Google hasn’t even launched the Pixel 11 yet, but leaks about the phone after that are already surfacing. According to MysticLeaks on Telegram, the Tensor G7 chip expected to power the Pixel 12 has an internal codename: LaJolla. That’s a reference to the coastal neighborhood in San Diego, and it fits a pattern Google has been running for years.
The Tensor G5 in the current Pixel 10 goes by “Laguna.” The upcoming Tensor G6 for the Pixel 11 carries the codename “Malibu.” LaJolla continues that sequence, tracking south along the California coast with each new generation. That consistency gives the leak more credibility than a random spec claim would.
It’s also independently checkable against prior Tensor history. Beyond the codename, there’s nothing confirmed about the Tensor G7 Pixel 12 pairing yet. Reports suggesting upgraded security, TPU, and imaging blocks are circulating. Those details appear inferred from G6 improvements rather than sourced directly to G7. So for now, it’s largely speculation.
What This Leak Actually Tells Us
The more meaningful part of this story is what it confirms about Google’s direction. The company is sticking with custom Tensor silicon for the Pixel 12, which was never really in doubt. However, it’s still reassuring to have it “confirmed.” Google has been building toward a fully custom chip roadmap since the Tensor G5 marked its first clean break from Samsung’s Exynos base. The Tensor G6 is shaping up to be a significant step, reportedly landing on TSMC’s 2nm process with a new Titan M3 security chip. The Tensor G7 Pixel 12 would build on whatever foundation that leaves.
The lingering question around all of this is raw performance. Google’s Tensor chips have consistently prioritized AI and efficiency over benchmark numbers, and the Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 still trails Qualcomm and Apple in pure compute. Whether G7 changes that calculus in 2027 is still completely unknown.