How Google’s Tensor Chipset Could Affect GCam Ports on Non-Pixel Devices

Google has recently released the first developer preview of Android 15, the next version of its popular mobile operating system. Android 15 promises to bring some exciting new features and improvements, but not all Pixel devices will be able to enjoy them.

The Pixel 5 series, which was launched in 2020, is the last Pixel line to use a Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm. Google has decided to end software support for these devices in 2024, which means they will not receive the Android 15 update.

This could have a significant impact on the GCam community, which is known for porting the Google Camera app to other Android devices. The Google Camera app is widely regarded as one of the best camera apps on the market, thanks to its advanced features and algorithms.

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However, porting the GCam app to non-Pixel devices may become more difficult or even impossible in the future, due to Google’s switch to its own custom chipset, the Tensor. The Tensor chipset powers the Pixel 6 series and newer Pixel devices, and it is the only chipset that Google officially supports.

The Tensor chipset gives Google more control over the hardware and software integration, which could enable some exclusive Pixel features that rely on the Tensor processor. This could make it harder to replicate or emulate these features on non-Tensor devices.

Moreover, Google may remove the Qualcomm DSP support from the Google Camera app, which is essential for processing images on Qualcomm chipsets. This could mean that even if the GCam app is ported to other devices, the image processing time could be significantly longer, making the GCam ports less useful.

Of course, these are just speculations, and we do not know for sure what Google will do with the GCam app and the Tensor chipset. However, it is possible that Google will make it harder for non-Pixel devices to access the benefits of the Google Camera app, as a way to differentiate its own devices and showcase the capabilities of the Tensor chipset.

The Tensor chipset is Google’s attempt to create its own custom processor, similar to what Apple and Samsung have done. However, the Tensor chipset still lags behind in terms of performance and efficiency, compared to the latest Qualcomm processors. The Tensor chipset offers a performance level that is comparable to the Qualcomm processors from three years ago, which is not very impressive.

Modern smartphones have high expectations for battery life and processing power, and Google needs to either improve the Tensor chipset significantly or go back to using Qualcomm processors, if it wants to compete with other flagship devices. Otherwise, the GCam app may not be enough to attract users to the Pixel devices, especially if they cannot use it on other devices.