Tensor G5 Reboot: Does Pixel 10 Deserve More?

Google's Tensor G5 chip in the Pixel 10 is a custom chip built by TSMC, marking a departure from Samsung. The chip brings new camera features but doesn't lead to significant performance gains, remaining behind competitors like Snapdragon 8 Elite. The price of the Pixel 10 is comparable to other flagships despite its less powerful chipset, raising concerns about the future of on-device AI. Despite this, the chip provides a good experience throughout the Pixel's lifespan.

Google's latest chip, the Tensor G5, powers the Pixel 10 series, marking a significant shift in manufacturing from Samsung Foundry to TSMC. This change aims to boost power efficiency and reduce temperature issues, with Google claiming up to 30 hours of battery life for the Pixel 10 compared to 24 hours for the Pixel 9 series [1].

The Tensor G5 features a single Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.78GHz, five Cortex-A725s at 3.05GHz, and two Cortex-A520s at 2.25GHz. While Google is typically a generation or two behind the latest Arm CPUs, the Tensor G5's clock speeds are higher thanks to the 3nm manufacturing process. The CPU is claimed to be 34% faster on average than the Pixel 9's chip, with single-core performance improving by 30% and multi-core performance by 34% to 39% [1].

However, the Tensor G5 lags behind competitors like Apple's A18 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite in terms of raw performance. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is slower than the Galaxy S25 Ultra by 28% in single-core tests and by 37% in multi-core tests [1].

The GPU, a PowerVR DXT-48-1536, offers a 27% peak performance gain over the previous generation but heats more quickly, limiting sustained performance gains. Google's choice to switch GPU architectures from Arm's Mali to PowerVR is likely due to compatibility concerns rather than performance gains [1].

The most significant improvement lies in the AI capabilities. The fourth-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) is 60% more powerful, enabling higher-quality AI experiences. Google states that the new TPU powers 20 on-device AI experiences at launch, with up to 2.6x the performance for Nano use in Screenshots and Recorder [1].

Despite these improvements, the Pixel 10's price remains comparable to other flagships, raising concerns about the future of on-device AI. The Tensor G5 provides a good experience throughout the Pixel's lifespan, but its performance falls short of competitors, potentially affecting the device's appeal in the high-end market.

References:
[1] https://www.androidauthority.com/google-tensor-g5-benchmarks-3590355/