The new Pixels don’t have the Pixel Neural Core, but they still have the features

Google leverages its experience in machine learning across multiple products including the Pixel smartphones. However, the new models of the Pixel that Google has launched this year, none of them come with the Pixel Neural Core - and these devices include the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G and the new Pixel 5.

On these new devices, all the AI calculations will go through the NPU on the Snapdragon chip - the S730G for the Pixel 4a and the S765G on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, according to GSMArena.

Google had explained last year that the Live HDR+ and Dual Exposure features cannot be enabled on older Pixels because they did not have the Neural Core. Older Pixels have the Pixel Visual Core. However, its absence does not seem to be a problem on the 2020 Pixel phones as the Live HDR+ and Dual Exposure is available on all the three new phones.

Also Read: Google will turn off face retouching effects on Pixel 5, Pixel 4a by default

As per reports, the Pixel Visual Core performance is rated at 3 TOPS. While it is not known how much faster the Neural core is, the Snapdragon 765G is faster than the PVC clocking 5.5 TOPS and the Snapdragon 855 is even faster with more than 7 TOPS. The Snapdragon 730G clocks around 3.3 TOPS which is only slightly more than the Snapdragon 845 that is used in the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

Google has reworked and optimised its algorithms for these features to exist without the Neural Core that seemed to be the only driving force. Also since the cores are specialised, they use less power. This also means that the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4XL should get the features as well, but that remains to be seen.