Google recently released its latest generation of flagship smartphones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, featuring the latest self-developed Tensor G3 processor. Tensor G3, which is based on a 9-core CPU architecture, includes 1 Cortex-X3 large core clocked at 3.00GHz, 4 Cortex-A715 large cores clocked at 2.45GHz, and 4 Cortex-A510 small cores clocked at 2.15GHz. Additionally, the GPU boasts a 10-core Arm Mali-G715 GPU, supporting hardware-level ray tracing acceleration capabilities similar to the Apple A17 Pro.
Google Pixel 8 Performance Issue
In recent developments, Google has taken extraordinary steps for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. All new users post-Pixel 8 release will be unable to download benchmarking tools like GeekBench and 3D Mark directly through the App Store in an effort to prevent benchmark results from spreading. GeekBench is widely used for testing and scoring CPUs, providing both single-core and multi-core scores. Meanwhile, 3DMark evaluates GPU performance and is a crucial reference in most mobile phone reviews.
Google is well aware of the relative performance limitations of the Tensor G3 chip and emphasizes that the chip prioritizes efficiency and artificial intelligence over sheer performance or benchmark scores. Lei Jun’s words resonate here: “Although benchmark scores cannot fully encapsulate the mobile phone experience, they undeniably form the foundation of that experience.”
Despite Google’s restrictions on installing these testing software, users have found ways to bypass them, resulting in the exposure of Geekbench and 3DMark scores for the Tensor G3.
One of the Geekbench 6 results reveals that the Tensor G3 chip on the Pixel 8 Pro phone achieved a score of 1760 in the single-core test and 4442 in the multi-core test, which falls short of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen2 chip. Efficiency tests further indicate that the GPU efficiency ranking of the Tensor G3 is at the lower end, comparable to older chips like the Snapdragon 888.
Google’s actions have drawn comparisons to a proverbial “hiding their ears and stealing their bells”.
Read Also: Google Pixel 8 / Pro Tops The DXOMARK Display Rankings
