Efficiency Gap: Pixel 11 and 10 Chips Lag Behind Competitors in Performance and Power Consumption

Recent technical benchmarks reveal a significant efficiency shortfall in Google's Tensor G5 and G6 processors, highlighting a notable gap in performance-per-watt compared to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite and Apple's leading chips.

Test Details and Performance

Chinese tech outlet Geekerwan published initial results measuring the power efficiency of Pixel 10 and 11 processors using industry-standard tools like Geekbench 6 for CPU performance and Steel Nomad Light for GPU benchmarks. The data shows that the Tensor G6 achieved approximately 8,000 points in CPU tests at 11 watts, a result closely mirroring the Tensor G5 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

In stark contrast, the Snapdragon 8 Elite demonstrated clear superiority with 10,100 points at 15 watts, while Apple’s A17 Pro and A19 Pro chips delivered higher performance at similar or lower power levels. GPU tests further illustrated this gap, with the Tensor G6 scoring 1,200 points at 6 watts, whereas Qualcomm's competitor reached 2,550 points at 9.5 watts.

Technical Analysis and Context

Despite utilizing TSMC's 3nm N3E process for the previous generation and the improved N3P for the latest, Google has not achieved the expected leap in efficiency. The CPU efficiency of Google's chip rivals the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while its GPU performance aligns with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This indicates a lag of two generations behind the latest offerings from Qualcomm and Apple, even as Huawei's Kirin 9030 Pro maintains comparable efficiency on older manufacturing nodes.

These findings suggest that Google's strategy for improving power efficiency is not keeping pace with global market competitors, potentially impacting user experience in intensive tasks and battery longevity for future Pixel smartphones.