The leaks about Google’s Pixel chip roadmap continue with the core configurations, as well as other specs, for the Tensor G5 and G6 emerging today.
According to Android Authority, the Tensor G5’s CPU (TSMC’s N3E node) will reportedly continue to use the Arm Cortex-X4 that was introduced this year, with G4 having a 1+3+4 configuration.
In comparison, Tensor G5 (codenamed “Laguna” after the beach) is 1+5+2 with five performance/middle Cortex-A725 (from A720) and two Cortex-A520 (unchanged).
On the GPU front, Tensor G5 goes from Arm Mali to one made by Imagination Technologies, which Apple used several years ago before going in-house, that supports ray tracing and GPU virtualization for accelerated graphics in virtual machines.
Top comment by matteventu
Very excited about this! I figured Google would be cautious using tested cores in their first in-house chip (X4 instead of X925).
Not overly worried about this, as on overall coupled with the 5x A725 and N3E node it should provide a good performance increase over the Tensor G4.
Not to mention the new GPU from Imagination Technologies - I'm a bit sad that we won't get to experience in Tensor G5 the Immortalis G925 that the Dimensity 9400 also has, but that's not a real problem.
I have excellent memories of IMG GPUs from the last days of Texas Instruments as a chipmaker before discontinuing the OMAP division.
I'll likely skip G5 as I'm now quite happy with Pixel 9 Pro, but I hope that in 2026 I'll have a nice Pixel 11 Pro waiting for me with a cute 6.2" display and a powerful and efficient G6 with 2x X930 and 6x A730 cores!
The flagship core is the unannounced Arm Cortex-X930 (which will presumably be branded as the “X5”)
Why? Haven't they already dropped the "single digit" name with the X925 (instead of X5), to align all generation names (except efficiency cores which are updated less often)? (i.e. Cortex X925, A725, A520, Mali/Immortalis G725/etc)
Finally, on the TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) side, Google’s benchmarks tout a 14% performance improvement.
Notebookcheck published the same Tensor G5 specs, but also has details about Tensor G6 (TSMC N3P), which goes from 1+5+2 to a 1+6 core configuration and is codenamed “Malibu.” The flagship core is the unannounced Arm Cortex-X930 (which will presumably be branded as the “X5”). Similarly, there’s the unreleased Cortex-A730. The lack of efficiency cores would match the Snapdragon 8 Elite, with Qualcomm finding the performance cores are more than efficient.
There’s also a newer Imagination Technologies GPU that consumes 15% less power.
As with the first leak, which multiple parties now appear to have, it’s unclear how up-to-date this information is.
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