[Comprehensive] Google Also Achieves Semiconductor Independence... Unveils Pixel 6 Equipped with 'In-House Chip'

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] Google has unveiled its new smartphone series 'Pixel 6' equipped with a self-developed chipset, accelerating semiconductor independence among big tech companies that are major players in the semiconductor market. Especially ahead of the year-end shopping season, with Samsung Electronics, Apple, and now Google introducing new products emphasizing cost-effectiveness, competition in the smartphone market is expected to heat up further.

On the 19th (local time), Google held an online event called 'PIXEL FALL LAUNCH' and unveiled the new smartphones 'Pixel 6' and 'Pixel 6 Pro'.

◆First Use of In-House Chip 'Tensor'

The most notable feature of the Pixel 6 series is that Google used its self-developed SoC (System on Chip), the 'Tensor' chipset, for the first time as the application processor (AP).

The Pixel 6 series equipped with Tensor has improved CPU performance by more than 80% compared to the previous generation model, the 'Pixel 5'. It also supports features such as real-time voice-to-text conversion and correction of out-of-focus photos. Google described Tensor as "the biggest mobile hardware innovation in Google's history."

In recent years, big tech companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft (MS), and Tesla have successively started developing their own semiconductors, breaking the long-standing industry norm where 'PCs and laptops use Intel, and mobile devices use Qualcomm.'

Apple, which held a new product launch event the day before, continued its independent semiconductor development by introducing new MacBook Pro laptops equipped with its own M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. Apple emphasized that the MacBook Pro with its own chip is 1.7 times faster than competing high-performance models. Completing its lineup of self-developed semiconductors with M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max, Apple will no longer produce existing MacBooks equipped with Intel semiconductors.

◆Pixel 6 Emphasizes Cost-Effectiveness... High-Resolution Camera Draws Attention

The Pixel 6 series also features an improved exterior. The Pixel 6 is made of glossy aluminum, while the Pixel 6 Pro uses matte aluminum. Both models have a horizontal lens arrangement on a bar-shaped camera bump at the top rear. The rear center features a pastel-toned 'G' logo. The Pixel 6 comes in three colors: 'Cloudy White,' 'Sorta Sunny,' and 'Stormy Black,' while the Pro model is available in 'Sorta Seafoam,' 'Kinda Coral,' and 'Stormy Black.'

The display on the Pixel 6 Pro model is a 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED with a variable refresh rate of 10 to 120 Hz for smoother visuals. The Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch OLED display supporting a 90 Hz refresh rate. Both models are equipped with Gorilla Glass Victus for enhanced durability. Additionally, an optical fingerprint sensor is embedded under the display, and both models offer IP68 water and dust resistance.

The high-resolution main camera is another strength. Both models include a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. The Pro model adds a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom. Newly added features such as 'Magic Eraser,' which removes unwanted objects from photos, and 'Face Ublur,' which uses algorithms to sharpen subjects when the face is out of focus, are also noteworthy.

The pricing is set as recently leaked: the Pixel 6 starts at $599 (approximately 706,000 KRW), and the Pixel 6 Pro starts at $899 (approximately 1,059,000 KRW). This is lower than Apple's iPhone 13 Mini ($699) and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S21 ($799), and the premium Pro model is also cheaper than the iPhone 13 Pro Max ($1,099) and Galaxy S21 Ultra ($1,199). The Pixel 6 series will go on sale in the U.S. starting the 28th, with the domestic release in Korea yet to be determined.

The operating system (OS) comes pre-installed with Android 12. Google announced that the Pixel 6 series will receive major OS updates for three years (until the end of October 2024) and security updates for five years from the release date.

◆Highly Anticipated Foldable Not Unveiled

The foldable smartphone 'Pixel Fold' (tentative name), which was expected to be unveiled at the event, did not appear. The Pixel Fold, developed under the codename Passport for the past two years, is likely to be released by the end of the year.

With upcoming year-end shopping events such as Black Friday in the U.S., Singles' Day in China, and Christmas, competition among smartphone manufacturers is intensifying. The demand for form factors confirmed by the foldable phone craze, including the Galaxy Z Flip3, LG Electronics' exit from the smartphone business, and Huawei's business scale-down, are rapidly changing the global smartphone market landscape.

Following Google, Samsung Electronics and Huawei will also hold new product launch events consecutively this week. Samsung will hold 'Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Part 2' starting at 11 PM on the 20th and is expected to unveil a new Galaxy Z Flip3 edition applying the bespoke premium home appliance concept. Japanese company Sony has also announced a new product launch event scheduled for the 26th of next week.

Market research firm Counterpoint Research recently forecasted the global smartphone shipment volume for this year at 1.41 billion units.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.