The Google Pixel 11 will reportedly feature a 5-year-old GPU

[DragonSlayer101]

Facepalm: The Tensor chips powering Google's Pixel smartphones have never delivered top-tier performance, and things could get worse this year. With the Pixel 11 series expected to launch in August, a new leak suggests that the Tensor G6 powering the upcoming lineup may not even use the latest hardware.

According to noted tipster Mystic Leaks, the Tensor G6 will use the PowerVR CXTP-48-1536 GPU, which debuted in 2021. If accurate, the outdated GPU could drag down graphics performance in the new devices, potentially pushing buyers toward alternatives from Samsung, Motorola, and others.

The decision to include a five-year-old GPU in the Pixel 11 is puzzling, especially since graphics performance was a key weakness in the Pixel 10. The PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU proved to be a major bottleneck in the Tensor G5 chipset, scoring only around 3,700 points in Geekbench's GPU benchmark – a fraction of the roughly 26,000 achieved by the Samsung Galaxy S25.

At launch, the Pixel 10's GPU also lacked support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and Vulkan 1.4. Google later addressed these gaps with a software update, but the initial shortcomings hurt the lineup's reputation and limited its ability to compete with the Galaxy S series and the iPhone 17.

Much of the Tensor G5 GPU's poor performance can be attributed to outdated drivers. Google shipped the Pixel 10 with version 24.3 for the PowerVR DXT-48-1536, even though Imagination Technologies had already released version 25.1. The newer drivers included key improvements such as Android 16 compatibility, Vulkan 1.4 support, and expanded OpenCL features.

Despite concerns about the GPU, the Tensor G6 is expected to feature a high-performance seven-core CPU based on the ARMv9.3-A architecture. Reports suggest a configuration consisting of one Arm C1 Ultra core clocked at 4.11GHz, four Arm C1 Pro cores at 3.38GHz, and two additional Arm C1 Pro cores at 2.65GHz.

Beyond the hardware specifications, Mystic Leaks also appears to have revealed internal codenames for the Pixel 11 series. As in previous years, the devices are named after animals, with the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro XL reportedly codenamed Cubs, Grizzly, and Kodiak, respectively.

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The Google Pixel 11 will reportedly feature a 5-year-old GPU

 

[Inthenstus]

Google phones aren’t meant for anything other than data collection. It has a good camera so it picks up all the detail, and just enough horsepower to know everything about you.

 

[NumberNine]

Price it like a five year old phone.

 

[yRaz]

Who cares? They're meant to be cheap phones and unless you're a "phone gamer" which I think is the dumbest combination of works since "AI powered dishwasher", it's fine. The better hardware gets, the fewer the people that need $1000 smartphones

 

[someusernam]

Use your head for a moment, do you really think Google would downgrade the GPU on their next phone? Obviously not and to confirm it I did some quick research and found the CXTP-48-1536 isn't a real configuration of powervr C-series GPUs. It's far more likely the leak is in some way wrong.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Who cares? They're meant to be cheap phones and unless you're a "phone gamer" which I think is the dumbest combination of works since "AI powered dishwasher", it's fine. The better hardware gets, the fewer the people that need $1000 smartphones

People who want decent battery life for one. How to people keep forgetting about the race to idle.

Also GPUs accelerate lots of things. It's not just "le gamers" that use this power.

Also Google still charges $1000 for this stuff. So........

 

[themastergoose]

All I know about Pixel phones is they launch for £999 and within 2 months go on sale at all phone network stores at 50% off. Rinse and repeat, been the same for years now...

...If you really want one just wait - And yes, they are incredibly slow since they stopped using Snapdragon processors.

 

[axiomatic13]

All I know about Pixel phones is they launch for £999 and within 2 months go on sale at all phone network stores at 50% off. Rinse and repeat, been the same for years now...

...If you really want one just wait - And yes, they are incredibly slow since they stopped using Snapdragon processors.

This is the way. I am a diabetic so I'm usually late to the upgrade phone game because the apps I use to manage my diabetes take forever to certify new phones. So I just got my Pixel 10 Pro for $175 after discounts and trade ins.

 

[Hecate91]

All I know about Pixel phones is they launch for £999 and within 2 months go on sale at all phone network stores at 50% off. Rinse and repeat, been the same for years now...

...If you really want one just wait - And yes, they are incredibly slow since they stopped using Snapdragon processors.

Sure they're "slow" if all you care about are benchmark numbers, but IMO Pixel phones are fine for everything but gaming, and I appreciate not having a bunch of bloatware that other manufacturers like Samsung include with their phones.

 

[yRaz]

Sure they're "slow" if all you care about are benchmark numbers, but IMO Pixel phones are fine for everything but gaming, and I appreciate not having a bunch of bloatware that other manufacturers like Samsung include with their phones.

We are on an enthusiast website so all anyone cares about are numbers. The definition of "fine" seems to elude them. I love high end hardware as much as the next guy, but very rarely can I justify it and I'd much rather have the money than the performance even though im perfectly capable of affording it. I'm still running a 5800x3d and a 6700xt because for what I play(eve, eso and 40k), the performance is FINE.

