We haven't seen Tensor 2, but Tensor 3 is already reportedly in development

Google may be working in collaboration with Samsung on its next system on a chip (SoC), which could be the Tensor 3 or possibly a Tensor 2.5. Samsung may also be working on its own in-house chip, a successor to the Exynos 1280.

According to a rumor from GalaxyClub, Samsung is in the process of working on two new chipsets. One of those new chipsets carries the model number S5P9865. This pattern seems to mimic the previous model numbers in the Tensor line, with the original Tensor model number being S5P9845 and Tensor 2 believed to have the model number S5P9855.

In addition to the model number, it’s believed that the chip is being tested under the dev board name of “Ripcurrent.” You can compare this to the code name reportedly given to the Tensor 2 — “Cloudripper.”

The rumor also suggests that Samsung is working on a future chip of its own. Said chip is believed to be a successor to the Exynos 1280 processor found in the Samsung Galaxy A53. Like the rumored Tensor chip, this SoC mimics the model number pattern of the previous chip, with the 1280 chip having the number S5E8825 and the new chip having the number S5E8835. Possibly named the Exynos 1380, the chip could possibly find its way into next year’s Galaxy A54.

It’s important to keep in mind that all of this is just a rumor and should be treated as such.

As for the Tensor 2, which will be in the upcoming Pixel 7, a leak we reported on late last month suggests the chip is likely sticking with older CPU cores like the Cortex-A78 and Cortex-X1. This means Tensor 2 could be lagging behind current flagship SoCs when it releases. If that’s the case, a Tensor 2.5 chip could help Google catch up to current flagship SoCs sooner than later.