Google is staying true to its budget smartphone series and is planning a Pixel 9a for March 2025, as well as a 10a. But cost-cutting measures will continue to clearly differentiate the A-Series from the top model. This is something Google has yet to discuss publicly.
Google has already installed nominally the same Tensor chip in the A series as the flagships, but with different manufacturing technology. It affects performance and efficiency. This difference was not obvious to users and was not mentioned anywhere.
In Samsung’s previous production, there were two different packaging processes that Google used. The A series uses a more cost-effective process for the Tensor chip, ultimately, the phone’s chip isn’t as high-quality.
It should be the same this time. At first and second glance, the Pixel 9a looks like the Tensor G4 chip that’s also found in the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, but it’s a lower-end version. Google might even want to stick with it in the future.
With the switch to TSMC as the manufacturer of the Tensor G5 (from the Pixel 10), the strategy changed on how to make a cheaper version for the cheaper Pixel devices. But the path must be changed, it must be proved Documents that have become public.
Google plans to melt the damaged TPU components (responsible for AI calculations) instead of discarding them to save the faulty chips. This especially affects the Pixel A series and tablets This means that “inferior” versions of the chips can be made, which saves costs.
In concrete terms, this means: Pixel 10a’s AI performance will be lower. It remains to be seen if Google will make these differences more transparent with a new name like “Tensor G5 Lite”. So far this has been avoided.
