For the Pixel 6, Google heavily depended on Samsung. Since then, Pixel phones have used Samsung's camera sensors, display panels, chip design, and modems. However, Google is now reducing its dependency on Samsung, and its next move is to switch away from Samsung's modems.
Pixel 10 could use MediaTek's 5G modem instead of Samsung's 5G modem
The Pixel 10 series, which will be launched in mid-2025, will use the Tensor G5 chip. It will be Google's first chip to be made by TSMC instead of Samsung Foundry. It will also be the first Google chip in years to not use an Exynos modem.
According to a report from Android Authority, the Tensor G5 will feature MediaTek's T900 5G modem. This chip is reportedly based on MediaTek's ‘M85' generation modem IP, which could bring a newer release (likely 17) of 3GPP 5G specification.
Currently, only three companies sell modern 5G modems to smartphone brands: MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Samsung.
In the past, Samsung's Exynos 5G modems had power consumption-related issues, and those modems were used in Pixel 6, Pixel 7, Pixel 8, and Pixel 9. Most of those Pixel phones were not as power efficient as rival phones.
While the Exynos 5400 modem was better than earlier Exynos modems, Google still decided to switch away from them. The company might have multiple reasons for not depending too much on Samsung.
Qualcomm makes the industry's best 5G modems, but they are too costly, especially when not used with Snapdragon processors. Google evaluated Qualcomm's Snapdragon 5G modems before using MediaTek's T900 5G modem.
We will have to wait and see how Google's shift from Samsung to MediaTek will affect Pixel 10 smartphones. Regardless, Google moving away from Samsung's modems and foundry is a huge loss of the South Korean firm.
Image Credits: Google, MediaTek
