Here’s something that might surprise you. The phone in your pocket from 2021 can still beat a Pixel 9 in some speed tests. That is embarrassing for Google. The Tensor chip Google’s own brain for its Pixel phones has always been slower than chips from Apple and Qualcomm. Every year, Google promises things will get better. Every year, Pixel fans are a little let down.
But something feels different in 2026.
Leaks say the Pixel 11 will use a brand-new Tensor G6 chip, built on a 2nm process and it is switching from a Samsung modem to a new MediaTek M90 modem. Those two changes alone could flip the story completely. Let’s break it all down in plain English.
What Is the Tensor G6 And Why Does the Process Node Matter?
Think of a chip like a city. More roads = more cars can move at once. Smaller roads the city fits in a smaller space and uses less power. A “2nm process” means the roads inside the chip are incredibly tiny so tiny that more of them fit, and they use less battery to run.
Apple’s A18 Pro used a 3nm process. Samsung’s latest Exynos also used 3nm. The Tensor G6 moving to 2nm is a real generational leap it means more work done per unit of battery power, and less heat while doing it.
Here are the key Tensor G6 facts leaked so far:
It uses a 7-core design: one super-fast “Ultra” core running at 4.11GHz, four “Pro” cores at 3.38GHz, and two more “Pro” cores at 2.65GHz. It also uses a PowerVR C-Series GPU.
Most chips use 8 cores. Google chose 7 on purpose trading one core for better heat control and steadier performance over time. This is a deliberate design choice, not a cost cut.
It comes with a new security chip called Titan M3, codenamed “Google Epic” — an upgrade from the Titan M2 in older Pixels.
Think of the 7-core setup like a kitchen. Most restaurants have 8 chefs. Google hired 7 better-trained chefs who do not bump into each other. The food still comes out fast — and the kitchen stays cool.
What Are the Full Pixel 11 Specs? (April 2026 Leaks)
The Pixel 11 is expected to launch in late August 2026. There will be four models: the base Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold.
Here is everything we know about the base Pixel 11 right now:
- 6.3-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with a high refresh rate that adjusts automatically to save battery.
- 12GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. UFS 4.0 is like switching from a regular mail truck to a race car for moving data around inside your phone.
- A 4,700mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
- Triple cameras with dual 48MP sensors, improved Night Sight Video, and new AI video tools including “Speak-to-Tweak” — which lets you edit photos by just talking to your phone.
- Expected price around $799 — keeping it in line with last year’s model.
It will ship with Android 16 and is expected to get seven years of software updates.
According to internal performance forecasts that leaked before the Pixel 10 launch, Google’s chips were still expected to lag behind Apple and Qualcomm in raw benchmark scores even through 2026. However, benchmarks only tell part of the story. Raw speed is like a sports car that only runs on a track. Google’s chip is built for the real road meaning AI tasks you actually use every day.
As of April 2026, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 holds the top spot among Android chips, with the Apple A19 Pro close behind. The Tensor G6 is not expected to beat either in a straight speed race. But speed is not what Google is selling.
What Is the Biggest Problem Google Just Fixed?
This is the most important section. More important than any benchmark number.
Every Pixel phone from Pixel 6 to Pixel 10 had a Samsung modem inside. A modem is the part of your phone that connects to cell towers. Think of it like the antenna on an old radio if it’s weak, nothing else matters.
Samsung’s Exynos modems were the most consistent source of Pixel user complaints across the whole product line connectivity drops, weak signal, and inconsistent performance that phones using Qualcomm modems simply did not have.
The new MediaTek M90 modem changes everything:
- It supports dual 5G SIM dual-active meaning two SIM cards can both run on 5G at the same time. This is a first for any Pixel phone.
- It also adds satellite connectivity support, so you can send messages even when there is no cell tower nearby.
- Google has apparently made this modem switch alongside keeping 12GB of RAM at a starting storage of 128GB a choice that looks dated compared to Apple and Samsung, both of which now start at 256GB at similar or higher prices. 9to5Google
The modem fix is Google finally admitting what users have complained about for four years. That honesty is worth noticing.
Expert Analysis: The Real Question Nobody Is Asking
Here’s the opinion you will not find on any other tech site today.
Everyone is debating whether the Tensor G6 can beat the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in benchmarks. That is the wrong argument. It’s like judging a chef by how fast they can chop onions instead of how good dinner tastes.
Google has never competed on raw speed. Tensor chips are purpose-built for a narrow set of tasks: understanding your voice, editing your photos, translating languages in real time. The leaked AI features for Pixel 11 include “Speak-to-Tweak” for voice-controlled photo editing, “Sketch-to-Image” for turning drawings into real photos, ultra-low-light video, and AI video relighting — all running fully on the device itself, with no internet needed.
This matters more than a Geekbench score. Here’s why: when AI runs on your phone’s chip instead of a far-away server, your data stays on your phone. It’s faster. It works offline. And it does not cost the company electricity every time you use it.
The real question for 2026 is not “Can Tensor beat Snapdragon in a speed test?” It’s this: Can Google make AI feel so useful that people stop caring about raw speed?
Apple got away with slower Android-vs-iPhone benchmarks for a decade by making the experience feel magical. Google is attempting the same trick but with AI instead of design polish. Whether it works depends entirely on how good “Speak-to-Tweak” and the other features feel in real, everyday use.
One legitimate concern: starting storage of just 128GB when Samsung starts at 256GB and Apple starts at 256GB for the same or higher prices is a real weakness that looks like a cost-saving measure dressed up as a choice. Google needs to address this, or the $799 price tag will feel harder to defend at the store shelf.
Our Verdict: The Tensor G6 is Google’s most credible chip yet not because it wins benchmarks, but because it fixes the two worst things about past Pixels (the bad modem and the thermal throttling). If the AI features work as advertised, this could be the first Pixel that tech-adjacent buyers not just enthusiasts recommend to their friends.
FAQ
Q: When will the Pixel 11 come out?
Google is expected to announce the Pixel 11 at its “Made by Google” event in mid-August 2026, with phones shipping by end of August or early September.
Q: How much will the Pixel 11 cost?
The base Pixel 11 is expected to start at around $799 ( the same as last year’s model. )
Q: Is the Tensor G6 better than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5?
Not in raw speed. But it uses a newer, more advanced 2nm chip process and is designed with AI-first tasks in mind. Think of it as a specialist, not a generalist.
Q: Does the Pixel 11 use 5G?
Yes — and it supports dual 5G SIM dual-active for the first time in Pixel history, thanks to the new MediaTek M90 modem. Satellite connectivity is also expected.
Q: Will the Pixel 11 get software updates for a long time?
Google is expected to offer seven years of software updates for the Pixel 11 — one of the longest support windows of any Android phone on the market.
this the link to my other blogs : https://datacntech.site/2026/04/18/oneplus-nord-6-vs-flagships-is-the-snapdragon-8s-gen-4-enough/
this the link to my other blogs : https://datacntech.site/2026/04/17/upcoming-phones-2026-is-the-new-apple-foldable-finally-worth-the-wait/
this the link to my other blogs : https://datacntech.site/2026/04/16/why-the-pixel-11-is-googles-most-critical-hardware-gamble-yet/