Tensor G5's Troubling Debut: Pixel 10 Pro XL Benchmarks Reveal Disappointing Performance

The tech world held its breath in anticipation. Google's Tensor G5, rumored to be a game-changer with its shift to TSMC's advanced 3nm fabrication, was expected to finally elevate Pixel performance to rival industry leaders. Hopes were high that this iteration would address the performance gaps that have long plagued its predecessors.

However, early hands-on benchmarks of the Tensor G5, reportedly powering the upcoming Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, have delivered a sobering dose of reality, casting a long shadow over these optimistic projections.

Initial tests, specifically from Geekbench 6.2, paint a concerning picture for the Tensor G5's CPU capabilities.

While single-core performance reportedly saw a modest bump compared to the Tensor G4, the multi-core scores told a far more disheartening story. In fact, the Tensor G5 appears to regress in multi-core performance compared to its immediate predecessor, the Tensor G4. To put this into perspective, its multi-core scores were observed to be significantly behind not only the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 but also the anticipated Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and Apple's formidable A17 Bionic.

This implies a CPU architecture that, despite its new TSMC roots, struggles to keep pace, featuring a 1x Cortex-X5, 3x Cortex-A730, and 4x Cortex-A520 core configuration.

If the CPU numbers were disappointing, the GPU results can only be described as "atrocious." GFXBench 5.0 scores, particularly in offscreen tests, showed a dramatic and alarming drop—reportedly even lower than what the Tensor G4 achieved.

This is an unprecedented decline and immediately raises red flags. Is this due to a highly unoptimized pre-production unit? Are severe thermal throttling issues already at play? Or could it be a matter of immature drivers for the (presumably) new Arm Mali GPU? Regardless of the underlying cause, such a significant dip in graphics performance for a next-generation chip is deeply troubling and directly impacts the user experience for gaming and graphically intensive applications.

Google's journey with its custom Tensor chips has been a rocky one, often lagging behind competitors in raw performance, despite their acclaimed AI capabilities.

The move to TSMC was widely seen as a pivotal moment, an opportunity to finally close that performance gap. These early Tensor G5 benchmarks, however, suggest that the challenges persist, and perhaps even deepen in certain areas.

It's crucial to approach these early findings with a degree of caution.

These are, after all, "hands-on" benchmarks, likely from engineering samples or pre-production units, which may not fully represent the final, optimized product. There's always a chance for improvements as software and drivers mature. However, the sheer magnitude of the performance deficit, particularly on the GPU front, means Google has a significant uphill battle ahead if they hope to position the Pixel 10 Pro XL as a competitive flagship device in terms of raw power.

The dream of a truly high-performing Tensor chip seems, for now, to remain just out of reach.