Google turns to TSMC to manufacture future Tensor chips

Photo by Mitchell Luo on Unsplash

Google plans to make a quantum leap in its approach to manufacturing its own processors, with recent reports revealing that its next-generation chipset, known as the Tensor G5, will be produced for the first time inside the factories of Taiwanese company TSMC, the world leader in semiconductors. According to sources close to Digitimes, the partnership between Google and TSMC is for a period of three to five years, which means that TSMC will manufacture future generations of Tensor processors until the release of at least the Pixel 14. Google is expected to unveil the Pixel 10 series during the fall of this year, to be the first phone with a TSMC processor, which raises expectations for significant improvements in performance and energy efficiency.

Technical Overview

This change represents an important strategic step for Google towards enhancing the reliability of its processors, especially since previous experiences have shown that processors manufactured by TSMC often offer better performance and higher efficiency, even when using the same basic designs An example of this is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus processor, which outperformed its predecessor in terms of thermal performance and energy consumption, despite the identical architecture. Through this step, Google aspires to consolidate its position in the market of dedicated processors, giving Pixel phones a greater competitive advantage, whether in terms of responsiveness, improving battery life, or supporting advanced artificial intelligence features. The shift is clear evidence of Google's drive to deliver a groundbreaking phone experience that relies not only on the power of software, but also on carefully designed, high-quality hardware...

Key Takeaways

• Google is expected to unveil the Pixel 10 series during the fall of this year, to be the first phone with a TSMC processor, which raises expectations for significant improvements in performance and energy efficiency..
• The shift is clear evidence of Google's drive to deliver a groundbreaking phone experience that relies not only on the power of software, but also on carefully designed, high-quality hardware...

As hardware continues to evolve rapidly in 2026, all eyes remain on Google to see what comes next. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.