MediaTek in Pixel 11?
Until now, Google used modems from Samsung in its Pixel phones. The Pixel 10 series, released earlier this year, for instance, still had the same Exynos modem as its predecessors. Back in December last year, there were rumours that Google would switch to MediaTek, but that ultimately turned out not to be true.
Yet now those rumours are resurfacing, this time with some more details. Sources claim that Google is seriously considering integrating the MediaTek M90 modem in the Pixel 11 devices.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL in our extensive Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review
The new modem
Presented in February 2025, the MediaTek M90 supports 5G speeds of up to 12 Gbps. The modem works with the latest 3GPP Release 17 and 18 standards and supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G. That means it can operate on all major frequency bands, something especially important for markets such as the US and Japan, where mmWave networks operate.
In addition, the modem offers dual-sim dual-active support, allowing you to use 5G data on two SIM cards at the same time. It also has satellite connectivity, a feature that is increasingly appearing in modern smartphones to enable emergency communication when there is no mobile coverage.
If Google really does switch to MediaTek, it could affect the mobile connectivity quality and power efficiency of the Pixel 11. MediaTek has made considerable progress in 5G modems in recent years, and the M90 looks like a strong competitor to Qualcomm and Samsung's modems on paper.
It does not mean that Google will opt for MediaTek's own Tensor chipset. This will remain its own in-house Tensor chipset.
Via Telegram