 

[Hecate91]

We are on an enthusiast website so all anyone cares about are numbers. The definition of "fine" seems to elude them. I love high end hardware as much as the next guy, but very rarely can I justify it and I'd much rather have the money than the performance even though im perfectly capable of affording it. I'm still running a 5800x3d and a 6700xt because for what I play(eve, eso and 40k), the performance is FINE.

Exactly, I enjoy high end PC hardware, benchmarks can be fun and rewarding with a significant upgrade.
But when it comes to phones a Pixel is just fine, because I'm not a phone gamer, apps perform more than well enough, and I like Google's camera features. I don't notice the battery complaints some have, although I'm not on my phone all day long.
Pixel phones also often go on sale and can be a much better value than a Samsung or Apple phone.

 

[disinfect8280]

Exactly, I enjoy high end PC hardware, benchmarks can be fun and rewarding with a significant upgrade.
But when it comes to phones a Pixel is just fine, because I'm not a phone gamer, apps perform more than well enough, and I like Google's camera features. I don't notice the battery complaints some have, although I'm not on my phone all day long.
Pixel phones also often go on sale and can be a much better value than a Samsung or Apple phone.

My Pxel 4 was even fine, the only reason I upgraded to a 9a was security updates. I milked it for a bit because GrapheneOS did updates longer than google but then I went a while without them. Because of that it didn't make sense to replace the battery.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Who cares? They're meant to be cheap phones and unless you're a "phone gamer" which I think is the dumbest combination of works since "AI powered dishwasher", it's fine. The better hardware gets, the fewer the people that need $1000 smartphones

Calling Pixels cheap phones is missing the point, midrange pricing doesn’t mean low end hardware. And yeah, most people don’t need a $1000 slab, but that’s kind of the point here.

 

[yRaz]

Calling Pixels cheap phones is missing the point, midrange pricing doesn’t mean low end hardware. And yeah, most people don’t need a $1000 slab, but that’s kind of the point here.

So what is the point?

 

[Theinsanegamer]

So what is the point?

That mid range phones shouldnt be using low end hardware?
That outdated GPUs belong in cheap phones, and pixels are not cheap?
That Google will continue to have its lunch eaten by Apple?

$600 isnt cheap. The iphone 17e exists, and the A19 crushes the tensor at pretty much everything. If Google wants to sell a $300 phone for $600 that is their prerogative, but the market isnt an isolation chamber.

 

[Loadedaxe]

So what is the point?

@Theinsanegamer
got to it before me and exactly the point.

 

[Hecate91]

The iphone 17e isn't exactly cheap for a $600 phone either, with only a 60Hz display, and a single camera.
Benchmark speeds aren't everything like Apple fans like to assume, Pixel phones are a better value if you don't have to be in the walled garden ecosystem.

 

[Loadedaxe]

The iphone 17e isn't exactly cheap for a $600 phone either, with only a 60Hz display, and a single camera.
Benchmark speeds aren't everything like Apple fans like to assume, Pixel phones are a better value if you don't have to be in the walled garden ecosystem.

You’re kind of arguing past your own point.

The iPhone 17e isn’t priced around raw specs, it’s priced around ecosystem, support, and consistency. Apple has never chased spec sheets, so pointing at 60Hz or a single camera like it’s a gotcha misses how they position the product.

Camera wise, the Google Pixel 11 is more versatile...ultrawide and better zoom, but the gap on the main lens isn’t huge. The iPhone still holds the edge in video with better stabilization and more consistent 4K, while Pixel leans on computational photography for zoom and low light.

Saying Pixel is a better value "if you’re not in the ecosystem" is basically admitting the trade off. Different priorities, different wins.

And benchmarks aren’t everything, but they’re not meaningless either...performance headroom translates to longevity. Apple also tends to hold resale value better, which factors into overall cost whether people want to admit it or not.

 

[disinfect8280]

That mid range phones shouldnt be using low end hardware?
That outdated GPUs belong in cheap phones, and pixels are not cheap?
That Google will continue to have its lunch eaten by Apple?

$600 isnt cheap. The iphone 17e exists, and the A19 crushes the tensor at pretty much everything. If Google wants to sell a $300 phone for $600 that is their prerogative, but the market isnt an isolation chamber.

Meh. The GPU on my Pixels is more than fine. I don't play games on my phone. I use my PC for that. Apart from battery life even my Pixel 4 was better than my work iPhone 15. My 9a (especially with 120Hz display) blows it away. Wife's 6a is also good. I have no interest to migrate back to Apple. Yes I know GPU is used for more than games but it has no impact on me. I think Google is using the GPU savings to focus on AI but I don't care about that either.
The only reason my next phone will be GrapheneOS' own phone produced by Motorola is because I don't want to financially support Google, not because I am dissatisfied with the hardware.

 

[disinfect8280]

You’re kind of arguing past your own point.

The iPhone 17e isn’t priced around raw specs, it’s priced around ecosystem, support, and consistency. Apple has never chased spec sheets, so pointing at 60Hz or a single camera like it’s a gotcha misses how they position the product.

