2025 has shaped up to be a year of breakthroughs and experimentation for the tech industry; smartphones and wearables don't just look different, but have started to become more user-friendly, thanks to AI. Trifold devices have arrived, ultra-thin designs are on the rise, and smart glasses are gaining popularity.

At the same time, throw in rising prices driven particularly by global tensions, and this year also marked a turning point in consumer tech, giving us a feeling that we are indeed living in the future.

Here are some of the top stories and trends of 2025 that shaped the year.

The foldable glow up: Trifold goes mainstream

While tri-fold devices aren't a new concept, they didn't really catch on, at least not in this part of the world. Huawei's Mate XT was the first to prove that this concept was indeed possible; its limited availability made it more of a distant dream rather than a usable device.

But Samsung may have changed it overnight. The company finally launched the Galaxy Z Trifold on December 1, which is said to bring the power of "the most advanced foldable technologies" right into the palm of your hands.

Essentially, making the form factor more valid and widely available to the broader smartphone market. When Samsung launches a new device, the entire ecosystem follows, from Google optimizing Android for it to carriers that might be willing to subsidize it for consumers. This also means developers will start creating apps compatible with multi-window support on a larger scale. But it doesn't just end there.

Samsung's aim wasn't about adding another screen, but to experiment with whether a trifold could actually be a usable product. While it may not replace traditional slab phones anytime soon, it could double as a tablet and a productivity tool. This kind of shift in thought from "Why would you want this?" to "Who is this actually made for?" is a huge deal. This move by Samsung could push competitors to make their own tri-fold and potentially drive people to consider owning this device.

AI takes center stage as companies shift focus

Google I/O AI Part from r/google

For the past few years, AI has been a buzzword for every major tech company. However, in 2025, we've finally started to see it pulling its weight with models like Gemini 3 Pro, ChatGPT 5.2, Meta's Llama 4, and so on.

Instead of being in the background on many devices so far, generative AI has become a core feature of smartphones, to the point that it has been baked into every aspect of the device. It can literally "see" what you see, help you navigate better, and even let you "try on" clothes while shopping online. From search and photography to productivity tools, AI can even help you create better workflows to manage your day. So much so that we even have an AI Home robot in our midst.

This year wasn't about flashy demos — it was about showing us how AI could work its way into our lives. Companies like Google, Samsung, and OnePlus also redefined the user experience with more intuitive AI. Now it doesn't just respond to your commands, but it learns from your daily routine and gives you personalized suggestions in real time.

AI has rapidly transitioned from optional software to a foundational feature on smartphones. This has altered how we interact with our devices, marking a monumental shift in consumer tech.

The rise of the ultra-slim smartphones

This year, we also witnessed several tech companies obsessed with making super-thin devices like the Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air, measuring 5.8 mm and 5.6mm, respectively. Fitting all the necessary components into such incredibly slim casings is an engineering marvel in itself.

Despite the hype both companies tried to create with phones, the S25 Edge and the iPhone Air saw underwhelming sales, so much so that Samsung has reportedly decided to ditch the Edge lineup for good.

Yet we feel that the slim-phone era is really just getting started. These devices may serve as crucial stepping stones toward future foldables or even slimmer rollable phones. It almost feels like the manufacturers are using these designs to experiment with new materials, improved battery technology, and more, in a quest to slim down hardware without compromising on performance.

Tariffs, Tariffs and, more Tariffs

Well, all wasn't merry in the town of Tech. Earlier this year, under the Trump administration, the U.S. imposed hefty tariffs that impacted the tech supply chain.

At first, a 10% tariff was levied on all Chinese imports, which was later increased to 20%. At the same time, the U.S. also imposed 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. At one point, tariffs went as high as 145%, which really shook up Apple investors, and the discussion quickly broadened to include all smartphone manufacturers. That imposed a 25% tariff on smartphones, including Apple, Samsung, and other OEMs that manufacture phones outside the country. The result?

