Google has long tied its Pixel phones to Samsung components. That bond appears ready to break with the Tensor G6. Fresh FCC paperwork for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold references MediaTek algorithms in radio testing. The clue surfaced just days ago and adds weight to months of speculation about a modem swap.
The document dump from the Federal Communications Commission landed on July 10. Buried on page 30 of the SAR test report sits a clear mention of MediaTek. Samsung would have no reason to pull in those algorithms for an Exynos modem. So the reference points straight to a new supplier for the Tensor G6 inside next month’s Pixel 11 lineup. Android Authority first highlighted the filing and its implications.
This marks the end of an era. Every Tensor chip from the original to the G5 relied on Samsung Exynos modems. Those parts delivered connectivity but often at a cost. Overheating. Battery drain. Inconsistent signal in fringe areas. Users complained. Reviewers documented the shortcomings. Google listened.
Reports of a MediaTek shift first emerged last October. Tipster Mystic Leaks described early internal testing of the M90 modem paired with the Tensor G6. Command-line snippets showed a baseband version labeled “a900a” and a bootloader called “spacecraft.” The Pixel 10 series stuck with Samsung’s Exynos 5400i instead. But the idea never died. 9to5Google reported the initial testing details.
MediaTek introduced the M90 at MWC 2025. The modem promises peak downlink speeds of 12 Gbps. It supports dual 5G SIM with dual active data. AI models handle power optimization. Satellite connectivity for emergency messaging rounds out the package. MediaTek claimed an 18 percent drop in average power consumption compared with its prior designs. Those numbers caught Google’s eye.
But why switch now? The Tensor G6 itself carries big changes. Fabricated on TSMC’s 2nm process. A seven-core CPU built around ARM’s C1 family. One prime core at 4.11 GHz. Four performance cores. Two efficiency cores. A PowerVR CXTP-48-1536 GPU that some leaks call a step sideways from the G5. New Titan M3 security chip. Updated TPU codenamed Santafe for heavier AI tasks. And a custom image signal processor known as Metis or GXP.
All those elements point to a chip designed for better efficiency overall. Pairing it with a power-hungry Samsung modem would undercut the gains. The MediaTek M90 offers a cleaner fit. Lower heat. Longer battery life in real use. Stronger signal stability where previous Pixels struggled. Industry watchers expect the combination to address one of the longest-running criticisms of the Pixel hardware.
Google’s supply chain strategy has evolved. The company already moved Tensor production to TSMC with the G5. Dropping Samsung modems completes the separation from its biggest hardware rival. Diversification reduces risk. It gives Google more say in integration and tuning. And it opens the door to features like satellite messaging that carriers and users increasingly demand.
Pixel 11 arrives August 12. The event takes place in New York. Pricing starts near $900 for the base model with 256 GB storage standard across the range. No more 128 GB option. The lineup includes the standard Pixel 11, Pro, Pro XL, and a new Pro Fold. Early leaks also mention brighter Samsung M16 OLED panels, upgraded camera sensors, and an RGB light bar called Pixel Glow on the Pros.
Yet the modem change stands out. Not because it delivers flashy benchmarks. But because it targets a practical pain point. Connectivity problems have shadowed Tensor phones since launch. Users in rural areas or crowded venues noticed drops. Heat from the modem throttled performance during calls or data sessions. Battery graphs showed steep declines under cellular load.
Analysts believe the M90 can change that picture. Its AI-driven power management adapts dynamically. Dual-active 5G support handles simultaneous connections without extra drain. Peak speeds reach levels competitive with flagship chips from Qualcomm and others. For a company that once built its brand on software and cameras, these hardware fundamentals matter more than ever.
Of course questions remain. Real-world tests will decide whether the efficiency claims hold up in Android. Integration bugs could surface during early firmware. And the GPU configuration has raised eyebrows among those who track graphics performance. A reported downgrade in some scenarios might limit gaming or sustained graphics tasks even as the CPU and modem improve.
Still the momentum feels different this time. Google spent years iterating on Tensor while accepting trade-offs for its AI focus. The G6 looks like a more balanced design. TSMC process node. Stronger security via Titan M3. Custom blocks for imaging and machine learning. And now a modem chosen for its strengths rather than internal politics or existing relationships.
Recent coverage reinforces the shift. A report published two days before the FCC filing detailed the August 12 launch and confirmed the MediaTek M90 as the modem choice. It noted support for the latest 5G bands and satellite emergency features while highlighting how the decision ends Google’s modem dependence on Samsung. TechTimes laid out the full event and chip expectations.
Leaked roadmaps and teardowns from earlier this year painted a similar story. The Tensor G6 codenamed Malibu borrows concepts from MediaTek’s own Dimensity platform in places. That collaboration feels natural given the modem partnership. It also signals deeper ties between the two firms that could extend beyond this generation.
Pixel fans have waited for this kind of refinement. Software updates remain class-leading. Cameras continue to impress with computational tricks. Now the underlying hardware may finally stop holding the experience back. Battery life that lasts all day under mixed use. Fewer dropped calls. Cooler operation during 5G streaming or navigation.
The change won’t make headlines like a new AI feature or brighter screen. But for engineers and product teams at Google it represents a quiet victory. A decision based on data and user feedback rather than legacy arrangements. One that could influence how future Pixels perform for years.
By the time the Pixel 11 ships in August the full picture will emerge. Benchmarks. Thermal tests. Carrier compatibility reports. Early user reviews. If the MediaTek modem delivers on its promises the Tensor G6 could mark the moment Google’s in-house silicon turned a corner. From a promising but flawed experiment to a competitive flagship platform.
And that FCC document? It just made the rumor feel official. A single line on page 30. MediaTek algorithms. In a Pixel radio test. Sometimes the biggest shifts show up in the smallest details.
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