Google reportedly delays release of fully custom phone chip until 2025

Alphabet Inc’s Google has delayed the release of a fully custom chip for its Pixel smartphones until 2025, The Information reported on Thursday, citing two people familiar with the matter. Google originally planned to release the chip, internally called Redondo, next year to replace the semi-custom chips it currently designs with Samsung Electronics, the report said. Also Read: Google Might Be Giving Tensor Chips a Much-Needed Performance Boost: Tensor G6 Rumoured to Use 2nm Process for Pixel 11

Google launched its first custom chip Tensor with Pixel 6 in 2021, but it was only a semi-custom chip. In the following year, i.e., in 2022, Google continued with the same technology for the second generation of Tensor chip called Tensor G2, which powers the Pixel 7 duo, Pixel 7a, and Pixel Fold. Reports were rife that with the third generation, Google may finally be able to move to a fully custom chip. Also Read: Google Tensor Chips to Be Produced by TSMC Until Pixel 14: Major Upgrades Could Be Coming in the Pixel 10 Series 

The tech giant will also switch from Samsung to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) for making the chips, called Tensors, according to The Information. The world’s largest contract chipmaker counts companies such as Apple and Nvidia among its customers. Also Read: Google Pixel 10 Pro Leaks and Rumours: Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming Flagship

Google did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while TSMC declined to comment.

Google will stick with Samsung for another year and wait until 2025 to introduce a fully custom design chip, internally code-named Laguna, according to The Information. The Laguna chip will be based on TSMC’s 3-nanometer manufacturing process, currently the world’s most advanced chipmaking process, the report added. Google is placing bets on the fully-custom chip as it looks to take on Apple, which has made significant strides in custom chip development. In addition to manufacturing A-series chips, Apple has finished the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon chips.

— Written with inputs from Reuters