Many of you have probably seen a recent report that claimed Google will bring an outdated GPU to the Pixel 11. It always feels like Google pushes so hard in the software department when it comes to Pixel phones, while hardware ends up being an afterthought. It is kind of frustrating at this point.
The Google Tensor G5 was an improvement, but… not quite there yet
With the Google Tensor G5, which debuted on the Pixel 10 series last year, we finally got a chip that is made by TSMC. Considering issues that Google had with Samsung-made Tensor chips in the past, this was a highly anticipated change in the tech circles. That chip did not end up being as powerful as initially hoped, however.
We knew it wouldn’t be on the same level as the competition from Qualcomm and MediaTek, but many still expected more from it. When you compare the Pixel 10’s performance directly with the performance of competitors that have a more powerful chip from the competition, you can definitely see the difference. It’s not small either, as the Pixel 10 ends up being notably inferior in terms of general fluidity, even though it generally works really well. This does put things into perspective, however.
The Pixel 11 will include a kind of improved Google Tensor G6… with a stone age GPU
Many people expected Google to push harder on the hardware front moving forward and close that gap. Well, that won’t be happening with the Pixel 11, though, it seems. This latest report all but confirms it.
Think of the Google Tensor G6 as an improvement, and… well, the opposite of that at the same time. Let’s start with the bad first. It is said to utilize the PowerVR C-Series CXTP-48-1536 GPU. That chip, for context, launched in 2021, five years ago.
That alone is bad news, but if you add, on top of that, that the Tensor G5’s GPU performance suffers due to outdated drivers and the lack of Vulkan 1.4 support, then things get even worse for the Tensor G6. That does limit gaming performance, that’s for sure, but not only gaming.
On a positive note, CPU cores will get a major upgrade
On the opposite side of the coin, the Tensor G6 is looking to use Arm’s C1 Ultra core clocked at 4.11GHz, four Arm C1 Pro cores running at 3.38Hz, and two Arm C1 Pro cores running at 2.65GHz.
Why’s that good news? Well, those are ARM’s latest CPU cores, and that should signal an improvemnet int he performance and efficiency department. The C1 Ultra is ARM’s most powerful core at the moment. MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, for example, uses that same core.
So, it’s not all bleak; those new CPU cores could end up pushing the Tensor G6 to offer better performance, but the old, outdated GPU does leave a bitter taste in the mouth. Why not upgrade both, Google? Why?
Great software, outdated hardware
Every time we get to use Google’s latest phones, we simply love the software, well… if it doesn’t include obvious bugs, which was also a pain at times. We would love to see flagship hardware to back up that software. While the Tensor G6 will be an improvement overall, it won’t be able to rival the best from Qualcomm and MediaTek, not even the best the two companies have to offer at the moment, let alone later in the year.
Other spec details are a mystery at the moment, but Google does have a chance to boost the Pixel 11 in that regard. Depending on the model and the variant of the Pixel 10 series devices, Google uses either UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.0 storage. UFS 4.1 is the latest flash storage that companies have been using, and it’s a notable step-up from UFS 4.0, let alone UFS 3.1. There is a slim chance Google will end up using it, let alone in all models, but… we’re hoping that will be the case. That would certainly make Pixels snappier.
We’re also hoping to see major improvements in the camera department, even though we’re kind of skeptical… but we’ll see. That’s a topic for another day, though. Google does need that boost as well, as its Pixel phones are no longer hailed in the camera department as they once were.
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