The custom Tensor processor in the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro smartphones has received solid reviews. Google developed the system using a custom Tensor processor in-house. This gives it an efficiency and speed advantage that is similar to Apple's homegrown silicon. Tensor's speed and all-day battery capacity are great features. But security is a lesser known benefit.
Google is not the only one pushing to make its own smartphone chips. This trend has been growing over the years in the industry. Softwarecompanies can control every layerhardware, firmware and other software components without having to rely on outside partners. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro make big strides, such as ensuring security updates for five more years than the industry-standard three years. Apple typically supports older iPhones for seven years, but doesn't promise anything up front.
The most important security and privacy advantages of Pixel 6 and 6 Pro lie in the way Tensor and Google use Titan M2 security chips to protect and silo sensitive data. The Pixel team added transparency features to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro and security protections from Android 12 to that. This was in order to make hacking as expensive as possible for attackers.
This doesn't mean that there aren't bugs, nor does it mean that hacking is impossible. But the cost of hacking continues to rise, according to Dave Kleidermacher vice president of engineering for Android security. It's becoming clearer that open-source is the winning strategy, I believe.
This strategy is different from Apple's closed iOS ecosystem which has had its security problems in recent years. Android is not the only operating system that has had its security problems. Manufacturers offer their own versions of Android. This means that not all privacy and security updates are available to all devices in a timely fashion.
However, the Pixel 6 and 6 Plus are excellent. Tensor, which is based on ARM technology, uses TrustZone's isolation architecture to protect sensitive data and computations. Tensor offers a separate, open-source sandbox called Private Compute Core. This uses data analysis techniques to power Android features such as Smart Reply suggestions and Live Caption. It does not store or share any data with Google. This is to allow you to customize features without your identifying information ever leaving your devices. TrustZone and Private Compute Core on the Pixel 6/6 Plus run a secure, open-source, and highly secure Google operating system called Trusty OS.
Secure processing isn't over. Tensor has its own dedicated area, Tensor Security Core. This connects to the Titan M2 chip and protects vital processes such as secure boot. Titan M2 is a completely separate custom chip with more memory, storage and stronger cryptography engines to support biometric authentication and encryption key management.