Camera wise, the Google Pixel 11 is more versatile...ultrawide and better zoom, but the gap on the main lens isn’t huge. The iPhone still holds the edge in video with better stabilization and more consistent 4K, while Pixel leans on computational photography for zoom and low light.

Saying Pixel is a better value "if you’re not in the ecosystem" is basically admitting the trade off. Different priorities, different wins.

And benchmarks aren’t everything, but they’re not meaningless either...performance headroom translates to longevity. Apple also tends to hold resale value better, which factors into overall cost whether people want to admit it or not.

Except 60Hz is a deal-breaker in this day and age. At least it should be as it is awful.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Except 60Hz is a deal-breaker in this day and age. At least it should be as it is awful.

Calling 60Hz a deal breaker is a bit dramatic.

Is 120Hz smoother? Obviously. But for the majority of people doing normal phone stuff, messaging, browsing, video, you’re not suddenly having a bad experience because it’s 60Hz. Millions of people use it every day just fine.

Also, it’s not like the iPhone 17e is struggling to keep up, Apple’s optimization makes 60Hz feel smoother than a lot of poorly tuned 120Hz panels.

If high refresh is your priority, cool, buy something else. But acting like 60Hz makes a phone unusable in 2026 is just exaggeration.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Meh. The GPU on my Pixels is more than fine. I don't play games on my phone. I use my PC for that. Apart from battery life even my Pixel 4 was better than my work iPhone 15. My 9a (especially with 120Hz display) blows it away. Wife's 6a is also good. I have no interest to migrate back to Apple. Yes I know GPU is used for more than games but it has no impact on me. I think Google is using the GPU savings to focus on AI but I don't care about that either.
The only reason my next phone will be GrapheneOS' own phone produced by Motorola is because I don't want to financially support Google, not because I am dissatisfied with the hardware.

That just reads like "it works for me," which is fine, but that’s not the same as a universal take.

If your use is light, then yeah, any modern Pixel, including the Google Pixel 9a or even older ones, will feel perfectly fine. But that doesn’t mean GPU, display, or overall hardware don’t matter. They show up in longevity, smoothness under load, camera processing, and how the phone ages over a few years.

Saying the GPU "has no impact" is a bit shortsighted, it’s not just about gaming, it’s about headroom. You may not hit the limits now, but you will over time.

And comparing a personal Pixel to a locked down work iPhone 15 isn’t exactly apples to apples either, MDM profiles, background restrictions, and corporate configs can absolutely make a phone feel worse than it actually is.

If you don’t want to be in Apple’s ecosystem or support Google, that’s a personal choice, that’s fair. But that’s preference, not proof that one platform is objectively better across the board.

 

[disinfect8280]

That just reads like "it works for me," which is fine, but that’s not the same as a universal take.

If your use is light, then yeah, any modern Pixel, including the Google Pixel 9a or even older ones, will feel perfectly fine. But that doesn’t mean GPU, display, or overall hardware don’t matter. They show up in longevity, smoothness under load, camera processing, and how the phone ages over a few years.

Saying the GPU "has no impact" is a bit shortsighted, it’s not just about gaming, it’s about headroom. You may not hit the limits now, but you will over time.

And comparing a personal Pixel to a locked down work iPhone 15 isn’t exactly apples to apples either, MDM profiles, background restrictions, and corporate configs can absolutely make a phone feel worse than it actually is.

If you don’t want to be in Apple’s ecosystem or support Google, that’s a personal choice, that’s fair. But that’s preference, not proof that one platform is objectively better across the board.

Right, but only benchmarks are what I see being shown as lower performance. Have you seen any real-world non gaming benchmarks or tests that show it as a problem? I think we are at the point where it doesn't matter much for general use outside gaming. For example desktops have been at that point for a while. Back in the day (~20yrs ago) the graphics card had a noticeable impact on desktop performance or light 3D. But now I am using a nearly 7yrs old GPU (RX5700XT) and will notice zero impact outside gaming if I were to upgrade to a 9070XT or a 5090 for that matter. In fact I could put the old Nvidia GT730 I have around and would not notice a difference. It would probably even be fine for light 3D CAD work.

And yeah the work iPhone does have restrictive profiles that I don't exactly know what they do, so that is a possibility. But I still feel the same about everything else about it.

 

[RaXelliX]

Who cares? They're meant to be cheap phones and unless you're a "phone gamer" which I think is the dumbest combination of works since "AI powered dishwasher", it's fine. The better hardware gets, the fewer the people that need $1000 smartphones

People who presumably pay 1000+ for a Pixel?

The hardware is not the problem. The price is. If you can get a Pixel for 50% off (or more) then it's fine. But at 1000+ it's completely unacceptable.

 

[yRaz]

People who presumably pay 1000+ for a Pixel?

The hardware is not the problem. The price is. If you can get a Pixel for 50% off (or more) then it's fine. But at 1000+ it's completely unacceptable.

I got my pixel 9 for $400 3 monhs after release. People aren't lining up to buy pixels. They never have been $1000 phones and if you pay that, that's on you.