Pixel 9’s weak processor puts Google’s commitment to updating the Pixel 8 to the test

If you have seen our latest news Google Pixel 9 exclusive, the phone G4 Tensioner The processor will be the smallest change in the series so far. While peak performance has never been Tensor’s accolade, there’s also almost no improvement to the chip’s fundamental AI capabilities. The Tensor G4 reportedly features the exact same third-generation TPU, codenamed “rio,” running at the same clock speed as the G3 TensionerThe reason is that Google reportedly missed deadlines for a more powerful custom chipset, which will now have to wait until the Pixel 10, and had to hastily cobble together an improved Tensor for the Pixel 9 series.

If this is true, surely the Pixel 8 Series Should it be able to run all of the Pixel 9’s AI features? Well, the CPU and GPU upgrades don’t seem to be significant enough to make a significant difference to AI processing, the DSP running the camera algorithms is the same as last generation, and the identical TPU is the core that binds Google’s AI capabilities together on the device.

I’d argue that the Tensor G4 shares so many fundamental similarities with the G3 that (pretty much) the only reason Google isn’t bringing its latest features like AddMe and Pixel Screenshots to the Pixel 8 series—at least not in a hurry—is to upsell the Pixel 9. There’s no denying that bringing such features to the Pixel 8 would make Google’s best flagship even more appealing, but it could undermine enthusiasm for the launch of the new models, camera and other hardware upgrades notwithstanding. This raises a big question: How committed is Google to bringing features via Google? Function drops?

Google’s history with Feature Drops is pretty spotty. While it has brought plenty of new features to the Pixel line over time, we’re still waiting on some of the biggest promises, like Zoom improvementThere’s no guarantee that all of Google’s latest AI features will be available to the Pixel 9 at launch, so any hopes of the features returning to the Pixel 8 series in a timely manner seem remote. Still, the similarities between the Tensor G4 and G3 make this even more possible than in years past, so we’re hoping that, even if there’s a reasonable delay, we’ll see as many of the Pixel 9’s AI features on the Pixel 8 as possible.

There is one exception to all this: RAM. The AI ​​on the device consumes a lot of RAM; it is the reason why lower-spec processors The Pixel 8 did not initially ship with Gemini NanoWhile the 8 Pro’s larger 12GB of RAM made that possible. According to leaks, the Pixel 9 is expected to ship with 12GB of RAM, with all Pro models getting a bump to 16GB. That’s a lot more memory than the base Pixel 8, but 12GB matches the capabilities of the Pixel 8 Pro. Once again, it looks like the more affordable Pixel 8 is falling behind, but Google’s previous premium model should be able to match the Pixel 9. How far Google’s AI feature set will be split across the various models, however, remains to be seen.

Still, a processor with few upgrades breaks the usual intergenerational barrier and puts Google and the Pixel series in an interesting position. Can Google rely solely on excellent hardware upgrades to sell the Pixel 9, while also using this opportunity to prove that the best software features can transcend generations? We’re already wondering whether seven years of upgrades really means the same thing as seven years of cutting-edge features. Google could put the Pixel series on the map as an evolving platform for the industry’s best AI tech, regardless of which generation you buy it on. But it’ll have to sacrifice a bit of the Pixel 9’s cachet to do so.