Google shocked many tech enthusiasts by equipping the just-announced Pixel 10a with the older-gen Tensor G4, effectively breaking away from a long-held, industry-wide convention of sorts by glossing over the newer Tensor G5 chip. Yet, there is a method to this apparent madness, one that can be easily decoded via hard numbers.
The veritable windfall in cost savings that Google stands to amass by opting for the Tensor G4 chip in the just-announced Pixel 10a
Consumers do not typically pay for planned obsolescence. And, it is for this reason that smartphone OEMs typically equip their various lineups in a given year with the latest processors. Obviously, flagships get the bleeding-edge AP, while the budget offerings might be relegated to a binned version of the processor.
Of course, Apple typically uses its older processors in its budget iPhones. And, Google has just emulated that same playbook with the Pixel 10a.
It all boils down to cost
Back in June 2025, Tech Insights calculated that the Tensor G4 chip constituted 29.87 percent of the Pixel 9a's Bill of Materials (BOM). Do note that the BOM estimate for Pixel 9a is not publicly available.
The Pixel 9 Pro had an estimated BOM of around $400 and retailed for $999, equating to a ~40 percent margin. As such, it is likely that the Pixel 9a entailed lower margins. Assuming the same $400 BOM for the Pixel 9a, the Tensor G4 chip likely costs $119. Of course, the BOM for the last-gen budget Pixel is likely to be lower than our $400 input. However, this mathematical exercise does give us an upper bound as to the Tensor G4's cost.
Even so, as correctly pointed out by the tipster Jason C. on X, a significant proportion of the overall cost of the Tensor G4 chip - especially the cost components related to R&D and the photomask - has already been paid by Google via the Pixel 9 series.
This means that the Pixel 10a would only have to cover marginal costs related to wafer and packaging, which only amount to between $4 and $10!
From Google's perspective, it makes immense sense to equip the Pixel 10a with the Tensor G4 chip, especially as the Tensor G5 chip came with a host of issues of its own, particularly related to throttling and GPU drivers, albeit tempered by recent updates.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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