The Google Pixel 9 debuts a ton of new hardware and software features and the brains behind many of them is the new processor — the Google Tensor G4. Building on last year’s Tensor G3, the G4 is a semi-custom processor built in collaboration with Samsung, utilizing Arm for CPU and GPU cores, while leveraging Google’s in-house blocks for AI, photography, and security. While the new processor might not quite be the innovative chip Google originally had in mind, there’s still plenty to get into.
Headline talking points from Google include 20% faster web browsing, 17% faster app launching, and up to 20% improved power efficiency for a variety of everyday use cases. But Google has kept everything else close to its chest, so what about the broader context? Let’s get into what we know and what we think we know about the Google Tensor G4.
Google Tensor G4 specs
CPU | Google Tensor G4 1x Arm Cortex-X4 (3.1GHz) | Google Tensor G3 1x Arm Cortex-X3 (2.91GHz) | Google Tensor G2 2x Arm Cortex-X1 (2.85GHz) |
GPU | Google Tensor G4 Arm Mali-G715 (MC7?) | Google Tensor G3 Arm Mali-G715 MC7 | Google Tensor G2 Arm Mali-G710 MP7 |
RAM | Google Tensor G4 LPDDR5X | Google Tensor G3 LPDDR5X | Google Tensor G2 LPDDR5 |
Machine Learning | Google Tensor G4 Third-gen Tensor Processing Unit | Google Tensor G3 Third-gen Tensor Processing Unit | Google Tensor G2 Next-gen Tensor Processing Unit |
Media Decode | Google Tensor G4 H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1 | Google Tensor G3 H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1 | Google Tensor G2 H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1 |
Modem | Google Tensor G4 Exynos 5400 | Google Tensor G3 Exynos 5300i | Google Tensor G2 Exynos 5300b |
Process | Google Tensor G4 Samsung 4nm (4LPP+ ?) | Google Tensor G3 Samsung 4nm | Google Tensor G2 Samsung 5nm |
Not a lot has changed with the core specs
If you’ve peered into previous Tensor chipsets, a fair amount of the Tensor G4 will be familiar. It’s powered by Arm CPU and GPU cores, and is manufactured using one of Samsung’s 4nm processes. It is rumored to be the same 4LPP+ process as Samsung’s Exynos 2400, but Google has not confirmed this.
Google hasn’t detailed the exact setup, but our source indicates that the CPU setup consists of one Cortex-X4 running at 3.1GHz, three Cortex-A720s at 2.6GHz, and four Cortex-A520s at 1.95GHz. As before, these are current-generation cores but will be a step behind next-gen chipsets launching towards the end of 2024. Still, the move to a newer, bigger core is what gives Google its claimed performance uplift, particularly for snappy tasks like opening apps. These cores are also more efficient than their predecessors, bolstering Google’s power efficiency boast.
Astute readers will have noticed that this is one fewer middle core than the Tensor G3, which may actually reduce the chip’s multi-threading potential but could free up some power budget for those higher clock speeds. While we’ll have to wait for benchmarks to be sure, performance may feel snappier for single-core workloads but not so vastly different for heavily threaded workloads, such as mobile games.
Google's Tensor has never been about blazing-fast performance and the G4 is no different.
Speaking of, reports suggest the Tensor G4 sticks with an Arm Mali-G715 GPU. We haven’t been able to confirm the core configuration, but without the move to a smaller processing node, I imagine it’s the same seven-core setup as the previous generation chipset. While the <6% clock speed boost lifts performance somewhat, gamers are still faced with a decidedly mid-range offering that’s already well behind Snapdragon and Dimensity in the flagship space. A static GPU core with Mali branding also means no ray tracing support (that falls under Arm’s Immortalis moniker).
Google’s Tensor processors have never been about blazing-fast performance metrics; they are more about enabling unique features. Still, the hop between the G3 and G4 looks to be the smallest yet and may leave enthusiasts wondering if there’s much point in upgrading to the latest model, at least from a performance perspective.
Powering new AI features
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority
AI is, of course, one of the major motivators behind the Tensor project, powering Google’s latest Gemini and computational photography features. Google closely guards its TPU secret sauce, developed as part of its DeepMind cloud initiative, but it’s revealed a few tidbits. The headline capability is an “industry-leading” 45 tokens per second output rate. That’s quick; 30 tokens per second is fast enough to outpace even the quickest readers.
However, this metric is for running Gemini Nano on-device, a shrunk-down model with 1.8 and 3.5 billion parameter versions. Google didn’t specify which version, but let’s give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it’s the larger of the two. For comparison, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 outputs 15 tokens per second for a bigger 10 billion parameter large language model, and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 handles 7 billion parameters at 20 tokens per second. So Google’s TPU is fast, but it’s not clearly leaps and bounds ahead of the competition when it comes to token crunching.
Google's AI smarts haven't changed with the Tensor G4.
That’s all Google has to say about the Tensor G4’s AI capabilities, and probably for good reason — the TPU and many of the chip’s other components are apparently the same as the Tensor G3. That’s right; the G4 features the same third-generation “rio” AI core as last year, so any exclusive Pixel 9 AI features aren’t purely down to the new chip.
While not part of the chipset itself, we should acknowledge that the Pixel 9 comes with 12GB of RAM, extending to 16GB for the Pro models. As we know, AI is RAM-heavy and requires access to a fast and vast pool of memory to run more complex models. Google notes that it “carves out” a dedicated portion of RAM to run Gemini on-device for the first time, preventing other apps from using that memory for a smoother AI experience. Google hasn’t said exactly how much RAM is partitioned, but this should make for a smoother experience and power new features, even if the Tensor G4 itself doesn’t have anything new to offer regarding AI.
Other key Tensor G4 features explained
As we mentioned, the Tensor G4 seems to share many of the Tensor G3’s Google-specific internals. The TPU for AI, the GXP Digital Signal Processor for camera and audio tasks, the BigWave media codec block, and the Titan M2 security chip are all the same as the previous generation. There are no upgrades here, so expect feature parity with last year’s model in these areas.
A new modem should address Tensor power draw issues.
According to our sources, the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9 series is paired with the newer Exynos Modem 5400, which sits externally to the processor. This newer modem should help quash connectivity and power drain issues seen in previous Pixels. It’s reportedly up to 50% more efficient than the Modem 5300 found in the Pixel 8 series.
The modem supports 3GPP Rel. 17, including support for 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN). This enables the Pixel 9 series’ new satellite communication feature for SOS messaging.
What to expect from the Google Tensor G4
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
The Google Tensor G4 remains as important as ever to the Pixel smartphone formula. It provides generational performance and efficiency improvements in the CPU and modem department, which matter most to your everyday applications. Unfortunately, the chip doesn’t have anything new to offer gamers, and as is the norm, it won’t outpace rival chipsets that are launching later in 2024.
More unusually, it has no upgrades in the realms of AI or photography. The Tensor G4 is more of a stop-gap while Google moves away from dependency on Samsung for semiconductor development.
The Tensor G4 remains the backbone of unique and powerful AI features on the Pixel 9 series that look set to make for some brilliant smartphones worthy of an upgrade. Still, I’m already excited about the switch to TSMC for the Tensor G5 chip in next year’s Google Pixel 10.
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