Pixel 11 Tensor G6 benchmarks: Small gains, big gap to Snapdragon and Apple

What is the Tensor G6, and what’s new?

Google’s Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro XL deliver better CPU performance and faster machine-learning tasks than last year’s models, thanks to the new Tensor G6 chip. But if you were hoping for a leap that would match the fastest Snapdragons or Apple’s latest silicon, the numbers tell a different story.

This article is about the Pixel 11 series, not a review. The following facts come from early benchmark results gathered by testers who already have the phones in hand. They give us a clear picture of what to expect when the Pixel 11 arrives in stores later this year.

How much faster is the CPU, really?

What this means for Pixel 11 Tensor G6 benchmarks

The Tensor G6 uses a revised CPU layout that skips ahead two Arm microarchitecture generations compared to the Tensor G5. This jump should mean much higher raw speed. Here is exactly how the two chips compare:

• CPU cores: one Arm C1-Ultra at 4.11 GHz, four Arm C1-Pro at 3.38 GHz, and two Arm C1-Pro at 2.65 GHz — one fewer total core than the Tensor G5.
• GPU: a PowerVR CXTP-48-1536 running at 1.29 GHz, replacing the PowerVR DXT-48-1536 in the G5.
• RAM: LPDDR5X, but in the Pixel 11 Pro the capacity drops from 16 GB last year to 12 GB.
• TPU: a fifth-generation Tensor Processing Unit, up from the fourth-gen unit in the G5.
• Modem: a MediaTek M90, replacing the Samsung Exynos modem used in the G5.
• Fabrication: TSMC 3nm process, the same node as the Tensor G5.
• Security chip: Titan M3, one generation newer than the Titan M2 in the G5.

The dropout of one CPU core and the switch to a mid-range GPU are the biggest concerns. Google says this arrangement balances power and efficiency, but early testing suggests the trade-offs are real.

Gaming performance: Small steps, big gap

According to Geekbench 6, single-core performance is about 18 percent higher than the Tensor G5, and multi-core scores are up by around 21 percent. That sounds healthy. In everyday use — opening apps, browsing the web, handling photo editing — the Pixel 11 series should feel quick and responsive.

The problem appears when you compare it to the competition. Samsung’s Exynos 2600, which powers phones like the Galaxy S26, uses the same Arm C1 cores at lower clock speeds but has more cores in total. Early tests show the Galaxy S26 Plus scoring 18 percent higher in single-core performance and 51 percent higher in multi-core benchmarks than the Pixel 11 Pro XL.

The gap against Qualcomm’s Snapdragon is even larger. Snapdragon-powered flagships hold a 37 percent lead in single-core and a 52 percent advantage in multi-core over the Pixel 11, according to the same test data.

AI and machine learning: The one bright spot

The GPU inside the Tensor G6, a PowerVR CXTP-48-1536 clocked at 1.29 GHz, is a meaningful upgrade from last year’s PowerVR chip. Peak graphics performance is up 7 to 10 percent in 3DMark’s Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme tests. That improvement could turn choppy frame rates into a mostly steady 60 fps in many games.

But the chip still cannot sustain 120 fps in the latest titles. And after a few minutes of intensive gaming, especially in warm conditions, the Pixel 11’s GPU actually dips below the performance of last year’s Tensor G5. The higher clock speed does not hold up under sustained load.

The real issue is that Google has not closed the gap. Snapdragon-powered rivals maintain a large advantage, and Apple’s chips remain far ahead of both. If high-frame-rate gaming is a priority, the Pixel 11 series will not be the best choice.

Should you wait for the Pixel 11 or buy now?

The fifth-generation Tensor Processing Unit is the most impressive part of the G6. Google says the TPU delivers significantly faster performance for AI workloads like on-device language models, real-time translation, and photo computation. Early results confirm that the TPU upgrade is real and usable.

However, there is a catch. The Pixel 11 Pro comes with 12 GB of RAM, down from 16 GB in the Pixel 10 Pro. That reduction limits how many large AI models the phone can keep in memory at once. For a device that Google markets as an AI high-performance phone, the smaller RAM pool is a head-scratcher.

The drop in RAM appears to be tied to a global supply chain issue affecting high-capacity mobile memory modules. Even so, it undermines the phone’s high-end AI credentials at launch.

Tensor G6: Better, but still chasing the leaders

The Tensor G6 is a decent year-over-year improvement. The CPU is faster, the AI engine is more capable, and the modem switch to MediaTek could bring better connectivity or efficiency. For someone who upgrades every two or three years, the Pixel 11 will feel like a solid step forward.

But for anyone who wants top-tier gaming performance, the fastest multi-core speeds, or the largest RAM configuration, the Pixel 11 series is not the answer. Snapdragon-powered phones and the Galaxy S26 line offer substantially more horsepower. Apple’s iPhones remain in a league of their own for sustained GPU workloads.

If you value camera quality, stock Android, and on-device AI more than raw benchmark scores, the Pixel 11 will likely serve you well. If you want the fastest phone you can buy, look elsewhere.

For more phone recommendations and comparisons, check out our best phones guide, or use our phone finder tool to match your needs. Read our phone reviews for hands-on impressions of the latest flagships.