Why did Google Pixels stop using Snapdragon chips?

In October 2023, Google celebrated the five-year anniversary of its decision to stop using Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips in its Pixels and instead build phones around its own AI silicon called Tensor. The shift occurred in 2021 when Google's SVP of Devices and Services, Rick Osterloh, announced that the company faced computing limitations in its pursuit of AI capabilities.

This led Google to develop its Tensor platform with a dedicated Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) for running speech recognition, translation, and computational photography models on the phone.

The Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 was the first chip built without Samsung, swapping the Exynos modem for a MediaTek part in later generations. Google claims the Tensor G6 in the Pixel 11 offers 50% more TPU compute than its predecessor, leading to up to 3.5 times faster AI tasks with reduced energy consumption. However, testing by Android Authority found that Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite outperformed Tensor in multi-core CPU and graphics performance.

Google's decision to create its own AI silicon has allowed it to focus more on its services, such as Gemini, despite the lower raw power and gaming capabilities. Allowing Qualcomm to manufacture Tensor chips has also saved Google money, though they remain more expensive than competitors like Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, which uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip out-of-the-box.