Google developing its own CPU for Chromebooks and Pixels (Report)

News
By Rami Tabari
published

We could see Google's new CPU in Pixels as early as 2021

Google develops its own CPU for Chromebooks and Pixels
(Image credit: Future)

Google has reportedly made strides in developing its very own processor that'll be used in Pixel phones and Chromebooks starting sometime next year.

The report comes from Axios, and if it's accurate, Google could cut off both Intel and Qualcomm all in one fell swoop.

According to Axios, the new chip is code-named Whitechapel and was designed in partnership with Samsung, which isn't all too surprising. For context, Samsung also manufactures Apple's iPhone chips as well as its own Exynos CPUs.

Axios' source says Google recently received the first working versions of the chip, but they aren't ready for the Pixel quite yet. Different versions of the chip that could be used for Chromebooks likely won't arrive for a while.

Despite that, Google's 8-core ARM processor will feature hardware optimized for Google's machine-learning technology. And a portion of the CPU's silicon will reportedly be used to improve the performance and "always-on" ability of Google Assistant.

So, what does all of this mean? Well, as we've seen in the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14's new AMD Ryzen CPU -- the processor impacts everything, from performance to battery life. If Google can make a custom CPU that rivals those from its competitors, then the company can gain even more brand-authority for its premium Chromebooks, like the Pixelbook Go.

Before you get too excited, take all of this with a dose of skepticism because Google has yet to confirm the information.

Rami Tabari
Rami Tabari
Editor

Rami Tabari is an Editor for Laptop Mag. He reviews every shape and form of a laptop as well as all sorts of cool tech. You can find him sitting at his desk surrounded by a hoarder's dream of laptops, and when he navigates his way out to civilization, you can catch him watching really bad anime or playing some kind of painfully difficult game. He’s the best at every game and he just doesn’t lose. That’s why you’ll occasionally catch his byline attached to the latest Souls-like challenge.