Why Google is using Tensor in Pixel 6a

Well, according to the rumor mill, Google is doing the only thing that makes logical sense; after dumping time and money in developing their own chip, they are putting it into more devices.

While I DID suggest that Google doesn't always make the smartest moves that I predicted that the 1st gen Tensor chip would end up in the 6a. Furthermore, I also continue to predict that if they make a tablet or refresh their Chromebook lineup that we'll see the same move being made there. Though, in the case of Chromebooks, we may still see traditional x64 chipsets in higher end models to meet development requirements.

The reasoning is simple, and is the same reason why Apple makes their own chips. This is how you make money. Especially if you're not using off the shelf SoCs.

For some reason it is considered perfectly acceptable in this industry to re-use an older chipset in a newer device so long as you made the chipset. Conversely however, companies are always heavily scrutinized when using older 3rd party chips. In fact, I remember that the Pixel 2 or 3 suffered from this (can't remember exactly which). They chose a chipset which WAS top of the line a few months earlier. It enabled them to keep the cost down. But MANY people jumped all over the fact that they hadn't snagged the latest and greatest. 

Google's current Tensor chip probably costs less per unit than the latest top of the line Snapdragon SoC. And that cost will keep going down over time. And because the chip has the Google name on it and they control the release cadence they can keep putting them in devices til the cows come home. About the only thing they can't do is shove an older/crappier version into a subsequent version of the same product. 

As such, we should probably expect a Tensor 2 in time for the Pixel 7 and then see that once again pop up in the 7a. It is very similar to how Apple works.