Google is finally going to launch Pixel phones powered by their own, in-house developed CPUs this year with the Pixel 6 set to be the launch vehicle.
According to a rumour from 9to5Google, the GS101 “Whitechapel” processor will be used on the Pixel 6. The GS monniker, is likely short for ‘Google Silicon’, and will eventually be used to power both phones and even possibly Chromebooks down the track.
According to the report, Google is partnered with Samsung for development of the processor, which may share features or architecture with their Exynos mobile processors.
The move to using their own silicon for processing isn’t a new idea for Google. The company already manufactures its own Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for use in cloud computing applications in their data centres. They also already make their Titan M security co-processor in their Pixel phones.
Google has been hiring on chip design specialists, including Uri Frank who came on board recently as VP of Engineering for server chip design. While Mr Frank is likely expanding their data centre silicon, it does show that Google is fairly serious about this new business.
We should see the Pixel 6 launching in around September to November this year, so if they are using their own silicone it can’t be long before we see it in the flesh.
