The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will debut later this month at Google's Pixel Fall Launch event on October 19. And so far, it looks like Tensor will be the star of the show.

Tensor is a chipset designed by Google that the company has already said will be included in the new model. The statement certainly set tongues wagging in the tech world, as new silicon tends to attract a lot of attention. But will Tensor's official inclusion in the Pixel 6 increase the interest of smartphone shoppers who are less eager to learn more about a device's hardware?

It seems unlikely.

"Tensor itself won't interest mainstream consumers one bit," agreed Avi Greengart, principal analyst at Techsponential, when asked about the possibility of Tensor mania captivating the nation later this month. He said, "That said, if the new silicon delivers unique features, it could break through the noise."

And this is the challenge Google faces as it prepares to unveil the Pixel Fall Phone. It's one thing to include eye-catching features like the new system-on-chip and make the phone stand out from the crowd. It's quite another to define why people should be excited about the change and what it means for their daily cell phone use. [For the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro to get attention, Google will have to offer more than the arrival of Tensor. Here's how Google can make it work.

First, a little background on Tensor. Google first confirmed in early August that the chipset would be included in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. (Revealing a surprise new feature two months before the phone sees the light of day is another reason why Google's Pixel fall launch event needs more than just a specs description.) And the focus of the chip is more on the onboard intelligence than on raw performance.

Specifically, Tensor boasts enhanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. These are performed on the Tensor Processing Unit, freeing up the phone's CPU to handle other tasks. Furthermore, since the TPU is the core part of the Tensor system-on-chip pipeline, it will handle many tasks.

As Greengart says, the TPU should be of interest to "technology journalists, analysts, and YouTubers," and its high profile should help Google's smartphone efforts. However, talk of tensor processing, machine learning, and neural engines blinds the public. It seems incumbent on Google to use the Pixel 6 launch to explain what a dedicated tensor processing unit would mean for everyday cell phone use.

"Google has previewed what the Pixel 6 will look like," Greengart said, "but has yet to provide details on what the Tensor chip will actually do." A safe assumption is that Google has emphasized AI horsepower for better computational pictures and voice-driven interactions."

Adding to the Pixel's already powerful photo smarts is perhaps the most tangible benefit Tensor brings. Already Pixel users can see Google showing off its computational photography prowess with features such as Super Res Zoom (useful since current Pixel phones lack telephoto lenses), which uses software to minimize noise caused by digital zoom. The Pixel's low-light photography capabilities have also been enhanced by software, so we expect the dedicated TPU to open up new possibilities on this front.

The Pixel 6 could certainly add some of that, especially with Apple's iPhone 13 heating up. Apple's new phone automatically blurs the background when shooting video and, more impressively, introduces a cinematic mode that allows the user to move focus while switching between subjects. We will find out on October 19 whether Google has something sophisticated to add to the Pixel 6 toolkit.

As for voice interactions, we have already experienced some with Google Assistant. However, the machine learning capabilities of the Tensor chip could further enhance voice recognition and similar features.

A recent Pixel 6 leak may have given us another sense of how Tensor could introduce new features to Google's smartphone lineup. The leak talks about a "Live Space" widget that could appear on the Pixel 6, which appears to automatically display necessary information in the forefront of the phone screen.

A screenshot of the leaked "Live Spaces" feature shows a QR code accompanied by flight information on the widget. Similar things can be done on other cell phones. For example, my iPhone displays a ticket to the game when I arrive at the stadium, and Google seems to be aiming to make this kind of smarts a more normal part of the Pixel 6 experience.

When Google shows off the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, I expect them to mention features other than the Tensor chip. And we expect the handset maker to focus on many of the features that are key to what people use their smartphones for.

To that end, we expect Google to have a lot to say about the new Pixel's camera, but from what we've seen so far, there's more to talk about than the computational photography improvements Tensor is supposed to offer. According to leaked information, the Pixel 6 Pro will have three rear cameras, a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 48MP telephoto lens; the Pixel 6 will not have a telephoto camera; the Pixel 6 Pro will have a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 48MP telephoto lens. Either way, it's a far cry from the dual 12MP sensors Google has been using lately.

With Apple joining the ranks of phones with dynamic refresh displays, Google will be enhancing its own panel, at least for the iPhone 13 Pro model, although the Pixel 5 already had a 90Hz refresh rate, the Pixel 6 Pro will boost it to 120Hz. This is already a known feature, but we expect Google to spend some time explaining its benefits to end users at the launch event.

Finally, improved battery life could be the focus of Google's Pixel 6 pitch. Rumors suggest that both Pixel 6 models will feature larger batteries. We have also heard that Google may raise the charging speed from the current device's trivial 18W wired charging.

In a smartphone world dominated by the iPhone and Galaxy S flagships, companies other than Apple and Samsung need to make a special effort to explain why their devices deserve more attention From what we have heard so far about the Pixel 6, It seems clear that Google has a remarkable feature set for the new device. All that remains is for the company to explain why the features added to the Pixel 6 should make a difference to us.