Google Pixel 11 to be first with TSMC 2nm chip, beating Apple

Google is poised to make a significant technological leap with its upcoming Pixel 11 series, slated for an August 13th announcement. The new phones are expected to debut the Tensor G6 chip, manufactured by TSMC using its cutting-edge 2-nanometer process. If these reports hold true, Google's Pixel 11 would become the world's first smartphone to utilize 2nm chip technology, potentially beating Apple to the punch by about a month.

The 2nm process from TSMC is anticipated to be a major talking point in the smartphone market for the latter half of the year. Several major chipsets, including Apple's A20 series, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, and MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 series, are also expected to adopt this advanced manufacturing node. However, based on release schedules, the Pixel 11 series appears set to claim the "first" title for a 2nm smartphone.

While the Tensor G6 chip's performance improvements may not be the main focus, with information suggesting a downgrade to a 7-core CPU and the use of a PowerVR GPU architecture dating back to 2021, Google's strategy seems to prioritize user experience and AI capabilities. A notable change is the reported switch from a Samsung modem to MediaTek's M90, which is expected to enhance signal stability, improve power efficiency, and mitigate overheating issues. This shift aligns with Google's consistent design philosophy of focusing on practical application and enhanced AI features over raw benchmark scores.