This sent all the tech companies into a frenzy, leading Samsung to reportedly ramp up production of this year's Galaxy S25 series in a preemptive move and OnePlus to suddenly increase the price of its Watch 3. These tariffs even targeted semiconductor chips and key electronics, such as memory chips and circuits, which are mostly imported from outside the country, especially from China. After a few days, the White House decided to exempt certain electronics from these tariffs temporarily.

That said, it created enough confusion for consumers and tech companies alike. This means phones aren't getting expensive just because of their hardware, but also the global polices that dictate pricing. For now, Samsung and Google have both stuck to the same price tags with their flagships; however, this could change with your next phone.

XR finally gets its moment

XR had its best moments this year as several companies raced to put the future of tech on your face. Android pushed deeper into XR and VR with the launch of Samsung's much-awaited Galaxy XR headset in October, to challenge Apple's Vision Pro.

Galaxy XR came built on Android XR, and with Google’s Gemini AI baked right in. This means it’s not just a headset running Android apps but also an AI-powered device that understands your surroundings and responds through voice, vision, and gestures.

Meta also launched new AI-powered smart glasses this year, and the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses push the boundaries of wearable tech. As these glasses let you do pretty much anything while keeping your phone tucked away, from checking messages to basically navigating through life, you get to do it all with just one glance at the in-lens display.

Google also didn't shy away from showing off its own innovations in the XR field. It gave us a quick surprise demo of its glasses at I/O and offered a first look at Project Aura from XREAL, which is reportedly equipped with a 70-degree field of view and optical see-through technology, set to launch in 2026.

It's a particularly interesting year in the mobile industry, with Qualcomm and MediaTek making sizeable gains with their offerings. Qualcomm switched to a fully-custom design after a decade, and the result is that the Snapdragon 8 Elite has generational gains over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and it is magnificent.

MediaTek isn't sitting idly by either, and the Dimensity 9400 has notable design wins and much better performance. By contrast, Google's decision to play it safe with the Tensor G4 feels shortsighted, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL doesn't bring any meaningful upgrades in this area.

I used over a dozen phones powered by the latest chipsets in the last three months, and it's time to take a look at how they differ. Before I get to the benchmarks, a quick overview of what's new this year. Obviously, we need to start with Qualcomm, because the Snapdragon 8 Elite is different to what we've seen in the past.

Qualcomm went to a fully custom CPU design in a move that's similar to what Apple does with its own silicon, and it allowed the chip vendor to fine-tune the platform by a considerable amount. It isn't astonishing, then, that the platform has the best single-and multi-core CPU scores of anything I tested, and it even outmatches the iPhone 16 Pro Max — a huge deal in and of itself.

The gains with the GPU aren't as noticeable, and while it continues to be one of the best around, it doesn't have an outsized lead. Thankfully, MediaTek was also able to deliver a platform that's fantastic, and the Dimensity 9400 has enticing upgrades. Although it uses stock Arm cores, MediaTek's decision to exclusively leverage big cores makes a clear difference when it comes to performance. MediaTek has been doing this for two years now, and it nailed the fundamentals.

Interestingly, the GPU on the Dimensity 9400 is able to hold its own against what Qualcomm is offering. That just hasn't been the case in previous years, and I even managed to get better scores with the Immortalis-G925 than the Adreno 830. Qualcomm still leads the way with sustained performance, but it's great to see MediaTek gaining ground in this key area.

There isn't much to talk about the Tensor G4, as Google is using the same core configuration and manufacturing node as the G3. While Qualcomm and MediaTek made the switch to a 3nm node — delivering big gains in efficiency — Google is still using the 4nm node, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL doesn't quite have the same battery longevity.

I'm using ASUS's Zenfone 12 Ultra as the Qualcomm baseline as it has a good thermal solution while still technically being a mainstream phone. I went with the Vivo X200 Pro to highlight the Dimensity 9400; while the Find X8 Pro also uses the same platform, I felt that the X200 Pro did a better job at gaming, so that's the one I'm using. And with Google, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has the best thermal management system in the Pixel 9 series, so that's the one I used.

