Google Confirms Pixel 11 Ditches Samsung's Modem for MediaTek

Google has confirmed that every phone in the Pixel 11 series ships with a new modem built by MediaTek, ending years of Samsung Exynos modems inside Pixel hardware. The change is described in Google's own marketing copy for the phones, which calls the new modem "reliable, faster, and more power efficient" than what came before.

It is the first time a Pixel phone has shipped without a Samsung-made modem since the Tensor chip launched in 2021. Regulatory filings spotted by other outlets in July pointed to the swap, identifying the part as a MediaTek M90. Google has not published the model number itself, but the timing and Google's own language line up with those filings.

Why the modem matters this time

Samsung's Exynos modems were a recurring complaint through the first few years of Tensor. Early Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 owners reported dropped calls, slow data speeds in weak-signal areas, and battery drain tied to the modem constantly hunting for a stronger connection. Google narrowed the gap with the Tensor G2 and G3, and the Pixel 10's Tensor G5 carried the same Samsung modem forward largely unchanged.

The Tensor G6 inside the Pixel 11 series is the first to break that pattern. Because the modem handles cellular calls, texts, and mobile data independently of the rest of the chip, a supplier change can move the needle on everyday reliability more than a faster processor core does.

Which phones get it

The new modem is standard across the whole Pixel 11 lineup: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. All four launched at the Made by Google event on August 12 and start shipping August 20, alongside the rest of that lineup's camera, charging, and security upgrades.

Google's performance claims come with a caveat worth noting: the company says its testing was done on pre-production units in lab-controlled conditions, not on retail hardware in the field. Real-world signal behavior, especially in rural areas or inside buildings, will only be clear once reviewers and buyers get retail units running current carrier networks.

What to watch for after launch

Owners of recent Pixel phones who dealt with Exynos-related signal or battery issues have reason to pay attention here, but the real test comes after August 20. Worth watching in the first weeks:

• Whether independent speed tests match Google's power-efficiency claims
• Carrier-specific compatibility, particularly for VoLTE and 5G standalone networks outside the US
• Whether Google issues early modem firmware updates, as it has for past Pixel launches

If a modem-related bug does surface, it would typically arrive through a day-one or first-month software update rather than a hardware fix, since modem firmware is updated independently of the main Android build.