Google’s next flagship phone may finally solve one of the Pixel line’s longest-running grievances: cellular modem performance. An FCC filing for an upcoming foldable model, spotted by Android Authority, contains a reference to a MediaTek radio algorithm—strong evidence that the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and likely the entire Pixel 11 family, will swap Samsung’s Exynos modem for a MediaTek M90. The disclosure came to light just weeks before Google’s expected August 12 hardware event.
The Clue in the Filing
The document in question is a SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) test report for a device with model number GXQ0S, which Android Authority identifies as the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. SAR testing measures radio-frequency energy absorbed by the body, so it requires intimate knowledge of the phone’s modem and antenna configuration. Buried in the report is an explicit mention of “MediaTek’s TA-SAR v2 algorithm,” a power-management and signal-optimization feature proprietary to MediaTek’s modem platform.
Industry convention is clear: you do not run a competitor’s SAR algorithm in your modem firmware. Had Google continued with a Samsung Exynos modem, the filing would reflect Samsung’s RF calibration tools, not MediaTek’s. Android Authority’s analysis, confirmed by several hardware engineers who spoke to the publication on background, points to the MediaTek M90 as the chip inside the Tensor G6. Google has not officially confirmed the modem choice, but the FCC filing is a far cry from an anonymous leak—it is a certified agency submission with legal implications.
Leaked specifications for the M90 paint an ambitious picture. MediaTek claims peak downlink speeds up to 12Gbps, 5G dual-SIM dual-active (DSDA) capability, and integrated support for non-terrestrial network (NTN) satellite connectivity. Those features would align with Google’s aspirations for emergency satellite messaging and better carrier aggregation. However, raw chip capabilities do not guarantee real-world performance; Google’s firmware, antenna design, and carrier partnerships will ultimately determine whether the upgrade delivers meaningful improvements.
Why This Matters for Your Signal
Modems are the unsung heroes—or villains—of smartphone experience. A poor modem can drain your battery twice as fast in a weak-signal area, drop calls during a handoff between cell towers, or turn your phone into a pocket heater while streaming video over 5G. Pixel phones have faced persistent complaints about these exact issues since the first Tensor generation debuted with a Samsung Exynos modem. Users on Reddit, Google’s own support forums, and every major tech publication have documented faster battery drain and lower signal bars compared to Qualcomm-equipped Android rivals or iPhones.
If the M90 delivers on its promise, the Pixel 11 could bring three tangible benefits:
- Better battery life in mixed-coverage environments. The modem’s power states and TA-SAR v2 algorithm should allow more aggressive sleep modes and finer transmit-power adjustments, reducing juice-sipping when the signal is weak.
- Fewer dead zones and faster reconnection. An upgraded baseband with broader carrier aggregation and improved MIMO could keep data flowing in basements, rural highways, and crowded stadiums where older Pixels might stall.
- Functional satellite SOS. While satellite connectivity has been a marketing checkbox for several Android flagships, Google’s implementation could integrate tightly with its emergency services and Google Maps, making it a practical safety net for hikers and remote workers.
For Windows users who rely on their phone as a mobile hotspot, the modem swap could be a quiet quality-of-life upgrade. Tethered laptops often feel every bit of packet loss and latency, and a more stable 5G connection means fewer interruptions during VPN sessions, video calls, or large file downloads on the go.
That said, these are still expectations, not guarantees. The M90 is a new part with no shipping track record. Early MediaTek modems had their own quirks, and Google’s software integration will be under a microscope. Do not pre-order based on a spec sheet.
How Tensor Stepped Away from Samsung
To understand the significance of the switch, we have to rewind to 2021. That year Google launched the Pixel 6 with the first-generation Tensor chip, co-developed with Samsung’s LSI division and built on Samsung Foundry’s 5nm process. The chip used an Exynos 5123 modem. The arrangement continued through the Tensor G4 (Pixel 9 series), each time using a Samsung modem—5123, 5300, 5400—while fabrication moved from 5nm to 4nm.
The modem never quite kept pace. While Samsung improved peak speeds and efficiency generation over generation, Qualcomm’s modem dominance in the US market meant that comparisons were never flattering. The gap became more obvious as Apple’s in-house modems (launched in the iPhone 15) and MediaTek’s advancements eroded Samsung’s competitive position.
Then came the Pixel 10 series in 2025. Google shifted Tensor G5 fabrication to TSMC’s 3nm process, citing transistor density and power efficiency gains. Samsung Foundry was out. The modem, however, remained a Samsung Exynos 5400. The move to TSMC was a clear sign that Google was no longer willing to compromise on silicon fundamentals just to maintain a cozy supply relationship with its Korean neighbor.
Now with the Pixel 11 and Tensor G6, the modem is the next domino to fall. Multiple leaks, including those from Android Authority, consistently point to a TSMC 2nm process for the G6 and the MediaTek M90 as its companion modem. Samsung might still supply OLED panels, memory chips, or camera sensors, but its role as a core enabler of the Tensor platform is rapidly shrinking.
What You Should Do Now
There is no emergency here, but there are steps you can take to avoid being an unwitting beta tester:
- Do not pre-order on launch day. The Pixel 11 series will go on sale shortly after the expected August 12 announcement. Wait for independent cellular testing from sources like PCMag, AnandTech, or Wireless Future before swiping your credit card.
- Check your carrier’s 5G band support. If you use a regional carrier or an MVNO, verify that the Pixel 11’s modem supports your specific frequency bands. Google’s official spec sheet, when published, will list them. MediaTek’s M90 is expected to have robust global band coverage, but network certification can lag.
- If you’re an IT buyer, delay fleet decisions. For organizations that purchase Pixels for employees, hold off on bulk orders until you can test a sample unit in your worst-coverage offices and factory floors. A modem change can have wildly different impacts depending on building materials and local tower density.
- Existing Pixel owners should temper upgrade envy. If your Pixel 7, 8, or 9 is still serving you well, the modem improvement alone is not a reason to upgrade. Wait for full reviews that weigh the new modem against other Tensor G6 improvements like CPU gains, camera tricks, and guaranteed Android version updates.
The Road Ahead
Google’s hardware event on August 12 will likely mark the public debut of the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The company will almost certainly frame the Tensor G6 as a generational leap, with the MediaTek modem as a cornerstone. But the real story will unfold in the weeks after launch, when independent testers put the phones through their paces in subway tunnels, rural highways, and crowded convention centers.
Two questions loom large: can Google’s software team optimize the M90 as well as Samsung tuned (or failed to tune) its Exynos modems? And will the battery life and thermal behavior finally silence the critics? The answers will determine whether the Pixel 11 is remembered as the phone that fixed the Pixel’s most stubborn flaw, or just another spec bump with a new logo on the modem.
For now, treat the FCC filing as a promising clue, not a verdict. The proof will be in the signal bars.