When it comes to the CPU, it's clear that Qualcomm has a definite edge this year. The custom design allowed devices like the Zenfone 12 Ultra and Honor Magic 7 Pro to net the best scores in Geekbench 6's single- and multi-core workloads, and I don't see this changing over the course of 2025. The Dimensity 9400 does a great job as well, and while it is faster than last year, it doesn't outshine Qualcomm.

As you can imagine, the Pixel 9 Pro XL lags behind its rivals, posting scores that just don't measure up — the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-based OnePlus 13R does a better job. Annoyingly, it's a similar story with the GPU as well, and the device just doesn't come close to 2025 flagships. That said, I didn't see any slowdowns in regular use, and if anything, Google did a great job with optimization with the Android 15 update, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL has much better fluidity than previous years.

The biggest issue is that the 9 Pro XL just doesn't deliver the same level of performance in demanding games. You don't get stable framerates, it throttles too soon, and it doesn't even measure up to Qualcomm and MediaTek's 2024 offerings, much less their latest platforms.

Google says it positioned on-device AI as the differentiator with the Tensor G4, but even in this area, it doesn't do anywhere as well as Qualcomm. It has a slender lead over the Dimensity 9400 in Geekbench's AI workloads, but the Zenfone 12 Ultra once again has the distinct edge, with Qualcomm's NPU clearly the one to beat.

When it comes to gaming, the Immortalis-G925 in the Dimensity 9400 delivered the best scores in 3DMark's Wild Life Extreme and Solar Bay tests. That said, the platform tends to throttle aggressively, and the X200 Pro had a stability score of just 49% in the demanding Steel Nomad Light endurance run. By contrast, Qualcomm-powered devices managed a score of at least 70%, with most devices going up to 90% in the same test.

The downside to limited throttling is that Qualcomm-based devices tend to run hotter. The X200 Pro went up to a maximum of 44 degrees Celsius after an extended gaming session, but the Zenfone 12 Ultra hit 46 degrees, and Nubia's Z70 Ultra got up to 59 degrees — the highest of any phone I tested.

Synthetic tests don't reveal the whole story, but having used these devices for an extended amount of time, what's clear is that both Qualcomm and MediaTek have done a fabulous job this year. I'm glad that MediaTek is able to deliver a product that goes up against Qualcomm in the high-end category — that just hasn't been the case in previous years.

Another interesting point is the ISP; while Qualcomm continues to make gains in this area, MediaTek outdid itself this year, with the X200 Pro and Find X8 Pro delivering the best camera packages of 2025. Of course, the camera hardware and tuning makes a sizeable difference, but the ISP on the Dimensity 9400 is an integral part of the package, and MediaTek did all the right things.

It's a similar situation with battery life. The key talking point is the introduction of silicon-carbon battery tech, and Dimensity 9400-powered devices have a clear edge when it comes to battery life. While the OnePlus 13 and Vivo X200 Pro have identical 6000mAh cells, the X200 Pro managed to last longer in my testing, delivering an additional hour of screen-on-time.

I didn't do any quantitative battery testing, but my usage across devices is roughly unchanged, and the two phones that delivered the best battery life are the X200 Pro and Find X8 Pro, both powered by the Dimensity 9400. Ultimately, both Qualcomm and MediaTek did a standout job with their 2025 designs, and while MediaTek is seeing better design wins, Qualcomm continues to dominate the North American market. I don't see that status quo changing anytime soon, but what's refreshing is that MediaTek has a viable alternative in the Dimensity 9400 in other global markets.

The internet never lies. Except when it told us that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with its long-ass name was at least 300% better than Google's Tensor 4 because benchmarks are eleventy times better. I think. Maybe.

This video from YouTuber In Depth Tech Reviews says otherwise. Using his 100% bonafide scientific methods, the Tensor G4-powered Pixel 9 Pro XL did better than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (at this point, I like typing it) and is equal to the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max's A17 Pro when it comes to actually doing things.

My God, tech names suck.

