Google has been investing heavily in custom chips for their Pixel devices, with mixed results. The introduction of Tensor chips starting with the Pixel 6 has brought benefits like longer support windows but also issues such as overheating and poor battery life. A recent leak has highlighted these issues once again, shedding light on Google’s efforts to address feedback on their Tensor chips and improve their performance.
Google has acknowledged that overheating and insufficient battery life are the top concerns with their Tensor chips. Internal documents from Google’s gChips division have revealed that these issues, along with financial goals not being met, are areas of focus for improvement. Overheating has been a major issue since the launch of the Pixel 6, leading to high return rates. Google is working on enhancing stability and thermal comfort to address this issue. Additionally, a large percentage of Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 owners reported that their devices couldn’t last a full day on a single charge, despite the desire for longer battery life.
In response to these challenges, Google is planning a major chipmaking switch with Tensor G6 in the Pixel 11 for 2025 and beyond. This change aims to address the overheating and battery life issues, although the Pixel 9 has already made improvements in these areas. Google is also looking to improve the financial performance of Tensor chips to meet their goals, which may impact the level of upgrades in future devices.
Overall, Google’s focus on addressing customer concerns and improving the performance of their Tensor chips shows their commitment to enhancing the user experience. Whether Tensor has met your needs or if you still face challenges with overheating and battery life, Google’s efforts to innovate and refine their custom chips are ongoing.