Islamabad, Mar 23, 2025: Google Pixel smartphones have never been known for industry-leading GPU performance, but they have consistently delivered smooth gaming and multitasking experiences.
Despite lagging behind some flagship competitors, recent reports indicate that software updates have significantly improved GPU compute performance, giving Pixel devices a noticeable edge.
Users Report Higher GPU Benchmark Scores
Pixel users on Reddit’s r/Pixel_Phones community have noticed a substantial increase in Geekbench 6 GPU scores, particularly when using the Vulkan API.
Devices like the Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, and Pixel 9 have recorded impressive performance gains of 62%, 31%, and 32%, respectively.
These improvements are striking, as benchmark scores usually remain stable post-launch.
While some initially believed the boost was due to Android 16, users running the latest Android 15 update also experienced similar performance jumps.
Interestingly, a Pixel 6a user reported scores surpassing those of the newer Pixel 9, suggesting that the primary factor behind these gains is new GPU driver updates rather than OS-level changes.
Impact of Updated Arm Mali GPU Drivers
Google’s Tensor-powered Pixels rely on Arm Mali GPUs, which don’t always ship with the latest GPU drivers. Instead, Google rolls out updated drivers through quarterly software updates, often aligning with Pixel Feature Drops.
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For example, the Android 15 update for Tensor G1, G2, and G3 used a driver version released by Arm in February 2024, while Tensor G4 received a December 2023 version.
As newer updates roll out, GPU driver versions have progressively improved, with key updates including:
- r47p0 (2023-12-14)
- r48p0 (2024-02-19)
- r49p0 (2024-04-18)
- r51p0 (2024-08-14)
- r52p0 (2024-10-03)
These updates enhance graphics performance, optimizing how the GPU handles complex tasks.
Real-World Performance Gains
While higher benchmark scores don’t always translate into noticeable real-world improvements, Geekbench 6 GPU tests measure compute performance for tasks like machine learning and computer vision.
Apps that depend on the Vulkan graphics API or leverage GPU-accelerated features are likely to benefit the most.
The actual impact will vary depending on an app’s utilization of these enhanced features. Further testing is necessary to determine the full extent of these performance boosts in daily usage.
However, early signs suggest that Pixel users can expect smoother graphics performance and improved efficiency in demanding applications, making Google’s smartphones even more capable with each update.