In case you can't be bothered to watch the video, all phones were cranked to max refresh rate, a Microsoft Teams meeting was joined, screen sharing mode was enabled, a 2160p YouTube video was played in picture-in-picture mode, Google Maps was set to navigate to the Dubai Mall, and all this is left running in the background whilst playing Asphalt 9. Yeah, it's totally normal things people do every day.

The verdict? Pixel 9 Pro XL handily beats the S24 Ultra because the S24 got too hot and crashed. And the Pixel couldn't do it without the sheer power of the mighty Google Tensor G4. In fact, the Pixel was as good or better than the iPhone and we know that the iPhone's chip is like a supercharged V8 engine running on jet fuel and nitrous oxide. 

While you knowingly nod because you knew the Pixel was unbeatable, please remember the poor Galaxy S24 during this difficult time.

OK, I can't do this. It's all bullshit.

The video is real, and it happened just the way I described it, but it means absolutely nothing. Just like running benchmarks and saying something different means absolutely nothing. Let people enjoy doing it if they like, but know that none of this makes any difference to anyone else.

If you're curious, this test shows that Google is doing a better job with thermal management than Apple and Samsung are doing. Certainly better than previous Pixels. That's not surprising because Google already said as much.

In the end, you'll find a phone for a particular thing if you want to buy it. There are gaming phones from companies like Red Magic that are better equipped to play games than anything from Samsung or Google. There are productivity phones like the Galaxy S24. And there are AI phones like the Pixel 9.

One thing they all have in common is that the companies making them have a vision about what they want the product to do. Do not fool yourself into thinking that Google isn't capable of building a product that beats Samsung at running Geekbench tests. It just doesn't care because it thinks you won't care. Google, at least for now, is all about AI and designs its products to work well with the way it does AI.

That's what the Pixel 9 is: the Google AI phone. Doing some crazy stuff might make for an entertaining video, but it doesn't tell you that one product is better than another. Buy what you like and whatever does the things you want it to do.

And for God's sake, can we stop arguing about it?

What you need to know

• A recent report suggests the Tensor G4 chipset will only bring minor upgrades over the current Tensor G3 generation. 
• Although Tensor G3 held up better than Tensor G2, it's still very much losing in the performance race to Qualcomm. 
• If the upgrades to Tensor G4 are minor and the bigger jump is expected to come next year with Tensor G5, it might be worth waiting to buy the Pixel 10. 

Leaks surrounding the Google Pixel 9 series are heating up ahead of a Made by Google event that's less than two weeks away. We expect to see a whopping four phones debut there, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. They'll all presumably be powered by the Tensor G4 chip, which will be Google's next in-house mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC). However, if recent reports are to be believed, Google might not be planning a massive performance increase over the current Tensor G3 chip. 

The news comes via Android Authority, which says an unnamed source at Google revealed the Tensor G4 isn't going to be a considerable upgrade over the Tensor G3. There is a new architecture for the chipset, which uses a 4+3+1 layout with Cortex-A520 (1.9GHz), Cortex-A720 (2.6GHz), and Cortex-X4 (3.1GHz). This will reportedly lead to "slightly higher" clock speeds compared to the Tensor G3.

Still, it's much of the same for the Tensor G4. According to the report, the Mali-G715 will be used for graphics, just like the Tensor G3. Although it is said to be clocked higher this time, at 940MHz instead of 890MHz, it's unclear how much of a difference that will make in everyday usage. The biggest upgrade might come from the inclusion of a Samsung Exynos 5400 modem that's reported to reduce power consumption by as much as half.

Sometimes, chip progress stalls and it's just part of the ebbs and flows of processor design and fabrication. However, slow development will impact Google more than it would, say, Apple and Qualcomm. The latter two companies are at the top of their game, with the A17 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoCs both representing the best mobile processing has to offer.

The same can't be said for Google. The company fixed the glaring problems with the Tensor G2 platform last year, solving the overheating issues and the disastrous performance. Still, it's hard to describe the current Tensor G3 as great. It's passable, but performance lags behind the likes of Apple and Qualcomm even still. Another year of middling performance with the Tensor G4 wouldn't do anything to quell concerns that Pixels don't have the performance to keep up with other flagships nowadays.

