Google initially used an Exynos chip in the first Pixel Watch but switched to Qualcomm chips for the Pixel Watch 2 and the latest Watch 3, a trend that may continue with the Pixel Watch 4. However, the Pixel Watch 5, expected in 2026, could debut Google’s first wearable Tensor chip, as reported by Android Authority.
The chip, codenamed “NPT” (potentially short for “Newport Beach”), is rumoured to feature a 1x Arm Cortex-A78 and 2x Arm Cortex-A55 configuration, prioritizing efficiency over raw performance—similar to the Exynos W1000 3nm SoC found in the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra.
Although RISC-V was once a possible alternative, a recent removal of its support from the Android kernel makes this unlikely. Further details about the process node and modem are yet to be disclosed.
With Google’s Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 chip to be manufactured by TSMC—marking its first chip made independently of Samsung—the wearable Tensor chip could also adopt TSMC’s 3nm process. The Pixel Watch 5 is expected to introduce enhanced smart features, with more details likely to emerge in the coming months.
