Google is planning to use a Samsung-made Tensor chip for only one more year. While the Pixel 9 series featuring the next Tensor G4 is still a few months out, a recent leak has given us a look at Pixel 9 Tensor G4 specs and AnTuTu benchmark scores for the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL.
The Upcoming Google Pixel 9 Series
The report comes from the Russian website Rozetked. The Tensor G4 comes with a 1+3+4 (nona-core) layout whereas the Tensor G3 is based on a 1+4+4 (octa-core) design, reveals a report from Leakster, showing benchmark scores of the Pixel 9 series running AIDA64 and AnTuTu benchmark apps. While the G3 has more performance cores, the G4 boasts a higher performance ceiling of up to 3.1GHz, thanks to its Cortex-X4 prime core.
AIDA64 app says the Tensor G4 is based on the ARMv9-A architecture with 1×Cortex-X4 @3.1GHz, 3×Cortex-A720 @ 2.6GHz, and 4×Cortex-A520 @ 1.95GHz. Instead, the Tensor G3 includes 1×Cortex-X3 at 3GHz, 4×Cortex-A715 at 2.37GHz, and 4×Cortex-A510 at 1.7GHz. For the Cortex-X4, Arm says it can achieve 15 percent better performance and 40 percent lower power, while the A720 and A510 are claimed to be respectively 20 and 22 percent faster.
Even the Tensor G2 had an octa-core setup with a 2+4+4 design, featuring 2 Cortex-X1 prime cores, 4 Cortex-A78 performance cores, and 4 Cortex-A55 cores. Google might revert to an octa-core design to address the heating and throttling issues experienced with the Tensor G3. The new chip is also expected to utilize Samsung’s more efficient 4nm process and the FOWLP (Fan-out Wafer Level Packaging) method, which could improve heat management and efficiency. According to Rozetked, the Pixel 9 series achieved the following AnTuTu benchmark scores:
- Pixel 9 (Tokay): 1,016,167
- Pixel 9 Pro (Caiman): 1,148,452
- Pixel 9 Pro XL (Komodo): 1,176,410
The results are better than the Pixel 8, which managed to score 877,443 points, but not close to the alleged Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 score of 3,133,570, and the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 score of 3,449,366. Although performance and power improvements would be expected with a new architecture or uArch, one could argue that Google may have some stiff competition from its rivals that will also be implementing architectural redesigns and improvements.
Similarly, Qualcomm SM85 with a 2+6 core clocked at 4.2 GHz is expected to use a 3nm TSMC node for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Arm has also unveiled the new chip for 3nm based on a new Arm V9 design. 2 architecture with a prime Cortex X925 core, a balanced cluster of Cortex A725 cores, and A520 efficiency cores.
