A new Geekbench leak reveals concrete GPU scores for the Tensor G6 for the first time; the chip is set to officially debut in the Pixel 11 Pro XL starting tomorrow. The performance jump is substantial: In the compute test, the new chip outperforms the Tensor G5 from the Pixel 10 by about 80 percent. However, that’s still not enough to beat Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, whose Adreno 840 graphics unit remains about three times as fast.
In a nutshell:
- A Geekbench 7 listing shows the Pixel 11 Pro XL with the Tensor G6 and 16 GB of RAM.
- The GPU scores about 80 percent higher in the compute test compared to the Tensor G5, with 7,757 points instead of 4,315.
- A new addition is a PowerVR C-Series GPU from Imagination Technologies, which, however, runs through a Vulkan translation layer.
- As for the CPU, seven cores (instead of eight) offer more single-core performance but less multi-core performance.
- The official unveiling will take place on August 12 at the Made by Google event in New York.
What the benchmark leak reveals
The entry comes from the public Geekbench 7 database and lists a Google device with the model designation Pixel 11 Pro XL, equipped with 16 GB of RAM and running Android 17. In the GPU compute test, which measures the raw performance of the graphics unit via OpenGL, the device scored 7,757 points. The Tensor G5 from the current Pixel 10 scored 4,315 points in the same test, meaning the Pixel 11 Pro XL represents a gain of over 80 percent.
For Google, this is a significant leap forward, even if it was sorely needed. For years, the GPU performance of the Tensor chips has been considered their biggest weakness compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon series, especially when it comes to gaming and computationally intensive camera features.
New GPU from Imagination, but with a Vulkan workaround
The Tensor G6 owes its performance boost to a completely new graphics unit. According to leaks from 9to5Google, instead of the PowerVR D-Series GPU from the Tensor G5, it uses a PowerVR C-Series CXTP-48-1536 GPU from Imagination Technologies, clocked at around 1,286 MHz. However, it does not run natively with OpenGL ES, but rather via ANGLE, a translation layer that converts OpenGL ES calls to Vulkan in real time. This comes at a performance cost, so the measured results are likely to fall short of what the chip could achieve natively.
Several leakers also point out that the GPU architecture itself is already several years old and is not up to date with Imagination’s current portfolio. For a Pro model intended to appeal to both hardcore gamers and creative professionals, this is a drawback.
CPU: Seven Cores Instead of Eight, More Single-Core Power
Google is taking an unusual approach with the processor: Instead of the eight cores in the Tensor G5, the Tensor G6, according to GSMArena, features a 7-core configuration with three clusters. A single prime core clocks in at 4.11 GHz, joined by four performance cores at 3.38 GHz and two efficiency cores at 2.65 GHz.
In the Geekbench 7 single-core test, the Pixel 11 Pro XL scored 2,112 points—a solid 7 percent higher than the Tensor G5’s 1,973 points. In the multi-core test, the picture changes: With 5,196 points, the new chip trails the Tensor G5—which scored 5,872 points—by about 12 percent. The reason is likely simply the absence of the eighth core.
| Feature | Tensor G5 (Pixel 10) | Tensor G6 (Pixel 11, Leak) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Cores | 8 | 7 (1+4+2) |
| Prime core clock speed | N/A | 4.11 GHz |
| GPU | PowerVR D-Series | PowerVR C-Series CXTP-48-1536 |
| Geekbench 7 Single-Core | 1,973 | 2,112 |
| Geekbench 7 Multi-Core | 5,872 | 5,196 |
| Geekbench 7 GPU Compute | 4,315 | 7,757 |
Values based on the Geekbench database and recent leaks, as of August 2026. Official figures from Google are still pending.
How does the Tensor G6 stack up against Snapdragon and the competition?
Even with this improvement, the Tensor G6 remains a clear second in GPU performance. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with its Adreno 840 GPU, achieves roughly three times the score in comparable compute tests. So if you’re primarily looking for gaming performance or maximum raw GPU power, you’ll still get more bang for your buck with a Snapdragon flagship.
However, that was never the core promise of the Tensor chips. Since the first Tensor, Google has been building its own SoCs primarily for AI and camera features like Magic Eraser, Best Take, or live translation—rather than for benchmark records. The GPU leap is therefore likely to benefit image processing and new Gemini features in everyday use, rather than necessarily the frame rate in the next mobile game.
Launch Date: Made by Google Launches Tomorrow
The official unveiling of the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the Pixel Watch 5 is scheduled for August 12, 2026. Google is hosting its Made by Google event in New York, hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, as we’ve previously reported. For Germany, the time difference means the keynote won’t air until late in the evening. Details about smaller batteries and the final prices of the Pixel 11 Pro XL also surfaced just recently.
In addition to the Tensor G6, Google is also expected to showcase the Pixel Tag—its first in-house Bluetooth tracker—as well as new camera and software features at the event. An RGB LED has also been spotted in the Pixel 11 Pro’s camera bar, which can assign custom colors to contacts. Until the keynote, all information in this article remains speculation; official confirmation will come tomorrow.
Conclusion
The Tensor G6 in the Pixel 11 Pro XL presents a mixed picture. The GPU takes a big step forward without becoming the best in its class. As for the CPU, Google has traded multi-core performance for a faster single-core processor, which should be particularly noticeable in everyday use during short but intensive tasks. Whether these trade-offs are worth it will only become clear with independent tests following the market launch, which, as things stand, is set to begin immediately after tomorrow’s event.
