Google’s Tensor G4 Chipset for Pixel 9 Family Reportedly a Minor Upgrade
Report Suggests Google’s Pixel 9 Tensor G4 Chipset Will Be a Modest Upgrade Recent leaks suggest that the Tensor G4 chipset, set to power Google’s upcoming Pixel 9 series, may not deliver a significant leap in performance. According to a new report from a source within Google, the Tensor G4 will be the least impactful upgrade in the Tensor line to date.
The Tensor G4 will feature an eight-core CPU configuration: one Cortex-X4 core, three Cortex-A720 cores, and four Cortex-A520 cores. This setup is a reduction from the Tensor G3’s configuration, which included one Cortex-X3 core, four Cortex-A715 cores, and four Cortex-A510 cores.
While the new Cortex-X4 core is expected to enhance single-core performance by approximately 11%, the overall multi-core performance is projected to improve by only about 3% due to the reduction in cores. This adjustment aims to manage thermal output and power consumption more effectively.
The Tensor G4 will replace the Exynos 5300 modem used in the G3 with the more efficient Exynos 5400 modem, which offers up to 50% better efficiency and supports satellite connectivity. However, there are indications that a future Pixel 9a model might still use the older Exynos 5300 modem.
The G4 will retain the same Mali-G715 GPU as its predecessor, though it will be clocked higher at 940 MHz compared to the G3’s 890 MHz. Beyond these changes, the Tensor G4 is reported to share similar features with the G3, including Google’s custom AI, camera processing, and video encoding/decoding IP blocks, as well as the Titan M2 security chip.
The minimal nature of the G4 upgrade is said to be due to Google’s intention to develop a completely new chip for the Pixel 9 series. However, since the new chip wasn’t ready in time for the product launch, Google opted for a modest upgrade to avoid delays.
