Google's Pixel 10 series is launching today, but these last-minute leaks might be mood-killers

Google fans have been counting down the hours to today’s Pixel 10 series launch event, but some fresh leaks might just dampen the excitement. While we’re all set for the big reveal which is happening in just a few hours, new information surfacing about benchmark performance and a controversial design decision could leave potential buyers feeling less thrilled than expected.

Tensor G5 benchmarks fall short of expectations

The latest Geekbench listings for the entire Pixel 10 lineup have dropped, and the numbers tell a story that many won’t want to hear. According to XpertPick’s findings, the Tensor G5 chip powering these devices still can’t match up to last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite performance. This lines up with the Reddit posts we highlighted yesterday which showed the benchmark tests of a Pixel 10 Pro XL.

The benchmark data shows the Pixel 10 scoring 2118 and 4496 points in Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core tests respectively. The Pixel 10 Pro managed 1708 and 4441 points, while the Pro XL reached 2290 and 5559 points. While these numbers show improvement over previous generations, they’re still trailing behind what Qualcomm offered with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip last year.

The scores suggest Google is still playing catch-up in the raw performance game. The Tensor G5 features a prime CPU core at 3.78GHz, five cores at 3.05GHz, and two cores at 2.25GHz, but it’s clearly not enough to bridge the gap with flagship Snapdragon chips.

Physical SIM cards might be history

Perhaps more controversial is the mounting evidence that Google is ditching physical SIM trays across most of the Pixel 10 lineup. Android Authority’s Matt Horne spotted a leak from reliable tipster Evan Blass showing what appears to be Pixel 10 packaging with a telling message about eSIM setup.

The leaked label reads “You no longer need a physical SIM card. Activate your eSIM during phone setup,” which strongly suggests that the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL will ship without traditional SIM slots. This would follow Apple’s lead with the iPhone 14 series, but it’s a move that’s already generating backlash among users who prefer the flexibility of physical SIMs.

The only model expected to retain a physical SIM slot is the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which makes sense given its positioning as a premium device for power users.

Launch day reality check

These leaks paint a picture that might disappoint some Pixel enthusiasts. Between chipset performance that still lags behind the competition and the removal of a feature many users rely on, Google’s latest flagship series faces some legitimate criticism before it even hits the stage.

XpertPick’s report also higlights the Bluetooth SIG certification for the Pixel 10 series alongside the Pixel Watch 4 variants. Whether these last-minute revelations will impact consumer reception remains to be seen, but they certainly add some unexpected drama to what should be Google’s biggest hardware moment of the year.

Are you still excited for the Pixel 10 devices despite these two potential short comings? Let me know in the comments below.

Featured image credit: Android Authority