Google has officially announced the Pixel 10 launch date set for August 20, 2025 and the upcoming flagship smartphone is bringing a major hardware upgrade. The Pixel 10 series will debut with the brand-new Tensor G5 processor, a custom chip designed from scratch by Google and manufactured by TSMC using the advanced 3nm N3E process.
This marks a strategic shift away from Samsung, whose Exynos-based chips powered previous Pixel phones.
Tensor G5: First Fully Google-Designed Chip
Unlike the earlier Tensor SoCs, which were modified versions of Samsung’s Exynos chips, the Tensor G5 is Google’s first fully custom-designed processor. This move allows Google to optimize performance, AI, and power efficiency specifically for Android and Pixel-exclusive features.
Crucially, the Tensor G5 will not be manufactured by Samsung Foundry, but by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) — the global leader in advanced chip fabrication.
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Why Google Switched from Samsung to TSMC
According to The Bell, a South Korean financial news outlet, Google’s decision to use TSMC over Samsung triggered internal concerns within Samsung Electronics. The company’s Device Solutions Division has reportedly initiated an internal review to understand why Google abandoned Samsung’s chip-making unit.
Sources suggest that yield rate issues (production success rate) and scalability challenges played a major role. As chip manufacturing pushes into the sub-5nm category, TSMC maintains a significant advantage in both efficiency and production yield, making it more cost-effective and reliable than Samsung Foundry.
Additionally, Samsung’s ability to fulfill large-scale chip orders has been called into question, which could impact its ability to compete with TSMC in the long term.
Global Chip Market Share: TSMC vs. Samsung
The market data supports this shift. According to TrendForce, Samsung Foundry’s global market share dropped to 7.7% in Q1 2025, down from 8.1% in Q4 2024. Meanwhile, TSMC’s market share rose from 67.1% to 67.6% over the same period — highlighting the widening gap between the two chipmakers.
What This Means for the Pixel 10
The Pixel 10, with its TSMC-built Tensor G5 chip, is expected to deliver better performance, improved battery life, and enhanced AI capabilities compared to its predecessors. This move may also give Google more control over its hardware roadmap, similar to what Apple has achieved with its A-series chips.
As the smartphone chip race intensifies, Google’s shift to TSMC could reshape the Android flagship landscape and deal a significant blow to Samsung’s foundry ambitions.
