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Pixel 6 Tensor chip might feature a different configuration than current flagship Android SoCs

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By Anam Hamid

Updated: Sep 12, 2021, 7:36 PM

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Pixel 6 Tensor chip might feature a different configuration than current flagship Android SoCs

Update: Leaker Max Weinbach also thinks the Pixel 6 Pro benchmark listing is legitimate.

The original story continues below.

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Google's 2021 flagship smartphone lineup will be fueled by the in-house Tensor chip. The Mountain View company hasn't revealed much about the processor, except that it will prioritize using artificial intelligence and machine learning over computing resources. The highest-end model, called the Pixel 6 Pro, has seemingly popped up on benchmarking website Geekbench (via Clien).

The listing is questionable for various reasons. Google is said to be developing the chip in collaboration with Samsung. Apparently, it will be manufactured using the South Korean company's 5nm process and per an earlier report, it will slot below Galaxy S21's Exynos 2100 in terms of specs. The Geekbench entry suggests otherwise.

Pixel 6 Tensor chip has two X1 cores

The Tensor chip allegedly has two Cortex X1 cores clocked at 2.8Ghz, two mid-tier cores running at 2.25Ghz, and four little cores with a frequency of 1.8GHz.

That sounds sketchy because the current Samsung and Qualcomm chips meant for flagship Android phones feature one primary core, three middle cores, and four high-efficiency cores.

Samsung and Qualcomm's forthcoming premium SoCs -- the Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 898 -- will most probably feature one Cortex X2 core. Per Arm, the Cortex-X2 is 16 percent faster than the X1.

For what it's worth, leaker Digital Chat Station has corroborated the information. He also claims that the chip will come with the Mali-G78 GPU.

Presumably to help pull this off, Google poached chip engineer Leon Chang from Qualcomm earlier this year (via leaker Roland Quandt).

The alleged Pixel 6 Pro variant that has surfaced on Geekbench has 12GB of RAM and it scored 414 and 2,074 in the single- and multi-core tests, respectively. For comparison, the Snapdragon 888 powered Galaxy Z Fold 3 got 1,113 and 3,538 in the same tests.

Assuming the information is legit, the performance will likely improve as Google and Samsung optimize the chip.

Google may unveil the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro on October 19. The phones will offer a revamped design and new camera hardware and Google apparently has high hopes for them and sees them becoming one of the best flagship smartphone series of the year.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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