Google Pixel 11 to Launch First 2nm Smartphone Chip Ahead of Apple
Google is preparing to achieve a major milestone in smartphone technology. The upcoming Tensor G6 processor, which will power the Pixel 11 series launching in August 2026, is expected to become the first mass-produced smartphone chip manufactured using TSMC’s 2nm process. As a result, Google could reach the market about a month before Apple’s first 2nm-powered iPhone.
For years, Apple was the first company to adopt each new generation of TSMC’s advanced manufacturing technology. However, this time Google appears ready to break that pattern. Apple’s A20 Pro chip is expected to debut with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September 2026.
Tensor G6 brings redesigned architecture
Codenamed “Malibu,” the Tensor G6 introduces a redesigned 7-core CPU configuration. It includes one ultra-high-performance core running at 4.11GHz, four mid-performance cores clocked at 3.38GHz, and two efficiency cores operating at 2.65GHz.
Moreover, the processor moves from the Tensor G5’s 3nm manufacturing process to TSMC’s N2 node, which uses Gate-All-Around transistor technology. Consequently, the new design is expected to deliver better power efficiency and improved thermal performance. These improvements target areas where previous Tensor processors received criticism.
In addition, the Tensor G6 replaces Samsung’s Exynos modem with the MediaTek M90 modem, marking another significant hardware change.
Pixel 11 lineup arrives in August
Google will unveil the Pixel 11 series during its Made by Google event on August 12, 2026, in New York City. The lineup will include the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
Meanwhile, the Pro models are expected to feature 16GB of RAM, Samsung M16 OLED displays capable of reaching 3,600 nits of peak brightness, and an upgraded camera system.
Google gains an early edge over Apple
Apple’s A20 Pro is also expected to use TSMC’s 2nm process. Furthermore, the chip will reportedly incorporate Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging technology, allowing tighter integration between the processor and memory.
Even so, Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro is anticipated to launch in September 2026. Therefore, Google is on track to become the first smartphone maker to ship a commercially available device powered by a 2nm processor. If that happens, the achievement could reshape perceptions of the Pixel lineup, which has often been viewed as trailing competitors in processor technology.
