With Google expected to unveil the Pixel 8 series in the fourth quarter of this year, the Google Tensor 3 chipset for the new devices will most likely be produced on the third-generation 4nm production node. Let’s take a look at why.
Why the Pixel 8 series Google Tensor 3 will be based on the 4nm production node
Despite experiencing yield challenges with its 4nm chip production last year, Samsung Foundry has seen the percentage of its chips that pass quality control increase. As a consequence, according to Business Korea (via Wccftech), the world’s second-largest foundry (behind global leader TSMC) is ready to mass manufacture chips on its third-generation 4nm manufacturing node.
As the number of process nodes decreases, the chip’s transistor count grows, making it more powerful and energy-efficient. As PhoneArena previously stated, yield concerns at Samsung Foundry prompted Qualcomm to shift manufacture of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the future Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to TSMC.
Apple is now the only business interested in 3nm, and it has reserved all of TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing for this year. As a result, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will be manufactured on a 4nm node as well.
TSMC’s 4nm yield rate has been at the 70%-80% level, whereas Sammy allegedly struggled with a 35% rate at one time last year. According to industry sources, that yield rate has now improved to 60%. Samsung has also been able to develop its 4nm node, resulting in increased performance and energy efficiency. This might entice some of the foundry’s disgruntled customers to return. Apart from Qualcomm, Samsung would want to see MediaTek return.
While the iPhone 15 Pro series will be the only phone to be powered by 3nm silicon this year, mass production of the 4nm chips will begin sometime in the first half of this year. As said earlier, since the Google Pixel 8 series will be coming months after the start of 4nm chip production, the Google Tensor 3 will most probably be a 4nm chip.
