Google's first smartphone chipset, the Tensor G1, was based on the Exynos 2100. It was also manufactured by Samsung (Samsung Foundry). Similarly, the Tensor G2 and the Tensor G3 are based on the Exynos 2200 and the Exynos 2400, respectively. A fresh leak suggests that the Tensor G4 might also be based on an Exynos SoC and will be made by the Samsung Foundry's 3nm GAA process. However, the Tensor G5 will be a fully custom chip.
According to The Information, Google has developed a fully custom chipset codenamed Redondo. The company had planned to get this SoC manufactured by TSMC and release it in 2024, most likely with the Pixel 8 series. However, this SoC missed the trial production deadline last year, and the publication claims it won't be ready for mass production next year. So, in place of this fully-custom chipset, which would have been branded the Tensor G4, Google will use a modified version of an Exynos SoC.
Samsung Foundry will not get to make Google Tensor G5
So, does that mean Redondo will debut as the Tensor G5 in 2025 with Pixel 9 series? Well, no. It is being used as a test chip to develop another SoC, codenamed Laguna. This chipset, which we assume is an improved version of Redondo, will debut as the Tensor G5 in 2025 (most likely with the Pixel 9), reports The Information. More importantly, Google will get the Tensor G5 manufactured by TSMC, not Samsung Foundry, which could be a significant loss for the South Korean tech giant and bring down its revenue.
The Tensor G5 will be made on a 3nm fabrication process with Integrated Fan-Out (InFO) technology, offering reduced thickness and increased power efficiency. Unfortunately, that's all we know about Laguna at the moment. On a side note, a former executive at Google told The Information that Google is spending a lot of money on developing custom chipsets, which seemed quite concerning considering that Pixel devices don't sell in large volumes. Hopefully, we'll get to know more about the matter soon.
