You might soon see Google switching its chipset manufacturer for future Pixel phones. Sources indicate that TSMC could be taking over the production of Google’s Tensor chips starting next year.
The news comes from leaker @Revegnus1, who shared on X that the upcoming Pixel 10 series will feature tensor chips built by TSMC’s advanced 3nm process. This move signifies a significant shift in Google’s strategy for its hardware. To support this transition, Google is reportedly expanding its research and development lab in Taiwan. They are also recruiting more local engineers to ensure a smooth switch from their current manufacturer.
Impact on Samsung Foundry
For several years, Samsung Foundry has been the primary manufacturer of Google’s Tensor chips. The report that Samsung might lose this contract is a major setback for the South Korean company. Samsung has been striving to close the gap with TSMC, the world’s leading foundry, in terms of advanced chipset production. Losing Google’s business could hamper Samsung’s progress and ambitions.
This potential switch to TSMC is promising news for users of Google’s Pixel phones. TSMC is known for its unparalleled expertise in chipset production. Their chipsets generally offer better performance and efficiency. For instance, the TSMC-manufactured Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 delivers longer battery life and higher performance compared to the Samsung-manufactured Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
However, it’s important not to discount Samsung entirely. The company has been making notable improvements in its manufacturing capabilities and production yield of chipsets. There’s a possibility that Samsung could close the performance gap with TSMC in the near future.
Google’s potential partnership with TSMC marks an important development in the tech industry. It will be interesting to see how this shift impacts the performance of future Pixel phones and the competitive landscape between major chipset manufacturers.
