Google’s upcoming Tensor G5 chipset could mark a significant shift in the company’s approach to mobile silicon.
Building on Samsung’s Exynos architecture and manufacturing processes since the first Tensor launched, Google is finally expected to produce a completely in-house designed chip, manufactured by TSMC.
Here’s everything we know so far.
When will the Google Tensor G5 launch?
The Google Tensor G5 is expected to debut alongside the Pixel 10 series, which is likely to launch in late 2025.
Given the standard annual release schedule for Pixel devices, Google is expected to introduce the Pixel 10 around October 2025.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
This timeline matches reports that Google has started testing the first samples of the Tensor G5, which were recently discovered thanks to shipping records.
What phones will use the Google Tensor G5?
The Tensor G5 will debut in Google’s Pixel 10 lineup, succeeding the current Pixel 9 series, which launched in August 2024.
The Pixel 10 series is expected to include the standard Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Luc Boulanger
With the Tensor G5, Google aims to address criticisms of previous Tensor models, particularly around thermal performance, battery efficiency, and raw performance.
This move to an in-house chip design and TSMC manufacturing should allow Google to better optimize its Pixel 10 series with improved performance and efficiency, which has been hampered by previous reliance on Samsung’s foundry technologies.
What specifications and features will the Google Tensor G5 have?
Over the past few months, Android Authority has published two detailed reports (first report, second report), one of which comes directly from Google’s gChips division, giving us some details on future features of Google’s chipsets.
Here is a look at the most anticipated specifications and features of the Tensor G5.
TSMC’s 3nm N3E manufacturing process
One of the biggest changes for the Tensor G5, codenamed “laguna,” is its manufacturing at TSMC’s 3nm N3E node.
This is the same advanced node manufacturing process used in Apple’s A18 Pro chip, which powers the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, marking a leap forward in efficiency and performance.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Previously, Tensor chips faced performance issues related to Samsung’s process nodes, which lagged behind TSMC’s offerings.
The 3nm process could enable higher performance and better power efficiency for the G5, making it competitive with other leading mobile chipsets.
CPU configuration
The Tensor G5 may feature an updated processor cluster designed to balance power and performance. This configuration would include an Arm Cortex-X4 main core, a high-performance core intended for demanding tasks.
The middle tier would consist of five Cortex-A725 cores, which improve multi-core performance, particularly useful for multitasking. Finally, two efficiency-focused Cortex-A520 cores can handle low-power tasks, saving battery life when the phone isn’t under heavy load.
This new configuration, emphasizing a larger mid-core cluster, should generate a notable improvement in multi-core per formance and everyday efficiency, a goal for Google.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Recently, a mysterious device supposedly featuring the Tensor G5, named “Google Frankel”, appeared on Geekbench (via GSMArena), scoring 1,323 points in a single-core test and 4,004 points in a multi-core test. As a reminder, the Pixel 9 obtained 4185 points in our Geekbench 6 multi-core test.
The leaked specs closely match the expected specs of the Tensor G5, sporting a CPU configuration with one main core (up to 3.40 GHz), five performance cores (up to 2.86 GHz), and two efficiency cores (up to 2.44 GHz).
However, the listing shows a Power VR graphics unit instead of the expected Imagination Technologies DXT-48-1536 GPU. Since Power VR also comes from Imagination Technologies, this discrepancy may be due to early testing stages, and Geekbench scores should be viewed with caution as they may not reflect the final performance of the chip.
GPU and games
For the first time in the Tensor lineup, Google could upgrade to an Imagination Technologies GPU, specifically the dual-core IMG DXT-48-1536 running at 1.1 GHz.
This GPU upgrade could introduce ray tracing, a first for Google’s Tensor chipsets, which will enable more realistic graphics and smoother gaming experiences in mobile games.
Luc Boulanger
Additionally, the GPU could include virtualization support, allowing it to handle accelerated graphics in virtual machines.
This addition aligns with Google’s broader focus on virtualized applications and productivity tools, where high-performance graphics can improve functionality.
Improved AI
The Tensor G5 is expected to see moderate improvements in AI processing with an improved TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) that improves machine learning capabilities by approximately 14% compared to its predecessor.
This TPU could also be equipped with integrated RISC-V cores, which would enable custom operations, making the TPU more versatile and capable of handling various machine learning tasks on the device.
Chris Martin / Foundry
These additions, along with TPU support for on-device training, could expand how the Pixel 10 series learns and adapts to user preferences over time, helping the Pixel line to further integrate real-time personalization.
Fan-Out package integrated on the package (InFO_PoP)
The Tensor G5 reportedly uses TSMC’s InFO_PoP technology to integrate RAM directly on top of the chipset, improving thermal management and power efficiency.
This configuration could enable 1.16mm thinner packaging and help reduce overall power consumption while maintaining performance.
The Pixel 10 series is expected to include 16GB of RAM, an increase over previous Pixel models, allowing for more efficient multitasking and faster response times.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
That’s everything we currently know about Google’s Tensor G5. We will update this article when we learn something new.
In the meantime, you can check out what the current flagship Pixel 9 series has to offer, as well as the history of Pixel phones, where we explain how Google’s phones have evolved over the years.
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