The Google Tensor chipsets found in the company's Pixel phones are made by Samsung. That is expected to change in the next couple of years with the Google Tensor G5, where apparently Google is looking to shift to TSMC. Now a report from Taiwan's Economic Daily has revealed that the chipset is getting ready for testing.

The report claims that Google has handed over a "self-developed" Tensor chipset to KYEC. KYEC, for those unfamiliar, is a company that provides testing services for chipsets that are to be made in Taiwan. While the chipset wasn't specified, there is a good chance it could be the Google Tensor G5.

The Tensor G5 will debut in the Pixel 10 in 2025, so it is still quite a fair bit aways. This is still pretty exciting, though. This is because the current Tensor chipsets are apparently based on the foundation Samsung laid with its Exynos chipsets. Moving to TMSC would allow Google to create a more custom design.

This in turn would let Google create Pixel phones and develop a more optimized Android experience. This is similar to how Apple controls both its hardware and software. The Tensor G5 is also expected to be manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process which will result in a smaller and more efficient chipset.

There are so many inventions around the world that it is inevitable that some might be quite similar to each other. A company by the name of Singular Computing seems to think that way about some of Google's products and services. To that end, they have filed a $1.67 billion lawsuit against Google over alleged patent infringements.

The company is alleging that Google had stolen patents regarding AI technology. These patents were then used in some of Google's products. They claim that Singular's founder, Joseph Bates, had repeatedly met up with Google. Both parties were in discussions to use his ideas to help develop artificial intelligence. These ideas were then allegedly built into Google's Tensor Processing Units.

Google has responded to the patent lawsuit and refuted the allegations. Robert Van Nest, one of the lawyers for Google, claims that the company's employees who designed the Tensor chips had never met Bates. He also claims that they designed the chips separately from the other employees who did. Van Nest also told the jury that Google's chips are "fundamentally different" from the description of Singular's patents.

If these allegations can be proven, it is going to cost Google a pretty penny. Google recently settled another unrelated lawsuit regarding antitrust for $700 million, so if they were to lose this one, it would put them out at least $2 billion.

When it comes to Android updates, most of the changes that people look forward to are new features. Basically things that can be seen and felt. But sometimes updates under the hood are just as important, which is why we are pretty excited to hear that Google could be planning a major (and rare) kernel update for its Tensor-powered Pixel phones.

This is according to a post on X by Mishaal Rahman who claims that the Google Tensor Pixel phones could see their kernels updated to version 6.1. For context, Pixel phones powered by the Tensor G1 and G2 run on Linux 5.10, while the G3 runs on Linux 5.15, so this is a major jump in kernel versions.

Kernels, for those unfamiliar, are basically the core foundation that allows the software and hardware to communicate with each other. An outdated kernel could result in devices whose performance lags and could also face security issues, especially considering the fact that new threats keep popping up every now and then.

While the Google kernel update won't bring about visual changes or introduce new and exciting features to Google's Pixel phones, it does lay the groundwork for the longevity of the Pixel phones while keeping it up to date. Ultimately, it is a good thing and could be another reason why you might want to consider a Pixel as your next Android phone.

The Google Pixel Fold, like most foldables, has two displays. One display is on the outside which resembles your more typical smartphone display, and the other is on the inside where it transforms the phone into a tablet-like device.

A report from Android Authority has revealed a new feature that could be coming to the Pixel Fold in which when taking photos, users will be able to take advantage of the dual displays.

Right now, the only way the dual display works simultaneously is when you use the Dual Screen Interpreter Mode in Google Translate, but the APK teardown has revealed that Google could be bringing dual screen functionality when it comes to taking photos.

Based on the code strings they discovered, it seems that the outer display (or the rear display as Google calls it) can be turned on while you're snapping a photo. This will allow you to show your subject a preview of the photo, so if you're trying to direct someone to take your photo, the outer display can act as a viewfinder of sorts so you can adjust your pose or change the angles if it's not to your liking.

The code also mentions how this Dual Screen preview feature won't work if Battery Saver mode is enabled, or if your device is running too hot. There's no mention of when it will be released so we'll have to wait.

A while back, a growing number of Pixel 8 owners noted that their devices' screens seem to have formed tiny bumps and ripples, which are most visible whenever the display is turned off and viewed under a direct bright light. Some have even complained that the bumps were present from the moment their phone was unboxed, leading to concerns over durability and performance.

With that being said, it seems that Google has noticed the complaints online, and has since issued a corresponding statement regarding the mysterious screen bumps, which have since been clarified as components pressing up against the display. According to a statement made to 9to5Google:

"Pixel 8 phones have a new display. When the screen is turned off, not in use and in specific lighting conditions, some users may see impressions from components in the device that look like small bumps. There is no functional impact to Pixel 8 performance or durability."

While this does bring some peace of mind at the moment, it still remains to be seen whether or not the screen bumps will affect performance and user experience over the next few months, since the Pixel 8 series handsets are still fairly "new" on the market.

The Pixel 8 series phones feature Google's newly-branded "Actua" displays, which (screen bumps aside) have gained favourable benchmark scores in terms of display quality and power efficiency.