Google reportedly set to begin 'Tensor SoC' testing with Taiwanese manufacturer KYEC

Along with the Pixel 6 series, Google also introduced its own Tensor chipsets, which has allowed them to have better control over the support they give to their devices, something that probably helped set their new policy of 7 years of updates for the Pixel 8 series. However, Tensor chips share multiple features with Exynos, including Samsung’s manufacturing process.

Using Samsung wafers has been pointed out as the potential root cause of overheating or high power consumption problems that several users have been reporting since the adoption of the Tensor chips. That said, it seems that the future of Google’s own SoCs points in a new direction due to a possible switch to the TSMC factories to produce them.

A recent report claims that Google is already taking the first steps to move the manufacturing of Tensor chips to TSMC in Taiwan. Apparently, the company has already started shipping test units of ‘self-produced’ Tensor chips to KYEC, a Taiwanese company specifically dedicated to testing chipsets that will be manufactured in that country.

The transfer of the production of Tensor chipsets to TSMC could solve the problems that have been affecting Google Pixel device owners the most, making them a much more attractive alternative. It is unlikely that Tensors will begin to fight to be the most powerful in the industry since Google has never gone in that direction, but at least they could offer a much more efficient user experience and better battery life.

The manufacturing process of a chipset is a vital decision that will determine its performance. We had an obvious case with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (produced by Samsung) and its overheating problems, which were resolved in the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 by simply changing its production to TSMC, maintaining the same design.

According to the report, testing of Tensor chips in KYEC will begin “in the middle” of this year and will gradually increase as time goes by. In any case, everything indicates that the company’s next mobile chipset, the Tensor G4, will continue to be manufactured in Samsung factories, and could even follow a continuous line with respect to the current G3 without major changes. So, we would have to wait at least for the G5 (2025) to enjoy the first Tensor chip produced by TSMC.

Finally, the source adds that the future Tensor G5 manufactured by TSMC will likely use the company’s efficient 3nm process.

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