What is the Google Tensor chipset? Pixel 6's new chip explained

What is the Google Tensor chipset? Pel 6's new chip explained

(Image credit: Google)

As stylish and distinct as the Google Pixel 6 range looks, it's what's going connected inside that's arguably most sexy, as Google has first used an in-house chipset for its phones.

Dubbed the Google Tensor, this was first revealed a while back, long before the full unveiling of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, but details were friable, and at present we have sex a whole lot more about it.

Below then we'll cover exactly what the Google Tensor chipset is, and why it could be the Pixel 6's surreptitious weapon.

What is Google Tensor?

Tensor is the archetypical processor designed by Google, and it's been tailor-made for Pixel phones. That second point is a big deal, as it means you in all likelihood won't picture this in whatever not-Pixel handsets. It too means that Tensor is built from the solid ground up to be atomic number 3 keen a fit As doable for the Pixel 6 range.

That's in dividing line to Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets which major power the bulk of Humanoid phones. With those, you'll find oneself the same chipset in a come of handsets, and while Qualcomm might in some cases work together with device makers to get as far as possible out of the chipset, its chipsets are typically closer to being off the shelf options than truly custom ones.

How influential is Google Tensor?

Google Tensor has two high-octane cores, cardinal middle cores, and four high-efficiency cores, though Google hasn't exhausted into much more point than that about these cores.

However, the company claims that the Tensor chipset allows for up to 80% faster performance than the Pixel 5. That's a big number, then again the Pixel 5 shipped with a mid-set out Snapdragon 765G chipset.

So that, coupled with the fact that it's a year old, way Tensor ISN't necessarily any more powerful than the likes of the Snapdragon 888 powering the OnePlus 9 and many other Mechanical man flagships.

One affair Google has known though is that Tensor is more focused on ensuring components wreak well unneurotic than them oblation peak performance individually. That might mean it doesn't top benchmarks, just that IT could work better in the real life.

Beyond that, Google hasn't directly compared it to rival chipsets, and leaks dissent on whether information technology's slimly more or slightly less reigning than the best alternative Android chipsets.

Simply you tail end certainly expect it to comprise one of the more sinewy chipsets you'll find in an Android phone, and it has more than just power going for it, as we'll discuss below.

What other does Google Tensor have going for information technology?

The Google Tensor ISN't just about raw power. Google Tensor is designed with on-device machine learning and AI in mind, allowing it to improve things corresponding spoken communication recognition and image processing, making translation, Google Assistant, the camera, and other aspects of the call faster and more accurate.

For example, this allows the Pixel 6 to instantly translate messages and videos using the new Live Translate sport, and means that the camera can bring up justified better photos, with shots – even of low-pitched light things like starry nights – looking a great deal closer to how you remember them.

Tensor also does similar for video recording, allowing for more accurate and vivid colors, even when shot 4K footage at 60fps.

And face detection when taking photos should also be faster and more than surgical thanks to Tensor.

Google claims that Tensor will allow both for improvements to existing features and for exclusively new ones, such atomic number 3 the newly announced Gesture Mode, Face Unblur, and Speech communication enhancement mode for videos.

The fellowship also says that it empowers the Pixel 6 browse to hold up getting break all over time.

Tensor stern set much of this piece also saving power compared to other chipsets according to Google, leading to longer battery life.

What about security?

Another thing Google has shouted about is how secure this chipset is. Tensor has a security core (which means radiosensitive tasks can run in a dedicated environment) and IT's joined by a Titan M2 security bit. Between the two, this makes the Picture element 6 range more resilient to attacks than previous models in the ambit.

In fact, Google claims that the Pel 6 and Pel 6 Pro have the most layers of hardware security of any phone, and independent security science laborator testing has shown that it can stand firm all sorts of high-technical school threats, such every bit electromagnetic psychoanalysis, potential difference glitching and laser fault injection.

The Google Tensor chipset also allows the Pixel 6 to get five days of security updates, where other Humanoid phones mostly single draw a few years of these.

Is Tensor cheaper for Google?

One last potential advantage of Google making its own chipset is that it doesn't own to pay another company such a Qualcomm, so aside cutting out the interlocutor it could eventually save money. But the nam word there is in time.

While Google hasn't spoken roughly the financials of Tensor, M. Brandon Lee of This is Tech Today recently argued that it takes a lot to break through a new chipset, and that spell savings might happen finally they North Korean won't do so for years.

Still, if and when they do that could possibly stand for reduced prices for the phones, or allow Google to put that money into other technical school and features that might make IT into future Pixels. But that's a benefit for another chipset and some other time.

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James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables author and grinder-editor at TechRadar. Atomic number 2 has a making love for everything 'smart', from watches to lights, and can often be base arguing with AI assistants surgery drowning in the latest apps.