The Pixel 10 series isn’t just about new cameras or sleeker designs—it’s the debut of Google’s Tensor G5, the company’s first custom SoC built on TSMC’s 3nm process. This marks a huge shift after years of Samsung-made Tensor chips that often lagged behind Qualcomm in efficiency and sustained performance.
But how does the Tensor G5 stack up against the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Qualcomm’s 2024 flagship chip still powering many premium Android devices? Let’s break down the architecture, benchmarks, AI, gaming, and battery efficiency to see if Google’s gamble finally pays off.
Quick Specs Overview
| Feature | Tensor G5 (Pixel 10) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Galaxy S24 Ultra, others) |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Node | TSMC 3nm | TSMC 4nm |
| CPU Configuration | Custom 9-core (1x Cortex-X4, 4x Cortex-A720, 4x Cortex-A520) | 1x Cortex-X4 + 5x A720 + 2x A520 |
| GPU | Immortalis-G715 (custom Google tuning) | Adreno 750 (Qualcomm proprietary) |
| AI/ML Engine | Google TPU v3 (AI-first design) | Hexagon NPU + Qualcomm AI Engine |
| Max RAM Support | 16GB LPDDR5X | 24GB LPDDR5X |
| Modem | Integrated Google-Qualcomm modem | Qualcomm X75 5G |
Benchmarks (Speculative + Early Leaks)
While official third-party benchmarks for Tensor G5 are still trickling in, leaked Geekbench scores from dev units show:
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Tensor G5 Single-Core: ~2,200
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Tensor G5 Multi-Core: ~7,500
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Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Single-Core: ~2,100
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Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Multi-Core: ~6,900
This suggests that Tensor G5 may actually outpace Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in multi-core tasks, thanks to its more balanced 9-core setup. However, Qualcomm still leads in sustained GPU performance.
AI & On-Device Machine Learning
Here’s where the Pixel 10 shines. Google has designed the Tensor G5 around AI-first workloads:
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Realtime AI Video Editing (Magic Eraser for video, frame interpolation)
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Gemini Nano On-Device (LLM queries without cloud calls)
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Call Screening 3.0 with natural-sounding AI voices
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AI-Powered Battery Optimization that learns per-app usage patterns
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is powerful, but its AI engine feels more like an add-on compared to Tensor’s core design philosophy.
Gaming & Graphics
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Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Still the king of Android gaming. Its Adreno 750 GPU pushes out higher FPS in Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, and emulation benchmarks.
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Tensor G5: Optimized for efficiency, not raw FPS. Expect smoother sustained gameplay than older Tensors, but still 10–15% behind Qualcomm in peak GPU power.
Battery & Efficiency
Moving Tensor to TSMC’s 3nm node is a game-changer. Community testers on Reddit and forums report:
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Pixel 10 Pro lasting 7–8 hours screen-on time, up from 5–6 on Pixel 8.
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Lower heat output compared to Tensor G3.
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Charging speeds remain capped at ~30W, but efficiency gains make overnight top-ups less necessary.
Qualcomm still leads in modem efficiency (X75 > Google’s custom modem), but Tensor G5 finally closes the gap in CPU and system-wide power draw.
Verdict: Tensor G5 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
| Category | Winner | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| CPU (Raw Power) | Tensor G5 | Higher multi-core output |
| GPU / Gaming | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Stronger sustained graphics |
| AI & ML | Tensor G5 | AI-first chip, Gemini Nano |
| Efficiency | Tensor G5 | TSMC 3nm advantage |
| Connectivity | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | X75 modem better |
Final Take:
If you’re a mobile gamer or need the fastest 5G modem, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 still delivers. But if you want AI smarts, battery efficiency, and real-world multitasking speed, the Tensor G5 finally puts Google on equal (or better) footing with Qualcomm.
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