Google is using its own Tensor chip for the first time in the Pixel 6 smartphones, which replaces the usual SoC from Qualcomm and was celebrated as a milestone by the company. So far, however, users have not noticed anything about this milestone, at least not in a positive sense. Nevertheless, it is to be expected that Google will roll out one or the other update in the future that can increase performance.
For many years, like most smartphone manufacturers, Google has relied on Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, which were built into every device from the first Nexus to the last Pixel 5a. With the Pixel 6, the company then switched to its own system-on-a-chip for the first time, which was christened Tensor and, in retrospect, should be regarded as a major milestone in Google’s own smartphone line.
With Tensor, Google has made itself independent of Qualcomm and instead relies on the help of Samsung. Looking at Samsung’s new role model function, it certainly wasn’t the worst decision from today’s perspective. However, Samsung itself has only been moderately successful with the Exynos processors and still mainly uses Qualcomm chips in its own products.
Alongside Apple, Google is one of the few smartphone manufacturers to use its own processors. Even Samsung, Xiaomi and other major manufacturers in the BBK Group have not managed to do this so far. Of course, it also has to be said that Google needs comparatively small quantities and is somewhat more flexible with a few smartphone models and full control over Android.
The big question now is what Google makes of it. In the first few months, Tensor had a negative impact and was mainly to blame for the delayed updates and problems. But these are teething problems that don’t matter in the long run.
After just a few months, it was/is on par with Qualcomm chips in terms of updates and performance. Now it will be a question of using the advantage of one’s own chips, which is not without reason the focus of marketing and the announcement.
The end-user is not interested in the built-in hardware but wants to see results. So when Google promotes Tensor so much, you are setting the bar very high and creating expectations among users. With that, major updates should be expected in the future that improve the smartphone experience.
More performance may be difficult, but Google proved back then with the cameras that you can get more out of weak hardware than would actually be physically possible.
But it would also be a good start if you take full control over hardware and software as an opportunity to extend the update promise and take Samsung as a benchmark, which you might even be able to skip. The Koreans are now promising up to four years of Android updates, including for Qualcomm devices.