How cool is Google’s new Tensor chip in Pixel 6?

During yesterday’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro launch event, Google also introduced a new self-developed and designed Tensor processor. Google emphasized that the previous Qualcomm Snapdragon processors on Pixel smartphones could not integrate advanced Machine Learning features. But with Google’s self-developed and Machine Learning-optimized Tensor processor, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro can do things like never before.

Google’s Machine Learning Engine (TPU) is built right inside the Tensor processor. Thanks to that, AI tasks on Pixel 6 will be handled extremely quickly and have more applications. Algorithmic photography, the most prominent feature on the Pixel series, is also significantly improved. Besides, the processing performance and graphics performance of the new Tensor chip have also been greatly increased.

Tensor processors have 8 cores, with 2 high-performance cores, 2 mid-performance cores, and 4 power-saving cores. Tensor’s GPU has up to 20 cores to handle graphics tasks and top Android games. Google says that the CPU and GPU performance of the Tensor chip in the Pixel 6 is 80% and 370% higher than the Pixel 5. However, the Pixel 5 is also only equipped with the mid-range Snapdragon 765G chip.

However, the most outstanding feature of Tensor processors is not just performance, but artificial intelligence tasks. Inside the Tensor processor is a special management chip built-in, which helps features such as always-on display or playing music when the phone’s screen is off to run without draining the battery.

Also thanks to the Tensor processor, the Google Assistant virtual assistant on Pixel 6 can recognize voices most accurately, and also save 50% of power when using this virtual assistant. In addition, voice input is improved to become 3 times faster than typing manually on the virtual keyboard.

The Tensor processor also improves a bunch of algorithmic photography and video features on the Pixel 6. Google says it designed Tensor completely differently from other processors.

“Google Tensor is built to be a high-end system on a SoC, has everything you would expect on a mobile chip and much more. The core experience areas, voice, language, images and video, are all different and require different on-chip resources, but they are all in Tensor.”

Google continued: “With Android 12, we started building a foundation for the future, with compatible software and hardware. You will be able to see through the best experience in actual use.”

Reference: phonearena