The latest Geekbench 5 scores for the Google Tensor are in and they sure do look disappointing for a 2021 flagship the Pixel 6 series is. The chip is beaten by the Apple A12 Bionic – an SoC from the iPhone XS series that was launched way back in 2018.

The performance comparison was provided by 9lekt on Twitter (via WCCF Tech) and shows that the Tensor scored 1012 and 2760 in single-core and multi-core tests. This is eclipsed by the 1117 and 2932 scores for both the parameters by the Apple A12 Bionic.

In other words, Apple’s three-year-old silicon has beaten Google’s flagship Tensor at both single-core and multi-core performance. But that’s not all. The Tensor is already slower when compared to the Snapdragon 888 processor found on most 2021 Android flagships, so one can call the situation a double whammy.

However, all this was quite expected considering pre-launch rumors that had revealed Google’s plans to favor efficiency over performance with the Tensor. Also, benchmark results only convey half of the story and are in no way an indicator for real-world performance. It is software optimization that matters the most, and Google’s implementation of Android is known to be one of the snappiest software experiences around.

Google Tensor

With Google’s control over both hardware and software, combined with enhancements brought along with Android 12, it is likely that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be matching current flagships in terms of performance.

Moreover, flagship Qualcomm and Mediatek chips are known to overheat on some devices, and Google may thus have sacrificed performance to make the Tensor run cooler and offer better battery life. Although this remains to be seen.

Last but not least, the Tensor has already proven its prowess in the GPU department. It has actually beaten all current Android flagships despite the mediocre CPU performance.

Google may thus have entirely different goals with its new SoC. The California-based company had already shown with its Pixel 6 launch event that Tensor’s main focus is on fast processing of AI and machine learning algorithms. With features such as ultra-fast and efficient voice typing, advanced camera processing, and more, it is clear that Google is working on making smartphone usage smarter than ever. And Tensor plays a great part in making all of it possible.

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