Tensor overheating is the ‘#1 reason’ for Pixel returns, Google says in leaked documents

Ben Schoon | Nov 8 2024 - 12:03 pm PT

Google’s Tensor chips in Pixel phones have been getting better every year, but they still tend to run warmer than the competition. According to Google’s own data, overheating issues with Tensor have proved to be the biggest reason for Pixel returns.

A leaked deck of slides from Google has revealed some of the company’s future plans for Tensor chipsets, specifically around Tensor G6, and there’s a clear focus for Google on solving issues with heat and efficiency.

As it turns out, there’s good motivation for that.

One of the slides as recreated by Android Authority reveals that overheating has been a very big problem for the Pixel series not just in terms of user satisfaction, but in terms of returns.

Within the slide deck, while discussing improvements coming in Tensor G6, codenamed “Malibu,” it’s explained that “thermals” are the “#1 reason for returning” Pixel phones. The documents we’ve viewed further add that the “comfort limits” for thermals are currently too high and need to drop.

The same slide also discusses that battery life is another priority as “good battery life attracts users and drives loyalty.”

Overheating and battery life have indeed been significant pain points for past Pixel chipsets, especially prior to 2023’s Tensor G3. These documents were created well before Google actually shipped Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 series, which brought considerable improvements in both regards. Still, it’s unlikely that Google’s priorities have changed, as there’s plenty of room left for further improvement in this regard.

The slide deck goes on to detail Google’s plans to “Malibu,” the chip that will become Tensor G6, as well as some tidbits regarding “Laguna,” Tensor G5. Some improvements that should lend themselves to better thermals and battery life have already been reported from the slides, such as the move to drastically more efficient TSMC processes (the same ones used by Apple, in fact). Tensor G5 and G6 specs were also spotted within the highly-technical slide deck.