Google is testing a MediaTek modem in the Pixel 10 series

Over the previous month, we’ve seen loads of details about the long run, absolutely in-house designed Google Tensor chips leak, together with full specs of the Tensor G5 and Tensor G6, a listing of features they might enable, and extra. We went from understanding principally nothing to having a good suggestion of what the long run Tensor chips and the Pixel handset they’ll energy should supply.

One essential unanswered query, nevertheless, is what modem can be used sooner or later Pixels. All of the gadgets utilizing Tensor chips designed in collaboration with Samsung used Exynos modems, presumably as a result of they have been the best to combine, however with Google going absolutely impartial, it doesn’t essentially have a purpose to proceed that apply.

We lastly received a solution to this query and it’s not what anyone anticipated. Because of a supply inside Google, Android Authority has realized Google’s plans relating to the modem it intends to make use of within the upcoming Pixel 10 sequence.

There are at the moment solely three corporations with trendy, 5G-capable modems: Samsung (S.LSI), Qualcomm, and MediaTek. Google didn’t have an excessive amount of alternative there, until it needed to construct its personal answer, which even with a premade 5G IP block, like Ceva’s PentaG2, can be dangerous and rather more costly.

Earlier than making its resolution, Google evaluated all of the obtainable choices, together with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem, which is identical one utilized in Apple’s iPhone 16 series. Talking of Apple, it plans to maneuver away from Qualcomm to its inhouse modems within the coming years as properly. Lastly, although, for one purpose or one other, Google determined to go along with MediaTek’s (not but launched) T900 modem.

Sadly, we all know principally nothing about this new modem, besides that it’s based mostly on MediaTek’s “M85” technology modem IP. For reference, “M70” supported 3GPP Launch 15 5G specification, “M80” upgraded to Launch 16, so it’s secure to imagine “M85” will assist Launch 17 and even newer.

Sadly, we don’t even actually know that a lot about MediaTek’s earlier technology T800 modem to make assumptions. Whereas we do have a specs sheet, it doesn’t inform us a lot (e.g., if it’s manufactured on a Samsung or TSMC’s course of node). So far as I can inform no machine has truly used it both.

We will’t actually know the way good the T900 might be, however I might cautiously assume that it will likely be no less than okay. In any case, Google is properly conscious that thermals and battery life are some of the largest issues with Tensor-based Pixels, largely because of their modems, and I doubt they’d let the catastrophe that was the Pixel 6 occur once more.

A MediaTek modem is certainly not what most anticipated — or needed. Loads of you’ll in all probability even criticize this transfer after studying this text and declare the Pixel 10 a dead-on-arrival product, however I believe it’s method too early to say something like that. We principally don’t know something particular about this modem and neither do we all know a lot about how Qualcomm’s exterior modems carry out, as the one gadgets utilizing them are iPhones. To not point out that even Samsung, closely criticized by many, managed to launch a comparatively first rate modem — the Exynos Modem 5400 — and because of that, the Pixel 9 sequence has a reasonably strong battery life.

Finally, we’ll have to attend and see how issues look when Google releases the Pixel 10 sequence, however I doubt it will likely be anyplace close to dangerous. Google makes the alternatives it does for a purpose, even when it typically doesn’t seem to be it, and this positively isn’t an exception.