Most disappointing Pixel 10 leak surfaces ahead of launch

We’ve been tracking the Pixel 10 leaks for several months, but the most hyped rumor was the bit about the new Tensor G5. Many Pixel users know for a fact that the processors on their devices are no match for the SoCs available on other devices from the likes of Samsung, OnePlus, and Apple. We started seeing Tensor G5 details surface back in 2023. And since then, I, along with thousands of other Pixel users, have been eagerly waiting for the Pixel 10 to finally match the competition in terms of performance. But if the latest leak is anything to go by, all the hype seems to have been for nothing (if it’s even true).

A Reddit user shared a couple of images highlighting benchmarks on an alleged Google Pixel 10 Pro XL alongside a Pixel 9 Pro XL for comparison. If you take note of the results in a vacuum, you’d think the Pixel 10 Pro XL seems to have a pretty decent upgrade over its last-gen sibling. The thing is, there’s other competition out there, and these benchmarks paint a disappointing picture, at least for me and a bunch of others who feel the same way.

For instance, here are some comments on threads discussing the benchmarks:

Worth upgrading from 9 to 10? No. (Source)

Watch all the Fanboys and Tech Tubers start making excuses for the decline in SOC strength. 😁 If that benchmark was real.🙄 (Source)

This is so sad… (Source)

Why do people defend this stuff? Yeah it may not matter to you but it does to some people. Having the cpu performance from 2022 in a nearly 2026 phone is not acceptable for $1200. (Source)

Somehow google pixels always manage to take one step forward and invent new ways to take two steps backwards. (Source)

Also, while Pixel phones are clearly not aimed at mobile gamers, Google seems to have made a rather upsetting decision with the GPU choice by switching to PowerVR from Mali. A Redditor highlighted how this switch could mean that certain games simply won’t work as they should on a flagship device. For instance, Genshin Impact developers have clearly mentioned that they only support non-PowerVR GPUs on Android devices.

Of course, not all Pixel enthusiasts are bothered about the potential of a lackluster GPU. One post has picked up close to two hundred upvotes, urging users not to base their buying decision on benchmark numbers.

The title also says that “software optimisation is 100000x more important.” But let me burst that bubble for you. It seems to be a long-standing misconception that Pixel phones are somehow miles ahead in software optimization compared to other Androids out there. While yes, Google does a great job with the Pixel UI and brings quick updates, I wouldn’t really say Pixel phones are the most optimized. You don’t even have to dig too much to find that out. Just take a look at the bugs and issues we’ve covered over the years, and that would give you a decent idea.

I’m not being a hater, I’m just pointing out the facts that often get overlooked. In recent years, Pixel phones have been notorious for overheating, and in some rare instances, even catching on fire. Last year, I even ranted about my terrible experience with notifications on my Pixel 8. And no, I wasn’t the only one dealing with the problem, and that issue persists. Then there’s even the scrolling stutter that’s been around for a long…long time.

So, coming back to the Tensor G5’s alleged benchmarks. We Pixel users should stop settling for the bare minimum. Back in the day, Pixel phones had a USP – the cameras coupled with Google’s computational photography – but with brands adopting bigger and better sensors and also working on their software optimization, Pixel phones are no longer the best camera phones in the Android world.

Now pair that with an SoC that might not keep up with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which launched last year, and you see why I’m disappointed. That said, all we can do is hope that these benchmarks were flawed due to the app not being optimized for the new hardware OR that the whole thing is fake. If that’s the case, then this would become such a lame rant, but I’d still be relieved. We won’t have to wait long to find out because the Pixel 10 is set to be launched tomorrow at Google’s event that will also pack some star power.

That said, feel free to drop your thoughts on the leaked benchmarks in the comments below!