In a surprising twist, Google appears to be developing a custom Tensor chip exclusively for its Pixel Watch series.
This new chip, internally codenamed ‘NPT’ (likely referring to ‘Newport Beach’), is expected to debut in 2026 alongside the highly anticipated Pixel Watch 5 (according to Android Authority).
We don’t even have the Pixel Watch 4 yet, but the move to a custom Tensor chip would mark Google’s first major foray into custom silicon for wearables, with the primary goal being efficiency rather than pure processing power.
Google appears ready to take control of its silicon strategy
Mattias Inge
Unlike high-end phone processors like the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite, which prioritize speed and performance, wearable technology requires a delicate balance that relies heavily on energy conservation.
Google’s NPT chip appears to follow this principle by integrating a unique CPU configuration including one Arm Cortex-A78 core and two Arm Cortex-A55 cores, designs from 2017 that emphasize low power over top performance.
While these older cores may seem unusual for new technology, the decision is in line with current trends in wearables, with brands like Samsung and Qualcomm also opting for older but power-efficient CPU architectures.
Despite the decision to go with legacy CPU cores, Android Authority reports that industry insiders are optimistic that the NPT chip will still provide the power needed to improve smartwatch functionality.
Mattias Inge
Google’s Pixel Watch journey has been a challenging journey, marked by hardware issues and iterative updates.
The first-generation Pixel Watch suffered from an outdated Exynos chip that was criticized for being slow and inefficient. Google changed quickly with the Pixel Watch 2, which moved to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, a significant improvement that was also retained in the Pixel Watch 3.
But with Qualcomm yet to release a new wearable platform, Google appears poised to take control of its silicon strategy, with the aim of making the Pixel Watch series more competitive in a growing market.
Whether this custom chip will be the game-changer for the Pixel Watch series remains to be seen, but we hope so. In the meantime, check out our roundup of the best smartwatches the Pixel Watch 5 will go up against.