Tensor G6 also lost to a Snapdragon that’s two years old. In graphics, it’s 177% behind—and Google is doing it on purpose.

Google introduced in August 2026 Tensor G6, a chip for the new Pixel generation. The portal Gizmochina put it against the Snapdragon 8 Elite — a chip that’s already been on the market for almost two years. The result is uncomfortable for Google, but it also explains why Google doesn’t really care.

Geekbench: difference of 12% and 43%

In Geekbench 6, Pixel 11 Pro XL with Tensor G6 reached a score of 2,671 points on a single core and 6,802 points on multiple cores. Galaxy S25+ with Snapdragon 8 Elite has 3,008, or 9,730 points, respectively.

On a single core, it’s a 12% gap, which is manageable. But under load across cores, the gap widens to 43%—and that’s the difference you’ll feel when editing video, compiling, or working with several demanding apps at the same time.

In graphics, it’s not a matchup—it’s a beatdown

AnTuTu 11 shows a total score of 1.86 million for Tensor G6 and 3.16 million for Snapdragon—so that’s over 70% higher. What’s more interesting, though, is the breakdown by individual areas, because the average can be misleading.

In the CPU section, Snapdragon is better by 22%, which roughly matches Geekbench. In graphics, however, it has a 177% higher score. Plus, it has 36% better memory handling and a 71% higher score in user smoothness.

The gaming test 3DMark Wild Life Extreme confirms it even more accurately, because it also measures how the chip handles long-term load and heat. Tensor G6 scored 3,386 points, while Snapdragon 8 Elite got 6,612—almost double. The difference in average frame rate is the same: 20.3 vs 39.5 FPS.

Seven cores instead of eight—and it’s intentional

Tensor G6 is the first Tensor with a seven-core processor. All previous ones had eight cores. It sounds like a step back, but it isn’t—Google moved to newer ARM cores C1-Ultra and C1-Pro and boosted clock speeds, making it 20% faster at web browsing and 15% faster at launching apps compared to Tensor G5.

So why did one core disappear? Google didn’t comment officially, but according to industry experts, the space had to be freed up for the 5th-gen TPU that powers the Gemini Nano models directly on the Pixel 11 phones. Snapdragon has a Hexagon NPU for this, but its chip is built differently overall—using eight of its own Oryon cores running at higher clocks.

Two different philosophies

This is the core of the comparison. Qualcomm builds the chip for maximum performance and long gaming sessions at high frame rates. Google deliberately chooses a more conservative CPU and graphics setup to keep temperatures and power use lower, and dedicates the chip area to TPU and the image processor—so AI features and computational photography.

That’s why the Pixel loses in benchmarks, but when it comes to photography and AI features, it’s among the top. It’s a legit choice—you just need to know what you’re buying. The only discipline where the Tensor G6 is ahead on paper is the maximum download speed via 5G — 12 Gbps vs 10 Gbps on the Snapdragon.

What to take away from this

If you play demanding games or want a phone that can handle long sessions without slowing down, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is the clearer choice—especially since it’s almost two years older. If you’re into photography, AI features running directly on the phone, and battery life, the Tensor G6 makes sense.

For us in Slovakia, this comparison has one more practical angle. The Snapdragon 8 Elite can now be found even in Chinese flagship models that are significantly cheaper than the Pixel—and since it’s a two-year-old chip, the prices of such phones have dropped quite a bit. For the performance the Tensor G6 can’t match, you’ll pay less today than for a new Pixel.

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