Pixel 10 Pro GPU Benchmark Scores Raise Concerns

Google’s Pixel 10 Pro was supposed to usher in a new era of performance thanks to the much-hyped Tensor G5 chip, its first processor built by TSMC. The shift away from Samsung Foundry was billed as a turning point, promising faster speeds, improved efficiency, and stronger AI capabilities. On paper, the Tensor G5 brings a 34% CPU boost, a 60% stronger TPU for AI tasks, and a redesigned CPU layout.

It also introduces a new Image Signal Processor (ISP) for better camera output.

But when it comes to gaming power, the numbers paint a very different story

. In early GPU benchmarks, the Pixel 10 Pro not only failed to challenge rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S25+ and Apple iPhone 16 Pro – it couldn’t even keep up with last year’s Pixel 9 Pro.

The Pixel 10 Pro scored just 3,707 points in the Vulkan GPU test, compared to the Pixel 9 Pro’s 9,023. By contrast, the Galaxy S25+ pushed an eye-watering 26,333. That’s nearly seven times the Pixel 10 Pro’s score. Google’s decision to quietly gloss over GPU details during the launch event now makes sense. Rumors suggest the company ditched ARM’s Mali graphics in favor of Imagination’s DXT-48-1536 GPU, but it currently lacks hardware-accelerated ray tracing – a feature competitors have leaned on to elevate gaming visuals.

Industry insiders say the weak results could stem from a GPU running at a very low clock speed and outdated drivers. If true, future updates might salvage performance, but the gap remains troubling for a flagship phone marketed as a performance leap. For now, the Pixel 10 Pro feels more like a step sideways, or even backwards, in graphics power.

To soften the blow, Google is offering a $200 gift card with Pixel 10 Pro pre-orders, but for gamers and power users, that perk might not outweigh the glaring GPU shortfall. Unless Google delivers major software updates, the Pixel 10 Pro risks being remembered as the Pixel that looked fast on paper but stumbled where it mattered most.