The Tensor G2 running in the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 are not the same, according to some newly-earthed evidence, which reveals that Google was not transparent with its customers. According to the latest findings, the G2 running in the mid-ranger is slightly worse than the version running in last year’s flagships.
The Tensor G2 running in the Pixel 7a uses ‘IPOP’ technology; here is what that means
On Twitter, @Za_Raczke provides evidence that Google actually uses two versions of the Tensor G2. The tipster leaked the specifications of the upcoming Tensor G3 earlier and has now done a responsible act by informing readers that the Pixel 7a’s SoC is made on a process called ‘IPOP.’ She explains that even though Google relies on Samsung to mass produce these chipsets, the packaging technology used is different.
For the first Tensor and Tensor G2 found in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, Samsung used a proprietary packaging technology called FOPLP-PoP. IPOP, on the other hand, is a slightly worse packaging technology than FOPLP-PoP, with Google possibly employing it to reduce the manufacturing cost of the Tensor G2. Unfortunately, with cost-cutting measures comes some serious drawbacks, as in the tweet, it is mentioned that IPOP is thicker, larger, and runs hotter.
While researching for one of the Google Pixel 8 articles I found something interesting: it turns out that the Pixel 7a uses a different, possibly slightly worse version of the Tensor G2 than the Pixel 7! 🧵
— kamila 🌸🏳️⚧️ (@Za_Raczke) June 19, 2023
This means that the Pixel 7a would need to have a beefier cooling solution to tame the temperatures of a chipset that is virtually the same as the one running in the Pixel 7, thereby increasing its thickness and weight. However, @Za_Raczke notes that she does not have a clue about the ‘real life effects’ of IPOP, but the Pixel 7a’s $499 price suggests that Google would have followed this strategy but at the cost of potentially losing whatever minuscule market share it has accumulated over the years.
While we are on the subject of the Tensor G2, we must also remind readers that the Pixel Tablet features the same $499 launch price and SoC as the Pixel 7a, but it is yet to be confirmed if the packaging technology used was FOPLP-PoP or IPOP. Even if IPOP was used to reduce the cost of the chipset, at least the Pixel Tablet can compensate with its larger footprint, accommodating an even bigger cooler to bring down those temperatures. We just hope that Google can bring some transparency into the mix next time. We recommend checking out @Za_Raczke’s entire thread to get a clearer picture.
News Source: @Za_Raczke
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
