Google Tensor G4: Specs, Pros & Cons, Alternatives

KACBU

Should I buy it?

Google Tensor G4

WAIT

25 months on the market — a successor may be near

Great choice if these matter:

Photo / Video
Daily Use
Value for Money

Watch out for:

Built on Samsung's 4LPP+ process — efficiency and heat clearly trail the TSMC-built Tensor G5.
Raw CPU and GPU performance sit well below same-year Snapdragon and Apple flagships.

25 months on the market

Regret riskMODERATElimited data

Main risks

A successor may be near — 25 months since release
Built on Samsung's 4LPP+ process — efficiency and heat clearly trail the TSMC-built Tensor G5.
Raw CPU and GPU performance sit well below same-year Snapdragon and Apple flagships.
Google publishes no cache sizes, TDP or GPU clock figures.

The risk level is computed from the release date and verified weaknesses. The confidence score appears only once enough owner reports exist.

Alternatives

Google Tensor G6newer

Dimensity 9500snewer

This box relies only on verified specs, the release date and editorial assessment; owner reports join them as they come in. We do not predict prices.

Core Structure

How many cores does the processor have?

Manufacturer's official core and architecture information.

CORE STRUCTURE

The structure decisive in multi-core tasks.

8 Core

8-core — Total Cores · 8 Thread — Concurrent Threads · 1 Performance — High-performance core · 4 Efficiency — Low-power core · Cortex-X4 / A720 / A520 — Core architecture

8-core8 Thread1 Performance4 EfficiencyCortex-X4 / A720 / A520

8-coreTotal Cores

8 ThreadConcurrent Threads

1 PerformanceHigh-performance core

4 EfficiencyLow-power core

Cortex-X4 / A720 / A520Core architecture

Frequency

How fast does it work?

Manufacturer's official frequency values.

FREQUENCY

Value that determines single-core performance.

3.1 GHz Boost

3.1 GHz — Maximum boost frequency · 2.6 GHz — Efficiency core frequency

3.1 GHz2.6 GHz

3.1 GHzMaximum boost frequency

2.6 GHzEfficiency core frequency

Power and Cooling

How much power does it draw?

Official power values that determine cooling needs.

POWER AND COOLING

These values determine the cooling budget.

—

Device dependent — Cooling solution

Device dependent

Device dependentCooling solution

Who Is It For?

Where does it stand out?

A usage guide built from the specs and the editors' tags; not a test result.

Photo / Video

For buyers who put the camera, and video in particular, first; tagged from the maker's camera and video specs.

Good fit

Daily Use

A balanced spec set for everyday use: display, battery and camera figures together.

Good fit

Value for Money

An editor's tag for hardware that is well priced for what it offers. We do not track current prices; check the price before you buy.

Good fit

Editorial Analysis

Strengths and points to consider

The Kacbu editors' assessment of the specifications the maker publishes. We do not test devices ourselves, so nothing here is a measured result. Anything taken from an independent review is shown with its publication and date in the Press section.

Strengths based on the specs

A Cortex-X4 prime core at 3.1 GHz with three Cortex-A720 cores — a solid step over the Tensor G3.

The TPU runs Gemini Nano on-device, so the AI feature set matches far pricier Pixels.

Mature software: shipped in five Pixel models, so its quirks are well understood.

In the Pixel 10a it delivers flagship-generation features at a mid-range price.

Paired with the Exynos 5400 modem, which added satellite SOS support to Pixels.

Things to consider

Built on Samsung's 4LPP+ process — efficiency and heat clearly trail the TSMC-built Tensor G5.

Raw CPU and GPU performance sit well below same-year Snapdragon and Apple flagships.

Google publishes no cache sizes, TDP or GPU clock figures.

The Mali-G715 GPU is carried over from the Tensor G3 with only clock changes.

Historical Product Info

Official launch details

Instead of tracking today's retail price, Kacbu keeps the product's official launch information as a reference.

AnnouncedAugust 13, 2024

The manufacturer's official announcement date.

ReleaseAugust 22, 2024

The start of the initial sales period.

Design🇺🇸 United States

Manufacturing🇰🇷 South Korea

Google designs Tensor in the US and does not manufacture chips itself; the Tensor G4 is fabricated on Samsung's 4LPP+ process in South Korea — the last Tensor generation built there before the move to TSMC.

This is not the current retail price — it shows the product's historical, official launch information.

Specifications

Google Tensor G4 specifications

Click a linked value to see other products that share that same spec, and leave a comment on that spec.

General

Family

Google Tensor

Segment

Mobile flagship SoC

Release Year

2024

Manufacturer

Google

Core Structure

Cores

Threads

Core Architecture

Cortex-X4 / A720 / A520

Efficiency Core

Performance Core

Frequency

Boost Clock

3.1 GHz

Efficiency-Core Clock

2.6 GHz

Cache

Cache Note

Google does not publish detailed cache sizes

Graphics Unit

Integrated Graphics

Mali-G715 MC7

Power

Cooling Solution

Device dependent

Platform

Socket

BGA (SoC)

Manufacturing Process

Samsung 4LPP+

Lithography

4 nm

FAQ

The most common questions about this product

What the numbers on the spec sheet actually mean in day-to-day use.

Why does the Pixel 10a use a year-old chip?

Cost. Google reserves the TSMC-built Tensor G5 for the main Pixel 10 line and reuses the G4 to hit the a-series price. The AI feature set carries over because the TPU still runs Gemini Nano; what you give up is efficiency and sustained performance.

How does it compare with the Tensor G5?

The G5 moves to TSMC's 3nm process, gains a 60% more capable TPU and about a third more CPU speed by Google's own figures. The G4 remains fine for daily use and photography, but on its older process it can be expected to run warmer and throttle sooner.

Which phones use the Tensor G4?

The Pixel 9 family and the Pixel 10a. Every phone in this catalogue that carries it is listed on this page, so you can compare them directly.

Shared Hardware

Products that share this hardware

This product's standout specs. You can jump to other models that use the same value.

Cores884 more products SocketBGA (SoC)81 more products

Alternatives

Other models in the same category

Other products in the same category.

Products using this part

5 models with the Google Tensor G4

Models built on the same part. The difference is not the part — it is the device around it.

See them all on the Chipset page

Google

Google Tensor G4

Should I buy it?

How many cores does the processor have?

The structure decisive in multi-core tasks.

How fast does it work?

Value that determines single-core performance.

How much power does it draw?

These values determine the cooling budget.

Where does it stand out?

Strengths and points to consider

Official launch details

Google Tensor G4 specifications

General

Core Structure

Frequency

Cache

Graphics Unit

Power

Platform

The most common questions about this product

Products that share this hardware

Other models in the same category

Google Tensor G6

Dimensity 9500s

Intel Core 7 350

Dimensity 8500 Ultra

5 models with the Google Tensor G4

Google Pixel 10a

Google Pixel 9a

Google Pixel 9 Pro

Google Pixel 9

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

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