Android phones are now marketed as long-term buys, with Google and Samsung touting seven years of software support across their current crop of flagship devices. And yet, if the Tensor G3 and G4 lag behind the competition today, how will these chips fare seven years from now? We've called these OS update promises into question before, but the guarantees are more concerning if the Tensor G4 isn't a notable improvement. To run Android in the 2030s, these chips will almost assuredly need more power. 

So, it all comes down to this: are you willing to invest in a Pixel that isn't even performance-competitive today, especially when reports indicate that the following Tensor G5 upgrade could represent the biggest year-to-year performance upgrade we've seen from Google? If I'm considering spending my hard-earned cash, I'm waiting for the Pixel 10.

Everything we know about the Tensor G5 platform

It's tricky to understate how big of a performance leap we're expecting from the Tensor G5 platform, which could launch in 2025 with the Pixel 10 series. The Tensor G5 is said to be the first Google chip made using a fully custom design. If you recall, custom designs are what helped Qualcomm and Apple both deliver excellent performance and optimization from their chipsets. It's also rumored to be produced by TSMC, which is clearly the leader in chip fabrication at the moment, trouncing Intel and Samsung.

According to a recent report from the Taiwan Commercial Times, Google is at the "tapeout" step in the chip design and fabrication process. This is a big moment where the company will decide whether to move forward with mass production of the Tensor G5. It's a lengthy process to make a smartphone chip, but the fact that this stage is occurring now could indicate that the TSMC-made Tensor G5 chip will be ready for the Pixel 10 series.

To date, every Tensor chip was based on a Samsung Exynos design, and is fabricated by Samsung. However, reports say that the switch to TSMC for the Tensor G5 platform will utilize the company's 3nm process node. For perspective, Apple was the first to use TSMC's 3nm process in the mobile sector with the A17 Pro, which is the leader in mobile performance. Qualcomm is actually a step behind with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform, which uses the 4nm process.

All together, it looks more and more like the Pixel 10 and its Tensor G5 chip will be the one to wait for. Tensor G4 is reportedly nothing special, meanwhile the Tensor G5 made by TSMC could be groundbreaking. If you're considering investing in a Pixel, perhaps think about waiting a year to get the best value for your money. 

What you need to know

• A report claims to have spilled the crucial details of Google's minimal performance upgrades for the Pixel 9 through the Tensor G4 SoC.
• The chip has reportedly changed its core structure to help the chip cool off while also including minimal speed increases and the same GPU as the G3.
• The Tensor G4 has been rumored to feature slight upgrades over the G3 for a while and recent rumors suggest the only big change will be its Exynos 5400 modem.

The supposed nitty-gritty surrounding Google's upcoming Tensor chip has surfaced and it's nothing short of disappointing.

The folks at Android Authority credit an unnamed Google insider for information surrounding the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9 series. According to this source, the Tensor G4 features cores that clock in "slightly higher" than the Tensor G3 alongside a reconfigured architecture. It reportedly follows a 4+3+1 scheme with the Cortex-A520 (1.9GHz), Cortex-A720 (2.6GHz), and Cortex-X4 (3.1GHz).

There's speculation that Google decided to swap the core setup to help the chip run cooler. Pixels have had a bad history of overheating problems as it's happened continuously across multiple iterations.

The report adds that has also kept the same GPU as the Tensor G3: the Mali-G715. However, it's rumored to clock in slightly higher at 940MHz instead of 890MHz.

The Tensor G4 is rumored (once again) to feature a new modem from Samsung's kitchen called the Exynos 5400. We've long since heard whispers about satellite connectivity support on the Pixel 9 and this modem would be its catalyst. This piece of hardware will allegedly improve power consumption by "up to 50%" than the Pixel 8.

Additional rumors state Google might not take advantage of this new modem across the entire Pixel 9 series. Speculation states the company is testing a device with the Tensor G4 and the previous Exynos 5300 modem. In theory, this could be a Pixel 9a, though we're likely a long way off from knowing for certain.

