The Pixel 11 has arrived without the hardware leap many anticipated, as its Tensor G6 chip proves less advanced than earlier expectations suggested. While Google’s latest phones carry a distinctive appeal, the modest improvements mean owners of recent flagships have little reason to switch.
Tensor G6 stays on 3nm
The Tensor G6 was widely expected to move from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) 3nm process to a cutting-edge 2nm node. Google’s Vice President of Hardware, Peng Yu-chun, confirmed instead that the chip is built on TSMC’s latest 3nm-class process.
Adding to concerns, entry-level variants of the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL have been scaled back from 16GB of RAM to 12GB, raising questions over performance. Google maintains that buyers have no cause for alarm.
Optimisation and pricing
Google says its engineering team optimised the UI system, memory management, and the hardware and software architecture for improved performance. The company points to tight integration across hardware and software that allows AI models to run efficiently on the new phones.
Google has attributed the RAM changes to a severe, supplier-driven shortage across the tech industry, noting it has adjusted Pixel 11 pricing and RAM configurations to mitigate the impact. Through software and silicon optimisation, the company claims this year’s Pro models deliver faster and smoother performance than last year’s comparable 256GB SSD models.
Leaked benchmark scores suggest the Tensor G6 offers only marginal gains over the G5. Google’s own figures are more ambitious, with the company claiming a 25% faster CPU, 50% more TPU compute, and AI tasks that execute 3.5 times faster.
Camera and imaging changes
The Tensor G6 is also credited with expanding the digital zoom range. The Image Signal Processor (ISP) has been upgraded for better low-light photography. Google describes the chip as a “purpose-driven engine” intended to make the Pixel 11 “more intuitive, fluid, and helpful”.
The company has never set out to build the fastest chip. Even so, the combination of modest silicon upgrades, reduced RAM, and a price increase of roughly £75 makes the trade-offs harder to accept. The Pixel 11 was unveiled alongside other Google products, carries a heavy focus on AI, and arrives with several new camera features.
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Image: phonearena.com
