Recent Updates Suddenly Boost GPU Performance on Google Pixel Phones

Although Google’s Pixel phones aren’t known for top-tier GPU performance, they generally handle demanding games and tasks quite well. Still, they typically lag behind other flagship devices featuring different chipsets. However, new reports suggest that post-launch software updates have given Pixels a substantial boost in GPU compute performance.

User Reports of Higher Geekbench 6 Scores

Several Pixel owners on Reddit’s/r/Pixel_Phones community have observed notably higher Geekbench 6 GPU scores, particularly when testing with the Vulkan API. Devices like the Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, and Pixel 9 have shown major gains of 62%, 31%, and 32%, respectively. Early benchmark results often come from a phone’s launch period, so recent increases stand out.

Some users attributed the improvement to changes in Android 16, but other Pixel owners running the latest Android 15 update also saw jumps in performance. One Pixel 6a user even surpassed scores posted by newer Pixel 9 devices. Consequently, it appears that newer GPU drivers delivered through system updates are the more likely factor.

Arm Mali GPU Driver Updates

All Tensor-powered Pixels feature Arm Mali GPUs, yet they don’t come with the latest GPU driver out of the box. Google includes updated drivers in quarterly releases that often coincide with Pixel Drop updates. For example, the Android 15 build for Tensor G1, G2, and G3 used a driver version released by Arm in February 2024, while Tensor G4’s build used a December 2023 release. Subsequent Android 15 QPR1, QPR2, and Android 16 Betas have introduced progressively newer GPU drivers. Each driver version corresponds to a particular release date:

• r47p0 (2023-12-14)
• r48p0 (2024-02-19)
• r49p0 (2024-04-18)
• r51p0 (2024-08-14)
• r52p0 (2024-10-03)

Potential Real-World Impacts

While higher benchmark numbers don’t always equate to uniform real-world gains, the Geekbench 6 GPU test measures compute tasks relevant to everyday use, including machine learning and computer vision. Apps that rely on the Vulkan graphics API and target GPU features improved by the updated drivers could benefit. The extent of any performance uplift will ultimately depend on a specific app’s use of these features, so further testing is needed to gauge how significant these boosts are in day-to-day usage.