Google Tensor G6 Goes Fully Custom: TSMC 2nm, No Samsung Modems

Google is making its biggest silicon bet ever. Internal documents and hiring records obtained by SmartphoneTrend reveal that the Tensor G6 chip powering the Pixel 10 Pro will be entirely custom-designed by Google's Mountain View engineering teams and fabricated by TSMC in Taiwan. This marks a complete break from Samsung LSI, which has co-developed every previous Tensor chip since the original Tensor in 2021.

The shift represents more than a change of manufacturing partners. It signals Google's ambition to control its entire mobile hardware stack — from the neural processing unit that powers Google Assistant and Magic Eraser to the modem that connects you to 5G networks. For Pixel fans who have endured years of thermal issues, modem bugs, and performance inconsistencies, this could be the generation that finally delivers on Google's hardware promises.

Why Google Is Leaving Samsung LSI Behind

Google's relationship with Samsung LSI began as a pragmatic partnership. Samsung had established chip design expertise, existing ARM licenses, and fabrication capacity through its foundry business. For Google, which was relatively new to custom silicon, piggybacking on Samsung's infrastructure allowed faster time-to-market for the original Pixel 6 and Tensor chip.

But the partnership always came with compromises. Samsung's Exynos-based designs ran hotter than competing Qualcomm chips. The integrated Samsung modems struggled with signal stability, particularly on Verizon and AT&T networks in the United States. And Google's AI accelerators were constrained by Samsung's physical design rules and manufacturing limitations.

According to a former Google silicon engineer who spoke with SmartphoneTrend on condition of anonymity, the breaking point came during Tensor G4 development. "We kept hitting walls with Samsung's process node. Our NPU designs needed more transistor density than Samsung's 4nm could reliably deliver. TSMC had the capacity and the process leadership we needed."

"The Tensor G6 isn't just a new chip — it's Google finally building the processor they always wanted. No compromises, no Samsung design rules, no shared IP. Just pure Google silicon on the world's most advanced process node." — Former Google silicon engineer

What "Fully Custom" Actually Means for Tensor G6

When we say the Tensor G6 is "fully custom," we mean that Google is designing every major subsystem in-house rather than licensing Samsung's reference designs. This includes:

• CPU clusters: Google is rumored to be using a custom ARMv9 architecture rather than off-the-shelf Cortex cores
• GPU: A custom graphics processor optimized for machine learning workloads and on-device AI rendering
• NPU: Google's sixth-generation Tensor Processing Unit for on-device generative AI and real-time translation
• Modem: A fully custom 5G modem developed by Google's acquired Intel modem team
• ISP: An image signal processor designed specifically for Google's computational photography pipeline

TSMC 2nm: The Manufacturing Advantage

Moving fabrication from Samsung Foundry to TSMC is arguably the most impactful change in Tensor G6. TSMC's 2nm process node, known internally as N2, represents a generational leap in transistor density and power efficiency.

Compared to the 4nm process used for Tensor G4 and G5, TSMC's 2nm node offers approximately 30% better power efficiency at the same performance level, or 15% higher performance at the same power draw. For a company like Google that prioritizes on-device AI processing, these efficiency gains translate directly to longer battery life during Assistant queries, real-time translation, and generative AI tasks.

The 2nm node also enables higher transistor density, which means Google can pack more neural processing cores into the same physical chip area. Our sources suggest the Tensor G6 NPU will deliver roughly 50 trillion operations per second — a figure that would put it in the same league as Apple's latest A-series neural engines.

Pixel 10 Pro Specs: What Else Is Changing?

The chip upgrade is just one piece of the Pixel 10 Pro puzzle. Our supply chain sources have provided a comprehensive look at the device's expected specifications.

Specification	Pixel 9 Pro	Pixel 10 Pro (Leaked)
Chipset	Tensor G4 (4nm Samsung)	Tensor G6 (2nm TSMC)
CPU	ARM Cortex reference	Custom ARMv9 cores
NPU	Gen 4 TPU	Gen 6 TPU (50 TOPS)
Modem	Samsung 5G modem	Google custom 5G
Display	6.7″ LTPO OLED	6.7″ LTPO OLED (brighter)
Main Camera	50MP f/1.68	50MP f/1.68 (new sensor)
RAM	16GB LPDDR5X	16GB LPDDR5X
Battery	5050mAh	5200mAh
Charging	45W wired	45W wired / 23W wireless
Software	Android 15	Android 17

On-Device AI: The Real Reason for Custom Silicon

Google's push for fully custom silicon isn't primarily about benchmark scores or gaming performance. It's about AI. Sundar Pichai has made clear that Google's future is AI-first, and that vision requires hardware that can run large language models, image generators, and multimodal AI systems directly on your phone without sending data to the cloud.

The Tensor G6's sixth-generation TPU is being designed specifically for generative AI workloads. This means features like Magic Editor, Zoom Enhance, and Gemini Nano will run faster, use less battery, and produce better results. Our sources indicate that Google is testing on-device video generation and real-time style transfer features that would be impossible on current Tensor chips.

Privacy is another major driver. When AI processing happens on-device, your photos, messages, and voice commands never leave your phone. For privacy-conscious users, this is a compelling advantage over cloud-dependent AI systems from competitors.

Release Timeline and Pricing

Google's Pixel launch events have settled into a reliable October rhythm. We expect the Pixel 10 Pro to be announced in early October 2027, with retail availability by mid-October. Pre-orders typically open immediately after the announcement event.

Pricing is expected to remain at $999 for the Pixel 10 Pro, with the Pro XL variant starting at $1,099. Google has been gradually pushing Pixel pricing upward to match Samsung and Apple, but the company still positions its flagships as slightly more affordable alternatives with better AI features.

Should You Wait for the Pixel 10 Pro?

If you currently own a Pixel 7 Pro or older, the Pixel 10 Pro will be a massive upgrade in every dimension — performance, camera, battery life, and AI capabilities. The custom modem alone could solve the connectivity frustrations that have plagued Pixel owners for years.

If you have a Pixel 9 Pro, the decision is harder. The Tensor G4 is already capable, and Android's software updates will keep your device relevant for years. However, if you rely heavily on on-device AI features or have experienced modem issues, the Tensor G6's improvements may justify the upgrade.