Google's Pixel 6 series will feature a custom-built SoC dubbed Tensor

Google has announced that its upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will feature a custom-built System on a Chip (SoC) called Tensor. The rationale behind Tensor is that existing hardware limits Google’s ability to maximise the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML); with Tensor it’s able to overcome these issues.

Over the last few years, Google has been going in heavy on AI. With the new Tensor chip, Google says Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro users will gain new features and improvements in translation, captioning, and dictation that presumably won’t be available on other devices, it also helps the device run more smoothly in general. It will also offer users better security with a new security core and the Titan M2 chip – the search giant says these features will mean the new devices have the most layers of hardware security compared to any other phone.

Aside from announcing the new Tensor SoC, Google took some time to address the camera hump that’s present on the upcoming devices. It said that the improved sensors and lenses are simply too big to fit into a traditional square so it has had to introduce a new design which it calls the camera bar. In a thread on Twitter, the firm said the Pixel 6 Pro has three cameras including a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom, while the Pixel 6 has the same cameras minus the telephoto lens.

Users will be able to pick up the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in three colour combinations and they both use new materials and finishes including a light polished aluminum frame and a matte aluminum finish.

Google hasn’t shared any pricing information with us, or when it will go on sale but prospective buyers should expect it to be available around October.