Other smaller technical aspects of the Pixel 9, like its AV1 encoder, ML accelerator, Digital Security Processor, and Titan M2 Security chip are rumored to remain unchanged.

The latest report doubles down on rumors we heard last year that suggested the Tensor G4 would only offer "slight" performance upgrades. The Tensor G4 was reportedly known as "Zuma Pro" internally, which is a play off the G3's "Zuma" codename. More importantly, the chip was supposedly designed to run off a new processor called "Redondo."

However, sources claimed that Google ran into problems between its American and Indian teams working on it, thus scrapping the project entirely.

The Tensor G4 also appeared during an AnTuTu benchmark test, which completely spoiled its specifications. While the scores seemed high, they were only moderately better than the Pixel 8.

With what's been rumored, perhaps the major Pixel performance upgrade we're waiting on will arrive with the Tensor G5. Google is expected to drop Samsung for TSMC as it prepares the next chip for the Pixel 10 series. Though the rumors keep us wondering, we'll know for sure on August 13 as Google readies its next hardware event.

Google's Tensor G4 chip has leaked out and there isn't anything that should surprise anyone. We don't know everything about the new processor, but what we've seen shows that it will be a continuation of what Google thinks is important, and best when it comes to a smartphone's brainbox.

In a set of leaked benchmarks — which really mean nothing to anyone who doesn't love running benchmarks — the G4 slightly outperforms its predecessor. That's because the processor core architecture and arrangement are pretty standard; ARM v9-A cores in a 1-3-4 arrangement.  

If that doesn't make much sense to you, that's OK because you don't need to know the numbers and lingo. This is a standard ARM processor without all the turbocharging that companies like Apple and Qualcomm love to do when it comes to making chips.

While this processor will probably be just fine for most of us, it's not going to excel at playing games or doing any CPU or GPU-intensive tasks for an extended period of time. In this regard, it will act much like the Tensor G3 that powers the Google Pixel 8 series.

Where it should show improvement are the areas that Google thinks really count: security and AI. Again, much like the G3 compared to the G2. If you notice a trend here, you've stumbled across Google's not-so-secret recipe when it comes to making a "better" smartphone.

The Google way

Not so long ago, the most important thing about a phone chip seemed to be the processor clock speed and how "powerful" the chip was. Bigger numbers meant a better chip, which meant a better experience in a better phone. For some folks in some cases, this is still true. But not for Google.

Google seems to want to balance a handful of important things while designing a chip specializing in the key areas where the company does things differently. It's been semi-successful and each generation is a little better at doing it than the last.

The biggest and arguably most important thing Google needs to consider is the power wall. Tiny batteries power phones and have an abysmal lifespan. That means efficiency matters.

A phone chip isn't a car engine. You can't keep pushing a fuel mixture into it to push it faster and faster because the supply is limited and there's no easy way to get rid of the heat it creates. The only solution is to limit the "top speed" in a way that causes less heat while using less energy. Google doesn't do a great job at this, though each generation of chip does better than the last. Hopefully, the G4 continues this trend.

in addition to trying to create a chip that's more efficient, Google is going the specialization route. A phone chip isn't monolithic and there are specialized processors and processor cores designed for specific tasks. This allows the chip to allocate resources more effectively, at least in theory.

Imagine a team of people who specialize in different areas. You have a few people who are stronger than average and can do "heavy" work, a mathematician or two who can handle intense calculations quickly, maintainers who make sure things run how and when they should, a security guard who keeps order, and a manager who oversees everything.

This is how a modern phone chip and kernel operate. Certain parts are better than others when it comes to specific tasks and when everything is routed correctly and done by the right team, things run more smoothly. Google isn't alone in this regard; every company that designs SoCs (System on Chip) uses this blueprint. The difference is where Google places the chip's strengths. 

If you didn't already know, I'll tell you — don't buy a Pixel phone if you want to play games or have the most powerful chip. Google has never been great in these areas and probably never will. If you need power and speed, buy a phone with a new Qualcomm chip. If you need the most powerful and fastest chip, buy an iPhone.

