Google’s Pixel 10 to Feature Revamped Tensor G5 Chip: Full Specs Reveal Performance and Efficiency Upgrades

The Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro are on the horizon, and with them comes a new generation of Google’s custom Tensor processor, the Tensor G5. Recent leaks have unveiled the full specifications of this chip, highlighting significant changes that promise performance boosts and improved efficiency for the upcoming Pixel flagship phones.

The Tensor G5, codenamed “Laguna,” is built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process node (N3E), putting it on par with Apple’s A18 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in terms of manufacturing technology. This shift alone suggests notable gains in both performance and power efficiency compared to the previous generation Tensor G4.

Key Architectural Changes:

• CPU: The G5 retains the single Arm Cortex-X4 core as its primary workhorse, similar to the G4. However, it increases the number of mid-core Cortex-A725 cores to five and reduces the low-power Cortex-A520 cores to two. This configuration should translate to better multi-threaded performance and improved power management in everyday tasks.
• GPU: Google is ditching the Arm Mali GPU in favor of a 2-core GPU from Imagination Technologies, the DXT-48-1536. This new GPU boasts ray tracing support, a first for Tensor chips, and also supports GPU virtualization, hinting at potential advancements in virtual machine capabilities on Pixel phones.
• TPU: The Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), Google’s custom AI accelerator, also sees upgrades. It reportedly offers a 40% increase in TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second) and is around 14% faster than its predecessor. New features for developers, like embedded RISC-V cores and support for on-device training, further enhance the TPU’s capabilities.

Performance Expectations:

While on-paper specs don’t always tell the whole story, the Tensor G5’s improvements, particularly the move to the 3nm process and the new GPU, suggest a significant leap in performance. Early benchmarks indicate that the G5’s TPU is notably faster, promising even more powerful AI capabilities in the Pixel 10 series.

My Thoughts:

As someone who has used Pixel phones extensively, I’m particularly excited about the potential for improved battery life and smoother performance, especially in graphics-intensive tasks and AI-powered applications. Google’s Tensor chips have always excelled in AI and machine learning, and the G5 seems to be raising the bar even higher.

Looking Ahead:

The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro are expected to launch later this year. With the Tensor G5 at their core, these devices hold the promise of delivering a flagship experience that truly rivals the competition. It will be interesting to see how Google leverages the G5’s new capabilities to enhance existing features and introduce innovative functionalities in its upcoming Pixel phones.