Google finally launched its much-anticipated Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold smartphones on August 13th. As expected, all four smartphones are powered by the Tensor G4 processor, an upgrade to last year’s Tensor G3.
Since Tensor chips released previously have a bad reputation for overheating, throttling easily, and reducing performance when pushed hard, I was curious if it was the case with the G4 too. Now that I’ve got my hands on the Pixel 9 series, let’s test the Tensor G4 and see if it’s any better.
Note: Throughout the benchmarks, you’ll notice that our Pixel 9 Pro XL scores higher than the Pixel 9. That’s partly because it has a vapor chamber, which the smaller Pixel lacks. We’ve used 256GB variants of both phones here.
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Google Tensor G4: Specifications
The Samsung-made Tensor G4 isn’t a huge upgrade from the G3. While the latter was a nine-core CPU, the Tensor G4 is an octa-core chipset. This was surprising, as Samsung themselves switched from eight to ten cores on their Exynos 2400 for the Galaxy S24, whereas Google reduced a core. While the remaining cores are new and clocked higher than before, the performance improvements seem to be minimal.
Here are spec highlights of the Tensor G4 compared to the Tensor G3. For a detailed look, check our Tensor G4 vs. G3 comparison.
| Tensor G3 | Tensor G4 | What Changed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Core | Cortex-X3 2.9GHz | Cortex-X4 3.1 GHz | Upgrades to a newer, more powerful Cortex-X4 core with a higher clock speed. |
| Performance Cores | 4x Cortex-A715, 2.4GHz | 3x Cortex-A720, 2.6 GHz | Replaces old A715 cores with newer, faster A720 cores, though with one less performance core. |
| Efficiency Cores | 4x Cortex-A510, 1.7GHz | 4x Cortex-A520, 1.95GHz | Replaces all A510 cores with A520 cores having a higher clock speed. |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7, 890MHz | Mali-G715, 940MHz | Same GPU architecture but with a higher clock speed. |
Google Tensor G4: AnTuTu Benchmark
The Tensor G4 is only slightly faster than last year’s Tensor G3. With a score under a million, it’s far from matching the raw power of the latest Snapdragon chips, such as the 8 Gen 3 and 8 Gen 2. In fact, it’s closer to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 which is a three-year-old processor already.
| AnTuTu Benchmark | Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 125,828 | 140,345 |
| GPU | 425,262 | 441,349 |
| Memory | 191,635 | 190,784 |
| UX | 163,690 | 197,774 |
| Overall | 906,415 | 970,252 |
Google Tensor G4: Geekbench 6 Scores
We also tested the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL phones on Geekbench 6, and here are the results. Again, with a single-core score of 1918 and a multi-core score of 4319, it’s very close to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. These tests were conducted at room temperature; however, scores start to drop rapidly when you repeat the tests.
| Geekbench | Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Core | 1512 | 1918 |
| Multi-Core | 3350 | 4319 |
Google Tensor G4: 3DMark WildLife Stress Test
The Tensor G4 isn’t a great processor when it comes to stability. In WildLife Stress Test, which tests the phone’s sustained graphics performance under heavy load, Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL yielded a stability score of 68.3% which is quite average for a flagship chip.
| WildLife Stress Test | Score |
|---|---|
| Best loop score | 8960 |
| Lowest loop score | 6116 |
| Stability | 68.3% |
Google Tensor G4: CPU Throttling Test
On a 15-minute CPU throttling test, the Tensor G4, unfortunately, meets the same fate as the G3 and G2, with the phone heating up and the CPU throttling to a whopping 45% of its maximum performance. The graph starts all green but slowly declines into the orange-red territory, where it keeps fluctuating.
It’s disappointing to see Google’s latest processor throttling to less than half of its peak performance in a short stress test, especially in room temperatures during the monsoon season. Summers will be tough on this chip, particularly if you live in India or other South Asian regions.
Google Tensor G4: Geekbench AI Score
Finally, we also ran Geekbench ML on the Pixel 9 Pro XL to test the Tensor G4’s AI capabilities. Fortunately, it’s quite good with AI, enabling the Pixel 9 series to run the Gemini Nano model on-device. This facilitates AI features like Magic Editor, Pixel Studio, the new Screenshots app, and more. Here are the results:
How’s the Tensor G4 Chipset Overall?
In everyday use, combined with the Pixel UI’s smooth animations, haptics, and optimization, the Tensor G4 feels like a good overall processor. However, its limitations become apparent when you push it with heavy games or tasks like video editing. It scores averagely on AnTuTu, closing in on about 1 million, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 nearly doubles that. Moreover, the phone heats up and slows down under pressure, sometimes to less than half its full speed.
Honestly, the Tensor G4 experience isn’t that different from the G3. If you had issues with that one, you’ll likely have them here too. Pixel phones have never been about raw power or beating benchmarks, so I can’t blame Google entirely. But if you’re thinking about the Pixel 9, don’t expect a powerhouse. It’s got other strengths, like a great UI, excellent cameras, and useful AI features, but performance isn’t one of them.
