Google’s second-generation Tensor SoC will use Samsung’s 4nm process
At the Google I/O 2022 developer conference, Google released and displayed a series of products, including the new generation of flagship smartphones Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro to be released this year, which will be equipped with the second-generation Tensor SoC. However, not too many details were disclosed.
According to DDaily, Google chose to use Samsung’s 4nm process for the second-generation Tensor SoC and introduced PLP packaging technology, which is an upgrade compared to the first-generation Tensor SoC using Samsung’s 5nm process. It is said that Samsung will mass-produce the second-generation Tensor SoC in June, but when Google will release the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro is still uncertain.
Google will release the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in October 2021, and the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will probably be in the fall of this year. It is reported that Samsung has become the only wafer foundry for the second-generation Tensor SoC, which involves many factors. At present, Samsung provides DRAM and NAND flash memory to Google and is responsible for manufacturing Waymo’s self-driving chips. In the future, it may even be responsible for the production of Google’s server chips. The two sides have a solid foundation for cooperation. In addition, it is rumored that Google may, like Qualcomm, have difficulty rejecting Samsung’s offer, and if it chooses TSMC, it is likely to increase the price.
Given the overheating and performance issues that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen1 has with Samsung’s 4nm process, many people are concerned about Google’s choice. In addition, the performance of the first-generation Tensor SoC is relatively ordinary, and it is generally believed that the second-generation Tensor SoC is also difficult to compete with other similarly positioned chips of the same type, and continues to lag behind other competitors.
