Let's be honest upfront: if you're looking at pure benchmark scores, the Snapdragon 8 Elite beats the Tensor G5. It's not even close in some tests. But that doesn't tell the whole story.
The Numbers (For Those Who Care)
The Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 Pro XL scores around 2,285 single-core and 6,191 multi-core on Geekbench 6. The Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Galaxy S25 Ultra? It beats that by about 28% in single-core and 37% in multi-core tests.
On GPU performance, things get even more interesting—or concerning, depending on your perspective. Google switched to a PowerVR GPU, and it actually benchmarks about 20% slower than the previous Pixel's Mali GPU. Not exactly progress on paper.
So Why Would Anyone Buy a Tensor Phone?
Because Google didn't build the Tensor G5 to win benchmark races. They built it to be really, really good at specific things:
AI that actually runs on your phone: All those Gemini features, real-time translations, and on-device processing? The Tensor G5 handles them without sending your data to the cloud.
Photography processing: Night Sight, Video Boost, all the computational photography magic that makes Pixel photos look so good—this is what the chip is optimized for.
It stays cool: Previous Tensor chips ran hot. The G5, built on TSMC's 3nm process, runs noticeably cooler during normal use. Gaming will still warm it up, but it's a big improvement.
When You'll Notice the Difference
Most people using their phone normally—scrolling social media, taking photos, using apps—won't notice any performance gap. The Tensor G5 handles everyday tasks just fine.
Where you WILL notice is:
- Gaming at max settings for extended periods
- Heavy video editing or 3D work
- Running demanding benchmark apps (which... why?)
Which Should You Choose?
If gaming and raw performance are your priorities, a Snapdragon phone makes more sense. If AI features, camera quality, and the Google software experience matter more, the Pixel 10 Pro XL does exactly what it's supposed to do.
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How we researched this
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