Google's Custom Tensor Chip Rumored for Pixel Watch 5 in 2026

$Alphabet-C (GOOG.US)$ $Alphabet-A (GOOGL.US)$ may be moving toward an in-house chip design for its Pixel Watch 5, rumored to debut in 2026. According to leaked documents, Google’s gChips division is developing a wearable Tensor chip, codenamed NPT, with a configuration that includes one ARM Cortex A78 core and two Cortex A55 cores. These core designs aren’t the latest, but that’s common in wearable chips where efficiency is often prioritized over raw power.

Historically, Android smartwatches were stuck with $Qualcomm (QCOM.US)$ 's lineup, which struggled to keep pace. Google’s Pixel Watch 2 uses Qualcomm’s 2022 Snapdragon W5, but progress on new wearable processors has been slow. Developing a custom Tensor chip could help Google accelerate new features and optimize performance without relying on third-party chip releases.

While specifics are still unclear, Google’s work on an in-house chip could mark a big step in advancing Wear OS smartwatches and potentially make the Pixel Watch line more competitive in the wearable market.