Google might finally ditch those problematic Samsung modems in the Pixel 11 series

If you’ve ever watched your Pixel’s signal bars suddenly drop to zero in a room where every other phone was totally fine, you already know Google has a modem problem. It has been a recurring headache since the original Tensor chip debuted in the Pixel 6, but a new FCC filing suggests the company might finally be doing something about it.

According to a new filing spotted by Android Authority, the upcoming Pixel 11 Pro Fold is swapping out Samsung’s Exynos modem for MediaTek’s M90. And if the foldable is making the jump, that points to a wider, much-needed change for the entire Pixel 11 lineup.

Google has leaned heavily on Samsung for both its Tensor chip design and modem hardware for years. We originally thought that Google would ditch Samsung hardware entirely as early as the Pixel 10 generation. However, development timelines meant the Tensor G5 kept its Exynos modem, even though manufacturing made the jump to TSMC. Tensor G6 looks to be the clean break we’ve been waiting for, and the modem was the next logical domino to fall.

Samsung’s modems are the main culprit behind the weak signals, dropped connections, and idle battery drain that recent Pixel owners constantly report. MediaTek’s M90 modem is built to fix exactly that. On paper, it brings a lot to the table: support for 5G speeds up to 12 Gbps, satellite connectivity, dual-active 5G SIM support, and AI-driven power management. But more importantly, it offers efficiency.

When you pair this new MediaTek modem with the Tensor G6’s rumored move to TSMC’s 2nm manufacturing process, you are looking at a Pixel that should last noticeably longer, run cooler, and actually hold onto a cell signal.

While none of this is strictly official just yet, the regulatory filings are starting to align with the leaks. With modem performance becoming a major battleground for flagship phones, Google partnering with MediaTek feels like a much faster path to fixing Tensor’s biggest weakness than trying to build it entirely in-house. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this as we get closer to the Pixel 11 launch.