Google Deepens TSMC Partnership for Tensor Chips

Google is strengthening its collaboration with TSMC to produce future generations of its custom Pixel Tensor chips. Moving away from Samsung’s foundry, the shift aims to enhance chip performance, efficiency, and production reliability. This strategic decision highlights Google’s growing investment in proprietary silicon to power its Pixel devices and AI-driven features.

Tensor chips have been a double-edged sword for Pixel devices enabling powerful AI features but falling short in performance and thermal efficiency, often trailing competitors by a generation or more. This shortcoming has been largely attributed to Google’s reliance on Samsung’s less advanced foundry for chip production.With the upcoming Pixel 10, Google is expected to shift to TSMC’s more advanced fabrication process, a move anticipated to significantly improve efficiency and performance. According to a DigiTimes report, this change isn’t temporary; Google plans to stick with TSMC for the long haul potentially for at least 3 to 5 years, extending through to the Pixel 14 in 2029.

TSMC’s superior technology should help address overheating issues and boost battery life. The benefits are already becoming evident in the Pixel 9 lineup, where the Tensor G4 built on Samsung’s 3nm process runs noticeably cooler and more power-efficiently. The inclusion of the newer Exynos 5400 modem, which is more energy-efficient than its predecessors, further contributes to the improved thermal and battery performance. By aligning with TSMC, Google joins the ranks of Apple and Qualcomm, both of which also rely on TSMC for their mobile chips, signaling a serious step forward in Google’s hardware ambitions.