This is the last month Samsung’s Exynos 2600 holds its crown as the world’s only 2nm mobile chipset. Starting next month, it will be joined by both Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and MediaTek’s Dimensity lineups as manufacturers race to adopt the more advanced manufacturing node.
Interestingly, one chipmaker widely expected to join that 2nm club this generation won’t be making the jump after all. Google has officially confirmed that its new Tensor G6 chip, powering the entire Pixel 11 series, is built on a 3nm process rather than the 2nm node that had been widely rumored for months.
Months of 2nm Speculation Come to an End
The confirmation comes from Google’s own VP of Hardware, Peng Yu-chun, who told Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) at the Pixel 11’s Taiwan launch event that the Tensor G6 is manufactured using TSMC’s enhanced 3nm process, specifically an improved N3P variant. This is the same general process family used for last year’s Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 series, meaning Google hasn’t actually moved to a new manufacturing node this generation, despite widespread expectations otherwise.
The 2nm rumors had circulated since mid-July, originating from supply-chain reporting out of Economic Daily News and picked up broadly across tech media, including outlets like 9to5Google. Notably, Google itself never officially claimed the Tensor G6 would be a 2nm chip, the expectation was built almost entirely on unconfirmed leaks that ended up gaining significant traction in pre-launch coverage.
Where This Leaves Google Among Chipmakers
With this confirmation, Google now stands alone among major smartphone chipmakers still relying on a 3nm process, at least for the time being. Samsung’s Exynos 2600, currently powering the Galaxy S26 in European markets, holds the distinction of being the world’s first 2nm mobile processor, built on Samsung Foundry’s own 2nm GAA manufacturing process. Apple, meanwhile, is expected to move its A19 Pro chip in the iPhone 18 Pro to TSMC’s 2nm node later this year.
A smaller process node like 2nm typically translates into meaningful gains in power efficiency and additional headroom for demanding workloads, particularly relevant given the AI processing tasks increasingly common on modern flagship smartphones.
Google Emphasizes Performance Gains Despite Staying on 3nm
Despite remaining on the same general process node as its predecessor, Google has highlighted several performance improvements for the Tensor G6 compared to the Tensor G5. According to the company, the upgraded CPU delivers 25 percent faster web browsing and 15 percent quicker app launches, while the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) sees a 50 percent increase in compute power, improvements Google says help power a new on-device Gemini Nano AI model without performance lag.
The chip’s Image Signal Processor (ISP) has also been redesigned, reportedly speeding up Night Sight photo captures and improving image quality for distant digital zoom shots. Security duties, meanwhile, are now handled by an upgraded Titan M3 chip.
It’s worth noting these performance figures are Google’s own reported numbers, without independent third-party benchmarking confirmation yet available.
Why Google May Have Stuck With 3nm
While Google hasn’t detailed its exact reasoning, industry observers have pointed out that jumping to a 2nm process would have been considerably more costly for Google given its comparatively lower Pixel shipment volumes relative to larger smartphone chip customers like Samsung and Apple. Peng also addressed broader industry-wide DRAM price increases during the same interview, noting that rising memory costs are affecting pricing, supply, and demand across the entire sector, a challenge Google says it’s addressing partly through software and system-level optimization rather than through manufacturing process changes alone.
What This Means for the Pixel 11 Series
For Pixel 11 buyers, this correction means the device won’t carry the “first 2nm smartphone chip” distinction that earlier rumors had promised. That said, the reported CPU, TPU, and camera processing improvements suggest Google has still managed to deliver meaningful generational gains through architectural refinement and software optimization, even without a manufacturing node upgrade this time around. Real-world testing will ultimately determine how these reported improvements translate into everyday Pixel 11 usage.
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