Pixel 11a may get the Tensor G6 after all

Terrence O’Brien, The Verge’s weekend editor, has covered the technology industry for more than 18 years and also writes about synthesizers.

The Pixel 11a may avoid the processor downgrade that disappointed buyers of its predecessor. According to Mystic Leaks, Google’s next budget Pixel could use the flagship-grade Tensor G6, rather than the older Tensor G4 found in the Pixel 10a. The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro use the Tensor G5.

The Pixel 10a’s older chip was a notable departure from Google’s usual Pixel a-series strategy. Those phones typically retained the current-generation processor while cutting costs elsewhere. The Tensor G6 is rumored to use the same PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU as the G5, but it should still outperform the Tensor G4's Mali-G715 GPU.

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The more significant change may be the modem. Google is reportedly moving away from Samsung’s Exynos modems in favor of a MediaTek M90, which could address two long-running Tensor complaints: battery drain and dropped signals.

The Pixel 11a is expected to have a slightly smaller 4,870mAh battery, down from 5,000mAh. Efficiency gains from the new processor could keep battery life roughly unchanged or improve it slightly.

The phone is also expected to retain a 6.3-inch, 1080 x 2424 display with a variable 60–120Hz refresh rate. Peak brightness could rise to 3,350 nits, compared with 3,000 nits on the Pixel 10a.