Pixel 11a leak points to Tensor G6 and MediaTek modem
Mystic Leaks says Google’s next A-series Pixel could use the newer Tensor G6 chip, with display and battery changes also listed.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
2 min read
Google’s Pixel 11a may return to using the company’s current-generation Tensor chip, according to Mystic Leaks. If accurate, the change would mark a shift from the Pixel 10a, which The Verge reported shipped with the older Tensor G4 while the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro used Tensor G5.
The leak, cited by The Verge and Android Headlines, says the Pixel 11a will use Tensor G6. That would put Google’s lower-cost A-series phone back closer to its main Pixel line on processor class, after the Pixel 10a broke from the pattern The Verge described for earlier A-series models.
Google’s A-series phones have typically reduced costs through choices outside the main processor, according to The Verge. The Pixel 10a’s use of the prior-generation Tensor G4 was therefore a notable departure for the lineup, The Verge reported.
Chip and modem changes
Mystic Leaks says Tensor G6 will use the same PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU as Tensor G5, according to The Verge. Even with that carryover, The Verge reported that Tensor G6 should be an upgrade over the Mali-G715 GPU used in Tensor G4.
The modem may be the more meaningful change. The leak says Tensor G6 moves away from Samsung Exynos modems and uses a MediaTek M90 modem instead, according to The Verge.
The Verge reported that such a switch could address two long-running problems associated with Tensor chips: battery drain and dropped signals. The report did not include test results for the unreleased Pixel 11a or Tensor G6.
Battery and display details
Mystic Leaks also lists a smaller battery for the Pixel 11a, according to The Verge. The reported capacity is 4,870mAh, compared with 5,000mAh for the Pixel 10a.
Despite the lower capacity, The Verge reported that efficiency gains from the new processor could keep battery life roughly the same or improve it slightly. That assessment depends on the leaked hardware details proving accurate and on how Google tunes the finished device.
The Pixel 11a’s display is said to remain a 6.3-inch panel with a 1080 x 2424 resolution and a variable refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz, according to The Verge. Mystic Leaks also says peak brightness will rise to 3,350 nits from 3,000 nits on the Pixel 10a.
Google has not announced the Pixel 11a in the details reported by The Verge. The leaked specifications, if confirmed, suggest Google may be preparing a more up-to-date A-series phone after pairing the Pixel 10a with an older chip.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.