Google Launches Tensor G5 3nm Chipset with Pixel 10 Lineup

Google has officially pulled the wraps off its first 3nm chipset, the Tensor G5, launching alongside the Pixel 10 family. Unlike its predecessors, this silicon is manufactured by TSMC, not Samsung, marking a turning point in Google’s hardware strategy.

The company claims a 34% average CPU performance boost compared to last year’s Tensor G4, though details remain hazy on whether those numbers apply to single-core or multi-core performance.

The Tensor G5 uses a new ‘1 + 5 + 2’ CPU cluster layout, a notable departure from the ‘1 + 3 + 4’ setup in the G4. Geekbench listings suggest one prime core hitting 3.78GHz, five mid cores at 3.05GHz, and two efficiency cores at 2.25GHz. While faster, it’s unlikely to match raw powerhouses like Snapdragon 8 Elite, Dimensity 9400+, or Apple’s A18 Pro.

Graphics remain more secretive. Reports point to an Imagination Technologies DXT-48-1536 GPU, but the absence of ray tracing support leaves Google lagging in mobile gaming innovation. However, the Tensor G5 leans heavily on AI: its TPU is 60% more powerful than before, and it introduces Google’s in-house ‘Matryoshka’ transformer model. Running Gemini Nano on-device is now 260% faster and twice as efficient, with token capacity expanding to 32,000 – enough to process roughly 100 screenshots locally.

Photography and video also see upgrades. The image signal processor reduces blur in low-light clips, and 10-bit HDR is now standard for 1080p and 4K 30FPS. 8K video recording remains absent, but users can still use Google’s cloud-based Video Boost for higher-end processing. Connectivity sticks with Samsung’s Exynos 5400 modem, meaning Google is not yet ready with its own 5G solution.

The Pixel 10 series is now up for pre-order, starting at $799. Amazon is sweetening the deal with gift cards: $100 for the base model, $200 for the Pixel 10 Pro or Pro XL, and a hefty $300 bonus if you splurge on the $1,799 Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Official release lands on August 28.