The Tensor G2 chip is Google’s second custom-made processor that powers the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones. It was announced on October 6, 2022, and is manufactured using a 5-nanometer process technology by Samsung Semiconductor.
The Tensor G2 Chip Features
The Tensor G2 chip features eight CPU cores, divided into three clusters: two Cortex-X1 cores at 2.85GHz for high performance, two Cortex-A78 cores at 2.35GHz for balanced performance, and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8GHz for power efficiency.
The chip also has a Mali-G78 MP14 GPU for graphics, and a dedicated Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) for machine learning.
The TPU is the main selling point of the Tensor G2 chip, as it enables faster and smarter AI capabilities on Pixel phones. Google claims that the TPU can run speech and camera tasks up to 60% faster than the previous generation, and can handle up to 80 trillion operations per second. Some of the features that benefit from the TPU are:
Cinematic blur: This feature adds a movie-like depth of field effect to videos, making the subject stand out from the background.
Active video stabilization: This feature reduces shaky motions and keeps the subject in focus while recording videos.
Speech enhancement: This feature improves the clarity and quality of voice recordings by filtering out background noise and enhancing speech signals.
Magic Eraser: This feature allows users to remove unwanted objects or people from photos with a simple tap.
Face Unblur: This feature automatically detects and sharpens blurry faces in photos, especially in low-light conditions.
Real Tone: This feature adjusts the white balance and colour accuracy of photos to match the skin tones of different people.
Tensor G2 Chip Empowering Pixel 7 Smartphones
Google attempts to differentiate its Pixel phones from other Android devices by leveraging its expertise in AI and machine learning.
The chip also gives Google more control over the hardware and software integration, as well as the security and privacy of its devices.
However, the chip is not without its drawbacks, as it still lags behind some of its competitors in terms of raw performance and battery efficiency.
The chip also faces challenges from other smartphone makers who are developing their own custom processors, such as Samsung, Huawei, Apple, etc.
The Tensor G2 chip is a significant step forward for Google’s hardware ambitions, but it is not yet a game-changer. It remains to be seen how well it can deliver on its promises, and how it can evolve in the future.
For now, it is a unique selling point for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones, which offer some of the best AI features on the market.
