Discussion Google Tensor SoC thread

[thigobr]

As long as battery life and heat management has improved, it would be good news.
My Pixel 8 heats up just by using android auto with environment temps around 70°F... And battery life on 5g network is abysmal. The re-use of Samsung modem doesn't seem good news!

 

[DZero]

I don't use Chinese phones because of my work, so I am limited to Samsung, Google, and I guess Motorola.

Of these three Pixels have the best camera so that's the reason for me. I don't really care about GPU performance since only scrubs and toddlers game on a phone. The CPU performance is last gen for sure, but again, we are at the point of diminishing returns. All I use my phone for is taking pictures of my kids, browsing the internet and you tube, generating unfunny meme's, and sending creepy text messages to my ex.

That... isn't leaving just using Apple at most?

 

[poke01]

That... isn't leaving just using Apple at most?

I mean is Motorola make proper flagships?

It’s just Samsung, Apple and Google(who semi makes high end phones) in the US.

 

[poke01]

That... isn't leaving just using Apple at most?

I mean does Motorola make proper flagships?

It’s just Samsung, Apple and Google(who semi makes high end phones) in the US.

 

[the901]

I don't use Chinese phones because of my work, so I am limited to Samsung, Google, and I guess Motorola.

Of these three Pixels have the best camera so that's the reason for me. I don't really care about GPU performance since only scrubs and toddlers game on a phone. The CPU performance is last gen for sure, but again, we are at the point of diminishing returns. All I use my phone for is taking pictures of my kids, browsing the internet and you tube, generating unfunny meme's, and sending creepy text messages to my ex.

I thought Google sold off Motorola to a Chinese company?

 

[Tup3x]

I don't use Chinese phones because of my work, so I am limited to Samsung, Google, and I guess Motorola.

Of these three Pixels have the best camera so that's the reason for me. I don't really care about GPU performance since only scrubs and toddlers game on a phone. The CPU performance is last gen for sure, but again, we are at the point of diminishing returns. All I use my phone for is taking pictures of my kids, browsing the internet and you tube, generating unfunny meme's, and sending creepy text messages to my ex.

Pixels take pretty good pictures but pretty meh video. For Samsung it's the opposite for some reason.

Lenovo is just using Motorola brand for phones so those are all China stuff nowadays.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Still, I hope Google picks a stronger GPU on the next iteration.

I think Google is making it very clear that they're not going to pursue more than "bottom-high" tier GPU performance on their Tensor SoCs.

Does it make any difference, though? It's not like graphically demanding videogames are popping up on Android.
For Pixel 11 and up, Google is probably a lot more focused with being able to run large language and text-to-speech models locally in their phones than they are of running games with better IQ.

 

[igor_kavinski]

For Pixel 11 and up, Google is probably a lot more focused with being able to run large language and text-to-speech models locally in their phones than they are of running games with better IQ.

Makes sense. After a certain point, is the IQ improvement even discernible unless you dock the mobile to a huge screen? At that point, why bother playing on mobile with controllers when you have specialized handheld consoles?

 

[Panino Manino]

Of these three Pixels have the best camera so that's the reason for me.

Are you really sure?
Seeing the GSMArena samples, while exposure and color is good, "IQ" is not. It resembles me the output from the Motorola Camera on its mid-tier phones. But I imagine you can "sideload" GCAM to remove all the Chroma and Luma Revert Factor destroying IQ.

 

[poke01]

Are you really sure?
Seeing the GSMArena samples, while exposure and color is good, "IQ" is not. It resembles me the output from the Motorola Camera on its mid-tier phones. But I imagine you can "sideload" GCAM to remove all the Chroma and Luma Revert Factor destroying IQ.

Also Pixels suck at video. The Dave2D review video really highlighted that.

 

[coercitiv]

Are you really sure?

https://piunikaweb.com/2024/01/09/pixels-reign-supreme-in-mkbhds-blind-smartphone-camera-test/\

Pixels won the last year's MKBHD public blind test.

