Google is reportedly planning to launch its Pixel 6 line-up using its very own silicon chipset, begging the question of how it might compare to Apple's A14 chip that powers the iPhone 12. While the iPhone 12 is among the most premium of smartphones available, Pixel phones have long been one of the best smartphones for shoppers on more of a budget. Will a custom-designed chip help Google to compete at the very top-end or simply deliver more of the same but better?
The ongoing rivalry between Android and iOS isn't going anywhere, which has always made it rather surprising that Google — the company behind the Android operating system — hasn’t offered an equally high-end phone to compete with Apple’s flagship iPhones. Instead, the tech giant has been content to play second fiddle to partner brands like Samsung and OnePlus in hardware specs. With that in mind, the idea of creating its own system on a chip (SoC) seems rather odd and immediately leads one to think that change could be the air for the Pixel lineup.
The question, then, is what direction Google will turn with this new chip. As 9to5Google reports, there are strong indicators that Google is working closely with Samsung in the development of this new chip codenamed 'Whitechapel GS101.' Samsung has a strong pedigree in SoC development with its own Exynos processors which frequently challenge Qualcomm's Snapdragons for the performance crown. Should Google take a similar approach, the Pixel 6 may be the first Pixel to give Apple a run for its money. On the other hand, Google may use this opportunity to customize its new chip to leverage its AI functionality to make it a better value for smartphone shoppers than ever before, leaving Apple to retain the performance crown.
Does Google’s Chip Need To Beat Apple’s A14?
It’s too early to say which way Google will go with any degree of certainty, but given the company’s history, it’s likely to embrace features over number-crunching specs. The Pixel line has carved out a comfortable niche for itself based on software features, AI-driven enhancements, and affordable pricing. Instead of emphasizing on-paper specs like most major smartphone manufacturers, Google has focused on the customer experience and satisfaction for the money invested. As a result, the Pixel 5 has thrived in the middle and earned a loyal fanbase.
With Google's focus on AI and user experience in mind, it may not even matter all that much if Whitechapel goes toe-to-toe with A14. Google leverages computational photography to deliver some of the best pictures in the business without needing that high-end hardware. The Pixel 5 fell short of the iPhone 12 in video recording due to processing power, but that could change when Google tailors its CPU to its own purposes. As one of the most alluring features for smartphone shoppers, delivering an incredible camera for an affordable price is quite the selling point. For normal browsing and media consumption, even the Pixel 5’s chip is sufficient, so the Pixel 6 will surely be just fine there. Add in a few AI enhancements and you have a recipe for a chip that can compete with the A14 without needing the same capabilities.
Source: 9to5Google