The new Pixel smartphones that Google LLC is expected to announce this fall will feature a custom system-on-chip designed by the search giant’s engineers, 9to5Google reported today.

A document seen by the publication indicates that the SOC is known internally as GS101. The first two letters of the codename are believed to be short for “Google Silicon.” The document also appears to confirm previously leaked information about the chip and contains a number of new details.

In April 2020, Axios reported that Google had teamed up with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. to make an SOC for its mobile devices and Chromebook laptops. An SOC is a multipurpose processor that combines several different computing modules in a single package. In the case of Google’s Pixel chip, the design is said to integrate an eight-core central processing unit based on Arm Ltd. blueprints with a machine learning accelerator developed by the search giant.

Today’s report suggests that the SOC will share a number of common components with Samsung’s Exynos processor series, including certain software features. Samsung uses Exynos processors to power some editions of its popular Galaxy phones. The report elaborates that Google appears to be developing the Pixel chip in collaboration with Samsung’s semiconductor unit, which provides processor design tools and fabrication services.

That Google’s chip is expected to potentially share certain components with Exynos suggests the companies are collaborating on silicon design. Based on previously leaked information, Google will likely also rely on Samsung for manufacturing. The original Axios report from last year about the search giant’s mobile SOC plans stated that the company intends to use Samsung’s five-nanometer manufacturing process, which is its newest and most advanced.

Samsung began producing five-nanometer chips last year. The company has stated that, compared with chips made using earlier seven-nanometer technology, customers can expect a 10% increase in processing speeds and 20% better power efficiency.

A notable detail is that Google reportedly plans to use the Pixel’s upcoming SOC in Chromebook laptops as well. That’s similar to the approach taken by Apple Inc., which is said to be readying new MacBooks featuring a larger version of the custom processor powering its iPhones. Like Apple, Google might introduce multiple versions of its SOC with different processing speeds.

The internal document obtained by 9to5Google contains a hint suggesting that is the case. The document includes references to a technology codenamed Slider, which is believed to be a “shared platform” for the first Pixel SOC. Apple’s iPhone and MacBook chips are also based on a shared platform, or architecture, partly to make it easier for developers to build apps that work well on both devices. 

A few details have also been leaked about the upcoming Pixel phones that Google’s custom chip is expected to power. Reports suggest that the company could launch as many as three different devices, including two conventional smartphones and a third, foldable handset.

Photo: Google Coral