 

[LightningZ71]

My understanding is that the Pixel has above average actual camera hardware, but does a LOT of heavy lifting on post processing and AI enhancements. Apple tends to have better hardware on all but their lowest end devices, but isn't quite as effective as google is in processing. Samsung depends a lot on the model, but isn't as good as either of the others on processing.

video is a different beast.

 

[sze5003]

I've been curious about going back to pixel but I've been with the Samsung ultra series since the pixel 6. Mainly since the Samsung doesn't do such a decent job at capturing moving objects. The s25 ultra has been great with battery life and I couldn't say the same for the last pixel I had. I just don't feel like paying a similar price for a pro 10 XL makes sense when the hardware isnt up to similar specs. Samsung also has decent trade in deals and I pay barely anything to get the newest model each year.

 

[Tup3x]

I think Google is making it very clear that they're not going to pursue more than "bottom-high" tier GPU performance on their Tensor SoCs.

Does it make any difference, though? It's not like graphically demanding videogames are popping up on Android.
For Pixel 11 and up, Google is probably a lot more focused with being able to run large language and text-to-speech models locally in their phones than they are of running games with better IQ.

If it can't run Genshin Impact maxed out smoothly (it can't), then it definitely is not good enough for flagship.

 

[511]

Google's Hardware is not flagship hardware

 

[adroc_thurston]

Google's Hardware is not flagship hardware

idk the screen looks fancy nuff.

 

[511]

idk the screen looks fancy nuff.

That and the cameras are the only saving grace at least they have 5000mAh batteries now 🤣

 

[adroc_thurston]

That and the cameras are the only saving grace at least they have 5000mAh batteries now 🤣

They had appropriately-sized batteries since like Pixel 6.
Pixel issue is down to underwhelming SoC choices.

 

[gdansk]

I'm not sure Google is getting their money's worth from Tensor development or the Pixel line. But they probably have a great deal of software for their TPU that made it an attractive proposition.

And I argue that even G4 performance is good enough for most people. If they have solved battery life and modem concerns then the key problems are fixed.

 

[adroc_thurston]

I'm not sure Google is getting their money's worth from Tensor development

Tensor was at least cheap and easy back when it was a semicustom Exynos.
But now?

 

[511]

Tensor is not cheap with TSMC N3E xDd

They had appropriately-sized batteries since like Pixel 6.
Pixel issue is down to underwhelming SoC choices

Pixel 7 display was poor and the battery life sucked and I owned one for 2 years.

 

[coercitiv]

That and the cameras are the only saving grace at least they have 5000mAh batteries now 🤣

That's why it's called Pixel and not Integer. Now that I think of it, I bet lots of people would pay top dollars for a SoC called Floating Point Pro.

Tensor is not cheap with TSMC N3E xDd

Pixel 7 display was poor and the battery life sucked and I owned one for 2 years.

Wife has the 7a and mine is 8a, they're both fine devices for people who do most computing on something else.

 

[511]

That's why it's called Pixel and not Integer. Now that I think of it, I bet lots of people would pay top dollars for a SoC called Floating Point Pro.

Should have named it Vec4 😛

Wife has the 7a and mine is 8a, they're both fine devices for people who do most computing on something else.

My experience in terms of battery life was not that good I upgraded to 9a though which is much better

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Pixel issue is down to underwhelming SoC choices.

Underwhelming SoC choices, using the same old camera modules for several generations in a row, dragging behind in fast charging...

I just don't get how the Chinese phone makers like Honor/Huawei, Vivo and Oppo get to adopt the latest sensors, ICs and IP from South Korea, Japan and USA so much faster than the South Korean, Japanese and American phone makers.

 

[adroc_thurston]

using the same old camera modules for several generations

That's fine.

dragging behind in fast charging...

God bless, we need to nuke China just for trying to do """""100W""""" charging inna phone.