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| Pixel 6 with Samsung sensors |
An analysis of the updated Google app has revealed new information about the upcoming Pixel 6 series, including the main camera image sensor and the modem the phone uses for cellular communications.
This was released after the fourth beta of Android 12, which is a milestone in the stability of the platform.
The goal of this release is to give developers a final API design and application-oriented behavior so that they can test and update their apps before the stable release is released.
As always, the fourth beta includes many changes not mentioned in the company's blog posts, as well as updated versions of several Google apps.
Pixel smartphones have a new version of the Google Camera app preinstalled, which contains the fourth beta version of Android 12.
In the library included in the APK file, you'll see a string called "gn1_wide_p21" indicating that the Pixel 2021's primary wide-angle lens (ie the Pixel 6 series) is Samsung's 50MP ISOCELL GN1 image sensor.
This high-resolution image sensor was launched in the middle of last year and supports Dual Pixel AF for faster and more accurate focusing.
A previous leak indicated that the main wide-angle lens houses a 50-megapixel sensor, which is powered by the series in the Google Camera app.
The search giant has used Sony's IMX363 image sensor in previous generations of Pixel phones, making the Samsung GN1 a significant upgrade from the initial specs.
Pixel 6 with Samsung sensors
A reference to the modem "g5123b" also appeared in another system APK file. This modem model is assigned to multiple devices, although the strings identifying these devices are encrypted.
These threads have been loosened by reverse engineering. The "g5123b" modem was apparently assigned to 5 devices with the following codenames: Oriole, Raven, Passport, Slider, and an unknown fifth product.
Oriole and Raven are code names for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones, respectively. Passport is the codename for Google's foldable Pixel smartphone. Pointer is the code name of an unknown product from Google.
Other modem models in this APK set the same as the previous device and its Snapdragon processor. So this string "g5123b" can refer to the Google Tensor chip modem.
Although it has not been confirmed, the modem may be based on the Samsung Exynos 5123 modem. This is the 5G modem used in the Exynos version of the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 20.
The modem supports bands below 6 GHz and millimeters. But it is not clear if Google plans to bring the Pixel 6 to the world with this modem.
Samsung typically uses Qualcomm SoCs and modems for its flagship phones sold in the US. However, there is no evidence that Google did the same.
Google confirmed last week that its Pixel 6 smartphone will feature the company's internal chip called Google Tensor.
There are rumors that this chip was developed in cooperation with Samsung's SLSI division. A recent report indicated that Samsung is using 5nm process technology to produce the chips.