How much of a difference does Tensor G2 make?

One of the largest points Google’s Pixel 6 sequence has suffered from over time has been an unreliable modem. Compared to different Android units, the Samsung modem used with Google Tensor simply wasn’t as much as the duty. How does the Google Tensor G2 fare within the modem division? We in contrast the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 head-to-head to see how they stack up utilizing sign power and pace to seek out out.

The Pixel 6 used a Samsung Exynos 5123b modem on its Google Tensor chipset. Samsung modems are hardly ever used within the US market as Qualcomm typically dominates. In a comparability final 12 months evaluating the Pixel 6 Pro to the Galaxy S21 Ultra and its Qualcomm {hardware}, the Pixel was pathetic in phrases of each sign power and the speeds it might pull from a mobile community stayed behind.

On the Pixel 7, Google makes use of its new Tensor G2 chipset, which makes use of an Exynos 5300g modem.

In anecdotal insights over the previous few months, it has been agreed that this improve has considerably improved each sign power and pace. Most early consumers and reviewers, together with ourselves, have discovered the Pixel 7 sequence to be simpler to connect with a community and have a tendency to have respectable speeds and energy consumption in comparison with the modem on the unique Tensor chip in Pixel units 6 sequence are improved.

Related: Pixel 7 Pro overview: Google is lastly determining flagship telephones

Over the previous few weeks we have been capable of run some side-by-side checks with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7, each of which use AT&T’s community, to seek out out simply how much enchancment this new modem really provides to your cell sign.

Here’s how we examined the Pixel 7’s modem

Our testing methodology for this comparability was to run three pace checks in Ookla Speedtest back-to-back on each units in the identical areas and common these outcomes. We selected to exclude mmWave 5G from our testing as a result of it isn’t accessible in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and the encircling areas we examined, however we used each Sub6 5G and LTE networks , as that is all AT&T has to supply within the areas we examined.

We additionally introduced in a Galaxy Z Fold 4, which makes use of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and a Qualcomm modem to check alongside the Pixels, however we ended up excluding the system from the pace check outcomes. Why? For some motive, our system has had very inconsistent outcomes on all of our pace checks. This finally partially resolved itself after we carried out a community settings reset, however to maintain issues constant we excluded the Fold from the pace checks under.

For the sign power check, which we are going to talk about later, we used NetMonitor Pro.

Is the Pixel 7 quicker in pace checks?

My first testing location was merely my neighborhood in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the place the outcomes have been pretty predictable. The Pixel 6 with Tensor lagged behind the Pixel 7 a bit. This was in an space that’s not notably rural, however not near any “downtown” areas both.

The second location was a public park in High Point, North Carolina (about 20 miles from Winston-Salem) that was pretty near some community towers – I’m unsure in the event that they have been AT&T towers immediately, however the sign was sturdy at this location with each telephones reporting most sign power. Here, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 achieved roughly an identical outcomes.

My closest location was in downtown Winston-Salem, the place sign power is powerful however speeds are usually beneath 50Mbps. I noticed a difference of solely 3-5 Mbps between the 2 Pixels, however the Pixel 7 was extra per its outcomes when every of the three checks.

Finally, I took the 2 telephones to a extra rural location. This final location – a park in Kernersville, North Carolina, 20 miles from Winston-Salem – was intentionally chosen by all carriers as a result of of its weak sign. I had 1-2 bars of 5G on each units and speeds under 5Mbps on common – if I used to be fortunate. Most checks barely noticed 1Mbps. Here, the Pixel 7 pulled considerably greater than the Pixel 6, whereas my Fold 4 could not even full a pace check in any respect. I could not run the same old three checks because of the lack of sign power, however the checks I used to be capable of run confirmed a clear development that the Pixel 7 was extra profitable at sustaining and utilizing its connection.

This is probably crucial check of the three. In my expertise with the Pixel 6, I’ve by no means had much hassle sustaining my connection in well-covered areas. In extra rural areas I all the time felt like my telephone was struggling and I might actively see it dropping a connection earlier than telephones I’ve had from Samsung and others. I noticed a important enhance with the Pixel 7, and this check helped put some precise numbers behind it.

Of course, pace checks do not essentially inform the entire story.

Will Pixel 7 get higher sign reception?

After working these pace checks, I took the three telephones to downtown Winston-Salem, which has sturdy 5G protection on AT&T’s maps. Using NetMonitor, I measured the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the three telephones. On this scale, nearer to 0 means a stronger sign, however you will hardly ever get something near that quantity.

Comparing the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Galaxy Z Fold 4 (word: whereas a community reset improved my Fold’s efficiency, there have been nonetheless points), I discovered that the outcomes have been fairly much what I anticipated. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 led the sphere and usually had the strongest connection in any given location. The Pixel 7 was roughly on par with this system, however fell out of the inexperienced a little extra typically. And the Pixel 6, in the meantime, usually had the weakest connection of the three. The outcomes under are an excerpt of over 1,000 side-by-side samples collected throughout an roughly 15 minute drive from downtown Winston-Salem in the direction of Wake Forest University.

Experiences will all the time differ by area and provider – we’ll attempt to replace these outcomes by way of testing with Verizon and/or T-Mobile when the chance arises – however there’s a clear development I’ve observed with all of these facet by facet have -sided comparisons. The Pixel 7 is a particular enchancment. Signal power tends to be a minimum of barely stronger, and pace checks are normally higher too. Google’s companion in Samsung stepped up this time, and the numbers present it.

What do you assume? Have you upgraded to Pixel 7 and observed a higher sign? Have you had issues with a Pixel 6 sequence system? Let’s talk about!

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AT&T offered check strains for this text however had no management over our testing methodology or outcomes.

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