Google's Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have plenty of Samsung DNA, including an Exynos 5G modem

[nanoguy]

In brief: Google takes pride in making a custom chipset for its upcoming Pixel flagships, but they're also said to incorporate a lot of Samsung DNA. This includes a Samsung Exynos 5G modem, a move that could encourage more phone manufacturers to follow suit and reduce Qualcomm's tight grip on the market.

Earlier this month, Google confirmed that its next two flagship phones are the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, the first to be powered by the search giant's first custom chip. Dubbed "Tensor," the new chip is the culmination of four years of effort and the product of almost two decades of computing experience. More importantly, it is seen as an important step towards bringing more uniformity to the Android platform, with the same tight integration between hardware and software that Apple products are known for.

Tensor will definitely bring a number of benefits, including better security and "specific experiences" powered by machine learning, but a lot of the hardware on the new Pixel 6 family is said to be Samsung-made, so this may turn out to be just as much a Samsung phone as it will be a Google phone.

According to a Reuters report, Google has decided to use a Samsung 5G modem in the new phones instead of going with the most popular choice -- Qualcomm. The modem in question is a revised Exynos 5123, which is built on a 7nm-EUV process and supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrums with a maximum download speed of 7.35Gbps under ideal circumstances where 8-carrier aggregation is possible.

This would make the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro the first non-Samsung phones to come with an Exynos modem and has the potential to erode some of Qualcomm's stranglehold on the US market. After all, companies like Google, Nokia, and LG have recently pushed back against Qualcomm's 5G strategy, and Apple plans to move to its own 5G modems in the coming years.

It's worth noting that the modem is not the only Samsung component in Google's upcoming flagship phones, as the camera is said to use either a GN1 or a GN2 ISOCELL sensor -- both of which excel in low-light situations. And come to think of it, Google's fancy new Tensor chip is also manufactured by Samsung using the latter's 5nm process node.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/90978-google-pixel-6-6-pro-have-plenty-samsung.html

 

[Sausagemeat]

Why would people want to abandon Qualcomm - an American tech company, for Samsung - a heavily corrupt, incredibly mediocre Korean super giant? Especially Americans?

 

[NumberSix]

Why would people want to abandon Qualcomm - an American tech company, for Samsung - a heavily corrupt, incredibly mediocre Korean super giant? Especially Americans?

Because not only do the prices Qualcomm charge take the Mick they also determine when support ends for a chipset which is one of the reasons why Android has had a relatively short support lifespan over the years.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Why would people want to abandon Qualcomm - an American tech company, for Samsung - a heavily corrupt, incredibly mediocre Korean super giant? Especially Americans?

Just don't buy any tech made overseas - Isn't Apple an irish company ???
These are corporations doing the purchasing - they will only move jobs back to the USA -with massive sweeteners and robots can do 95% of the work - with cheap capital to buy it .
QC like intel have been too smug and need a good smack . Don't worry Pixel phones are just a niche market and Google will have it's own SOCs soon - probably made overseas .
Also learn how every country trading and making some foreign reserves is good for happiness and world stability.
Remember most consumers in the western world a re guilty of economic domination - in abetting the exploitation of farmers and primary producers in developing countries - You and me .
The answer needs to be more than buying Fair Trade coffee and chocolate

 

[punctualturn]

Why would people want to abandon Qualcomm - an American tech company, for Samsung - a heavily corrupt, incredibly mediocre Korean super giant? Especially Americans?

‘Merica F yeah!!

Dude, america sold our souls to the mighty dollar.

So its time to drop the blind patriotism and star looking out for yourself.


About dropping qualcomm modems, I believe that’s because their patents had a lock on cdma tech, but LTE its now king and not corrupted by qualcomm patents, so we will see many more dropping them.