Apple has always designed its own chips for its devices and then outsourced it to its chipmaker partners to manufacture the hardware. Google wants to do just that and reports suggest that the company is in talks with several chip makers to strike a deal. Designing its own chips will enable Google to maintain a fine balance between its software and hardware. It will also let Google control how the software and hardware interact with each other.
The report does not reveal the names of the chip makers with whom Google has reportedly held discussions. However, the report does say that Google expects to see its devices with self designed chips in a few years. This implies that Google is sure to find a taker soon. However, this move may not go well with the leading chip makers as they usually have their own norms regarding their product line up, so as to be able to distinguish their product from their competitors and to ensure that their specification is top notch.
Due to this very reason, Google may well have to settle with start ups and therefore the products may not have that solidity and dependency the other leading manufacturers are associated with. If Google is able to partner with some leading chip maker, the move will tremendously benefit the company as the phone’s full potential will be supported at the hardware level. However, Google may well see some friction from leading chip makers like Qualcomm and Mediatek as Google’s designs may not go down too well with their own plans for advancement.
Apart from Apple, Samsung and Huawei too design their own chips and manufacture them themselves. This provides them the benefit of smoother interaction between hardware and software without any deals or obligations made to a third party manufacturer. Only time will tell whether Google inks a deal with some chip maker or takes matter into their own hands and begin manufacturing too.
