The Tensor G5 is the latest and greatest smartphone chip from Google, debuted this week with the Pixel 10 series. Google describes it as its biggest upgrade yet, promising a significant boost in performance — a key area where previous Tensor chips have often been criticized.
The Tensor G5 chip is a game-changer for Pixel, says Google. Besides a major performance leap, the new chip promises better efficiency, greater on-device AI capabilities, and excellent photography, thanks to a new ISP. But how does Google’s latest Tensor chip stack up against Qualcomm’s most powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite? Let’s dive into benchmark scores and real-world differences to find out.
Tensor G5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite: Benchmark score
[Note: The Tensor G5 benchmark scores are obtained from leaked sources (1, 2). We’ll update them once we test the device. The devices in question are Pixel 10 Pro XL (Tensor G5) and Galaxy S25 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Elite).]
AnTuTu comparison
The Snapdragon 8 Elite easily outperforms the Tensor G4, scoring 2,209,476 on AnTuTu compared to 1,140,286 — nearly double the score. It delivers stronger CPU (574,518 vs 313,500) and GPU (842,351 vs 394,695) performance on AnTuTu. Even in memory and UX, the Snapdragon chip maintains a clear advantage, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app performance, and better gaming.
| Tensor G5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu score | 1,140,286 | 2,209,476 |
| CPU | 313,500 | 574,518 |
| GPU | 394,695 | 842,351 |
| Memory | 246,571 | 437,621 |
| UX | 185,520 | 354,986 |
Geekbench comparison
The Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers a commanding lead over the Tensor G4 on Geekbench as well. Its 3,179 single-core score easily outperforms Tensor’s 2,296, giving Qualcomm a 38% advantage.
In multi-core performance, the gap widens further — 10,114 vs 6,203 — meaning the Snapdragon handles multitasking, productivity apps, and demanding workloads far more efficiently.
| Tensor G5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | |
| Single core | 2,296 | 3,179 |
| Multi core | 6,203 | 10,114 |
So, while Google claims a significant performance upgrade for the Tensor G5, it’s still a lot behind Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. This gap could widen even further with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, set to be announced next month.
Tensor G5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite: Spec sheet
| Tensor G5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | August 2025 | October 2024 |
| Process node | TSMC’s 3nm (N3E) | TSMC’s 3nm (N3E) |
| CPU | 1x 3.78 GHz — Cortex-X4 5x 3.05 GHz — Cortex-A725 2x 2.25 GHz — Cortex-A520 | 2 x 4.32GHz — Oryon (2nd-gen) 6 x 3.53GHz — Oryon (2nd-gen) |
| GPU | PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU No ray tracing support | Adreno 830 GPU Ray tacing support Snapdragon Elite Gaming features |
| NPU | New Google Edge TPU | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU |
| Memory | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5x, up to 5.3GHz |
| Storage | UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 |
| Camera | New ISP Real-time semantic segmentation Up to 8K video recording | AI Spectra ISP (18-bit) Limitless real-time semantic segmentation Up to 8K video recording |
| Connectivity | Samsung Exynos 5400 5G modem Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 6.0 | Snapdragon X80 5G modem (up to 10Gbps download, up to 3.5Gbps upload) Wi-Fi 7 (peak speed: 5.8Gbps) Bluetooth 6.0 UWB |
Tensor G5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite: Conclusion
The Tensor G5 marks a big leap forward for Google, bringing much better performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities than any previous Tensor chip. However, when compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, it’s clear that Google still has some catching up to do. The Snapdragon chip dominates in almost every benchmark category — from CPU and GPU to memory and overall system performance — delivering faster gaming, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive experience.
With the Tensor G5, the focus is also on advanced AI processing, smarter on-device intelligence, and camera-driven optimizations that aren’t reflected in raw benchmark scores. If your priority is sheer power, the Snapdragon 8 Elite still leads the pack. But if you’re after Google’s unique AI features and Pixel’s software-first experience, the Tensor G5 could still be the better fit.
Google Tensor G5 phones:
Snapdragon 8 Elite phones:
Comments