Google Tensor G3 will use Samsung 4LPP process

The forthcoming Tensor G3, Google’s next custom SoC, is anticipated to feature in this year’s flagship devices, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Google’s 2023 I/O conference, scheduled for May 10th in Mountain View, California, may address this chip during the keynote presentation.

Twitter user @Tech_Reve suggest that the Tensor G3’s CPU performance could rival Qualcomm’s second-generation Snapdragon 8, though it would clearly lag behind the forthcoming third-generation variant. The CPU employs a 1+4+4 tri-cluster architecture, totaling nine cores. The single high-performance Cortex-X3 core operates at 3.30 GHz, accompanied by four Cortex-A715 performance cores at 2.60 GHz and four energy-efficient Cortex-A510 cores ranging between 2.20 and 2.30 GHz.

Google intends to manufacture the Tensor G3 chip using Samsung 4LPP process, rather than the 4LPP+ process used for the Exynos 2400, in hopes of reducing costs—a decision that may disappoint some users. Consequently, the Tensor G3’s performance is unlikely to surpass that of the Exynos 2400. Previous reports indicated that the Tensor G3 might be a modified version of Samsung’s unreleased Exynos 2300, with its GPU potentially utilizing the Xclipse 930, developed jointly by Samsung and AMD—an upgraded version of the Exynos 2200’s Xclipse 920.

Rumors suggest that Qualcomm’s third-generation Snapdragon 8 will employ a Cortex-X4 core with frequencies reaching 3.40 GHz and even custom versions at 3.70 GHz. Coupled with TSMC’s superior 4nm process compared to Samsung’s 4LPP process, the Tensor G3 faces an uphill battle. However, Google’s internal development team may not have expected the Tensor G3 to deliver top-tier performance, instead focusing on better adapting it to their devices and optimizing workload performance.