One of the biggest problems with recent Pixel devices has been an unconvincing SoC Tensor. The recently announced Pixel 7a is no exception to the Tensor G2. However, the famous leak @employee Spot an interesting difference between the Tensor G2 variant used in the Pixel 7 and the branded variant.
The Google code contains references to the Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 variant G2 tensor. It’s using IPOP (Package Interposer on Package), an older packaging method from 2008, as opposed to FOPLOP (Fan Out Panel Level Packaging) from 2020 on the Pixel 7. Another leak, RGCloudSIt claims that FOPLOP offers better electrical and thermal performance compared to IPOP, as well as a higher transistor density.
However, the performance difference is negligible in the real world, as confirmed by our in-depth study on Pixel 7 And Pixel 7 a in depth. Its effects show in the temperatures, however, the Pixel 7a gets noticeably hotter (up to 48.3°C / 119°F) than the Pixel 7 (up to 43.2°C / 110°F). However, the apples to apples comparison would not be fair, as the two smartphones use different cooling methods.
