Pixel's tensor chip: five years of underwhelming performance
Google’s Tensor chips have been a persistent disappointment, ticking away inside Pixel phones for half a decade with a frustrating lack of punch. What should be a strategic advantage – AI and machine learning – has instead become a consistent lag behind the competition, leaving Pixel users feeling shortchanged.
A pipe dream that’s stuck in the mud
The initial Tensor G1 arrived with the Pixel 6, promising a focus on AI, but it delivered underwhelming benchmarks and a noticeably subpar user experience. Google opted for efficiency over raw power, a gamble that didn't pay off. The same story repeated itself with the G2 in the Pixel 7 series, fueling criticism that Google was simply serving up leftovers from its chip development efforts. The supposed leap to a 4nm manufacturing process offered little tangible improvement, a deceptive promise that did nothing to address the fundamental shortcomings.
The Tensor G3, housed in the Pixel 8, finally showed some signs of progress, leveraging Samsung’s manufacturing capabilities and incorporating upgraded architecture. However, even this iteration struggled to keep pace with Qualcomm and Apple, continuing to trail in performance and battery efficiency. The Tensor G4 followed suit, solidifying the Pixel’s position at the bottom of the performance ladder – a frustrating reality for those invested in the ecosystem.
The latest Tensor G5, moving to a 3nm process, offered a slight catch-up, aligning with Apple, Qualcomm, and Samsung. Yet, even with this improvement, Google remained laser-focused on AI and ML, a strategy that didn’t translate into significant gains in benchmarks or battery life. It’s a classic case of prioritizing features over actual performance.
The numbers speak volumes
Benchmarks tell a clear story. The Pixel 10 Pro XL consistently lagged behind the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, demonstrating a significant gap in raw processing power. A Geekbench 6 single-core score of 2316 for the Pixel 10 Pro XL stands in stark contrast to the S25 Ultra’s 3137 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 2958. Similarly, multi-core scores highlight the disparity, with the Pixel falling considerably behind its rivals. The battery life discrepancy is equally pronounced – the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s estimated 5200 mAh battery duration is noticeably shorter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 5000 mAh and the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 4422 mAh.
Despite Google’s continued efforts, the Tensor chip remains a significant drag on the Pixel experience. The anticipated transition to a 2nm manufacturing process in the Pixel 11 series is unlikely to fundamentally alter this trajectory, suggesting that Google’s strategy – prioritizing AI at the expense of core performance – is destined to continue delivering underwhelming results. Let’s be blunt: the Pixel 11, and likely those that follow, will likely continue to disappoint. It’s time for Google to rethink its approach and deliver a Tensor chip that can truly compete.”