Google thinks people are better served in a completely different way. In Google's vision, modern smartphones are defined by AI. While 2024 seems to be the year of the AI beast, this really isn't something new; Google has been heavily leaning on AI since the days of the Nexus 5. the birth of the Pixel series, and more importantly, the Tensor SoC, allows Google to do more of it.

That doesn't mean Google Gemini replacing Assistant or AI-powered search results. Those are examples of stupid AI coming faster than necessary because nobody — including Google — is really ready for them. I'm talking about on-device edge computing models powered by Google's machine learning algorithms.

This is the kind of AI we actually enjoy. Oddly enough, it's also the kind of AI that many of us don't know is powered by AI. I'm not sure if there is a correlation there or not.

Either way, when AI makes your battery last longer, your photos look better, helps you talk to people who speak a different language, and can better understand what it hears, we love to use it. Google is a software company and can do this with software provided it has the right access to the right hardware. That's why the Tensor chip is designed the way it is.

Google has no idea if its vision of the perfect smartphone will resonate with us, but it's counting on it. Pixel phones are polarizing among the tech community and for every person who loves them there is one that hates them.

Android is an extremely competitive and unique commodity. With so many great minds working on different ways to use and present it, Google isn't guaranteed to win here. The best thing it can do is continue to run with what it thinks is working, and the Tensor G4 is proof that it is doing just that.

What you need to know

• Google's Tensor G4, which is expected to power the Pixel 9 series, appeared during the series' AnTuTu benchmark test.
• From the test, the chip will use an ARMv9-A core architecture but may only give the Pixel 9 trio a "slight" power boost over the Pixel 8 and the Tensor G3.
• q1The trio scored 1.07 million, 1.14 million, and 1.17 million points for the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL, respectively.

Slowly but surely, more information about the Pixel 9 series is coming to light, and the latest leaks involve Google's 2024 chipset.

Rozetked (Russian) spotted the Pixel 9 trio undergoing the hurdles of the AnTuTu benchmark test (via Android Police). Running the Tensor G4, the base Pixel 9 scored 1.07 million points. The middle Pixel 9 Pro achieved 1.14 million points, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL reached 1.17 million points.

As the publication notes, these numbers ma]\y seem high, but they're only slightly higher than the base Pixel 8 at 900,000. This is likely due to Google's minimal changes, as the Tensor G4 features an ARMv9-A core architecture.

Simply put, the chip offers one Cortex-A4 at 3.1GHz, three Cortex-A720 cores at 2.6GHz, and four Cortex-A520 cores at 1.95GHz.

It doesn't seem like we're in for a major power boost for the Pixel series with the Tensor G4. However, it's worth noting that these early test numbers aren't indicative of the Pixel 9's final release strength.

Things could get better (or stay the same), so we'll have to wait until after the summer.

For context, last year's Tensor G3 features one Cortex-X3 core clocked at 2.91 GHz, four Cortex-A715 performance cores (2.37 GHz), and four Cortex-A510 cores (1.7 GHz). Google's chip features one more core dedicated to efficiency, however, it fell short of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in terms of speed for its performance and prime cores. Moreover, the chip still gets warm pretty quickly and it's bad news for gamers as their FPS will continuously drop during long play sessions.

AI was what Google banked on — and there's no reason why that wouldn't continue to be the case this year.

It's been rumored since last year that the Tensor G4 might not be a major powerhouse over the G3. The chip is supposedly using the codename "Zuma Pro," which builds upon the G3's "Zuma" name. Speculation pointed toward a more minimal upgrade as Google reportedly scrapped its entirely new processor, codename "Redondo," due to sharp delays.

Other reports stated the chip will lean on Samsung's third-generation SF4P 4nm process. This, again, is only slightly better than the Tensor G3's SF4 process. Elsewhere, the entire Pixel 9 series leaked in live photos just hours before Google's I/O 2024 keynote event in May.