Google Uses Samsung 5G Tech For Its New Pixel Phone

Google will tap Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. to supply the 5G modem for its next flagship Pixel smartphone, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, signaling the first win for the Korean firm in a US market dominated by Qualcomm, Stephen Nellis and Paresh Dave reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

Earlier this month, Google disclosed that it has designed its own processor chip to power its new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro high-end phones, ending its complete reliance on Qualcomm, which will still supply chips for the lower-priced Pixel 5A.

Nikkei Asia earlier reported Samsung will manufacture the processor for Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters Samsung will also supply the 5G modem technology.

Samsung's move to provide the Pixel's modem technology is important because the Korean firm is one of only three companies in the world capable of making 5G modems that connect devices to wireless data networks. The others are Qualcomm, the market leader by a wide margin, and Taiwan's MediaTek, Inc.

Samsung widely uses its Exynos modem technology in its own flagship smartphones in Asia and Europe. But it has long relied on Qualcomm to provide modems for US versions.

That is in part because Qualcomm has a technology lead in a variant of 5G networking called millimeter wave, which provides the fastest speeds available with the new networks. To date, all smartphones released in the United States - including Apple Inc's iPhone - have used Qualcomm chips to tap millimeter-wave networks.

WEEKLY FEATURE : PAL READY TO SOAR WITH PANDEMIC