Rumors about Google developing its own SoC chip have been around since 2020, and now a new report confirms that the SoC will be available on the company’s next high-end phone chip.
A leaked document from 9to5Google says it has recorded chip code-named Whitechapel that will power the Pixel series of phones coming out next fall. Previous reports indicate that Whitechapel will be a SoC for phones and Chromebooks, and Google has been working with Samsung to develop the chip. Basically, Whitechapel was developed with Samsung’s System large-scale integration (SLSI) system.
There are several codenames outlined in the 9to5Google report, including “GS101”, which the source said is Google’s internal nickname for the chip, likely GS stands for Google Silicon. Another codename highlighted in this report is “Slider”, which is “the shared platform for the first Whitechapel SoC”. The Slider is linked to a number of other projects, including two other codenames “Raven” and “Oriole”. These are said to be the high-end Pixel phones expected to launch this fall, with one of them being called the Pixel 6.
Google declined to comment on this report, though given the company’s history of using codenames and the rumors surrounding Whitechapel, this report is truly interesting. With phone makers like Samsung, Apple, Huawei and Xiaomi already or are moving to use their own chips, it’s no surprise that Google can do the same.