Google Has a Custom SoC, and It Is Hidden Deep Inside the Pixel 2

Think the time when we reported that Google could comprise a custom SoC in the side by side iteration of the Pixel family thanks to the hiring of Apple'due south chip architect but all we got in render was a Snapdragon 835? Well turns out that Google has indeed made a custom chip merely it is not going to be handling all the processes like to Samsung's Exynos 8895 or Apple tree's A11 Bionic. Instead, the custom SoC made by Google for the Pixel ii will take a singular purpose.

Pixel Visual Cadre Is Name of the Google Custom SoC and It Is Used for Image Processing on the Pixel ii

Ever wonder why the images on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 Twoscore wait breathtaking? You tin can give thanks Google for its Pixel Visual Core, which is the name of the in-house SoC made by the tech giant and it will be treatment all the image processing taking place in the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. The presence of this SoC allows image processing to exist carried out much faster on smartphones, and Google is also planning to open HDR+ to third-party camera apps.

If y'all have a look at the chip, it is dubbed an Image Processing Unit of measurement (IPU) and features an 8-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU. Each of these cores has been specifically designed to handle HDR+ functions, resulting in much better performance while using a 10th of the energy. While we all idea that Google'south latest Pixel 2 family would be outfitted with custom hardware handling all of the processes, Google decided that purpose-specific hardware will be the right way to implement this.

According to Google, information technology volition enable Pixel Visual Cadre as a developer pick in its preview of Android Oreo 8.1, before updating the Android Camera API to allow access to HDR+ for third-party photographic camera developers. Unfortunately, this will be limited to the Pixel 2 lineup, meaning regular Android smartphone owners and previous-gen Pixel users volition be left out of the equation.

Do y'all think Google has made the correct option to implement a custom SoC for a specific task rather than make a Snapdragon 835 competitor? Tell u.s.a. your thoughts down in the comments.