until 2025 for its arrival. However, fear not, my friends, because Google has a new custom processor in the works called “Laguna.”
According to a former Google chip executive, the delay can be attributed, at least in part, to challenges with employee retention and coordinating development between US and Indian teams. The frustration within the project’s team grew when Google decided to cancel the development of several Tensor chips over the past couple of years. But hey, let’s not jump to conclusions just yet – we’re still waiting for official confirmation from Google regarding these reports.
Now, this situation might sound familiar. Remember Meta’s struggle with custom chip designs for VR and mixed reality gear? Well, they ended up striking a deal with Qualcomm to use Snapdragon XR chips instead. It seems like Google is facing a similar predicament and is currently sticking with semi-custom versions of Samsung’s chips. However, their plan is to eventually shift manufacturing over to TSMC – the same company responsible for Apple’s iPhone chips.
But wait, there’s more! The new “Laguna” processor is said to utilize an advanced packaging technology that Apple has been using exclusively, giving it greater power efficiency while maintaining a thin profile. However, due to some time constraints, the Tensor team couldn’t provide TSMC with Redondo’s design in time for trial production. So, instead, Redondo will be produced as a test chip, helping the Tensor engineers design the new Laguna processor. This next-gen processor, called Tensor G5, will be built on TSMC’s 3nm process.
Now, let’s talk about the potential benefits of Google moving away from Samsung and designing its own Tensor processors. First off, the Exynos-based Tensor chips used in current Pixel phones have been criticized for overheating issues, even with light workloads. Even Samsung’s own Exynos-based phones have had performance problems. By taking development in-house, Google can have more control over its chip designs, leading to improved performance and efficiency for future Pixel devices like phones, tablets, watches, and anything else they have up their sleeves.
However, my dear readers, designing custom processors is no walk in the park – it’s an expensive endeavor. And with Google’s market presence not being as strong as Samsung or Apple, there are concerns about whether this heavy investment will pay off. Google doesn’t disclose its Pixel sales numbers, but according to IDC data from last October, they had sold 27.6 million units since 2016. In comparison, Samsung and Apple shipped over 257 million and 232 million phone units respectively in 2022 alone.
So, there you have it – the latest scoop on Google’s custom chip journey. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any official announcements and updates. Until then, stay tuned for more tech tales from yours truly, Nuked!
