What is the Google Tensor core?
The “Tensor” name isn’t new; in fact, it is shared with TensorFlow, which is Google’s all-encompassing machine-learning hardware. Yet, it now graces the custom chip that Google has apparently had four years in the making.
The rumor mill agrees the Tensor is in fact the mythical Whitechapel chipset that Google has referenced throughout the years. It has reportedly been developed in concert with Android’s superstar, Samsung, and probably shares quite a lot of design similarities with the ARM Exynos chipsets that power a vast majority of the South Korean company’s international models. As far as specs go, Tensor is most certainly a 5nm, eight-core chipset.
Google Pixel 6
Google’s Tensor chipset: Photography on steroids
Surely, it will have to cope with run-of-the-mill regular smartphone operations, but its main strength will be its on-device AI prowess and machine-learning capabilities, which will introduce many benefits to Pixel 6 users. While it’s true that all Pixels since the first one have used AI in some form or another, the Pixel 6-series will most certainly improve on that a lot. For example, Pixel photography has always been AI-assisted and that’s one of the main reasons great camera performance has become such a signature Pixel feature, and from the looks of it, the Pixel 6-series will elevate that to the next level with the help of the Tensor chipset. Google promises entirely new photography features as well as improvement to existing ones.
Google specifically states that thanks to Tensor, the Pixel 6 will treat users to a completely revamped camera system. Yet, we’ve certainly heard that kind of marketing talk before so it remains to be seen what improvements the custom chipset will bring to the table.
Google’s Tensor chipset: Video to finally be good?
Google’s Tensor chipset: Security overwhelming
Tensor will feature a Titan M2 security chip on deck, a successor to the Titan M that has been taking care of security on previous Pixel phones. No further details about the security of Google’s custom chip have been shared, but the company seems pretty proud with what’s been accomplished so far, bragging that the Pixel 6-series will seemingly have the most layers of hardware security in any phone so far.
Google’s Tensor chipset: An answer to Apple’s M1
Custom chipsets seem to be all the rage right now, as most manufacturers are either developing or already using such chipsets. Samsung has its Exynos line, Huawei has the Kirin system, and Apple uses Bionic and M1 in its iPhones and MacBooks, respectively. It only makes sense that Google would want to “join” the custom chipset fray.
