Tensor G4 vs Tensor G3: Not the Upgrade You Were Hoping For

Google has finally released its Pixel 9 lineup, and it’s powered by the Tensor G4 chipset. This year, Tensor G4 is said to bring marginal improvements over the Tensor G3, mainly focusing on improving efficiency. So to understand how well the Tensor G4 stacks up vs its predecessor, Tensor G3, go through our detailed comparison. We have added Geekbench, AnTuTu, and 3DMark scores of Tensor G4 to evaluate the performance difference. On that note, let’s begin.

Tensor G4 vs G3: Specs Comparison

Here is the side-by-side specs comparison of Tensor G4 and G3.

Tensor G4 vs G3: CPU

Unlike last year when Google went ahead with an unusual nine-core CPU setup for the Tensor G3, this year, the Google Tensor G4 features a traditional CPU featuring eight CPU cores. However, it’s still built on Samsung’s older 4nm process node, which could be disappointing. We are not sure if Google is taking advantage of Samsung’s improved 4LPP+ process node and FOWLP packaging for the Tensor G4.

As for the CPU cluster, the Tensor G4 features newer ARM cores including 1x Cortex-X4 clocked slightly higher at 3.10GHz, 3x Cortex-A720 cores clocked up to 2.60GHz, and 4x Cortex-A520 cores clocked up to 1.95GHz. Compared to the Tensor G3, all cores are clocked higher by 200MHz to 300MHz.

The Tensor G3, on the other hand, features 1x Cortex-X3 core clocked up to 2.91GHz, 4x Cortex-A715 amped up to 2.37GHz, and 4x Cortex-A510 clocked up to 1.70GHz. Since Tensor G4 comes with all the latest ARM cores, we expected it to perform better than last year’s Tensor G3. However, in the Geekbench test, we were surprised to see Tensor G4 trailing behind.

Tensor G4 vs G3: Geekbench Score

We ran the Geekbench test on the Pixel 9 Pro XL multiple times, and at best, it achieved a single-core score of 1,897 points and a multi-core score of 3,721. In contrast, last year’s Tensor G3 scored 1,751 in single-threaded tasks and 4,208 in multi-threaded tasks, which is really surprising and strange.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL packs a Vapor Cooling chamber so it’s expected to sustain peak performance for a longer duration, but in our test, it scored even lower than Tensor G3 in multi-core tasks. Sure, Tensor G3 had one extra core, but the difference should not be this huge.

Tensor G4 vs G3: AnTuTu Benchmark

In the AnTuTu benchmark, the Tensor G4 scored 1,253,407 points and the Tensor G3 achieved a score of 1,021,731 points. Here, the Tensor G4 delivers 22% faster performance than the Tensor G3 which is pretty good.

Tensor G4 vs G3: CPU Throttling Test

In the CPU Throttling test, the Tensor G4 did slightly better than Tensor G3. Thanks to the Vapor Cooling chamber on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, it throttled to 71% (higher is better) of its maximum performance whereas Tensor G3 could only achieve 60%. It means that Tensor G4 can sustain its CPU performance for much longer even under heavy stress, compared to Tensor G3.

Tensor G4 vs G3: 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test

As for the GPU, the Tensor G4 is packing the same 7-core ARM Mali-G715 GPU available on last year’s Tensor G3. However, Google has amped up the GPU frequency from 890MHz to 940MHz. And this reflects in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress test. The Tensor G4 gets the best loop score of 2,590 and the lowest loop score of 1,525 with a stability of 58.9%.

In comparison, the Tensor G4 achieves the best loop score of 2,396 and the lowest loop score of 1,587 points, with a stability of 66.2%. While Tensor G4 scores slightly better, stability and sustained performance is better on the Tensor G3.

5G Modem

While the improvements in the CPU and GPU might seem marginal, the most notable change between Tensor G4 and G3 is the upgraded Samsung 5G modem. Pixel users have been lambasting Google for packing an inefficient and weak 5G modem on past Tensor chipsets, but that’s going to change for the better, thankfully.

The Tensor G4 comes with the new Samsung Exynos 5400 5G modem that promises much better efficiency. It’s built on Samsung’s 4nm EUV process technology. Samsung claims that its upgraded 5G modem can deliver a peak download speed of 14.79Gbps, which is remarkably fast. That said, we need to test the modem for its performance and efficiency.

Tensor G4 vs G3: Beebom’s Verdict

The Google Tensor G4 seems like a stopgap chipset before Google moves to TSMC’s foundry next year. Google has indeed added the latest ARM CPU cores and an improved 5G modem, but for some reason, the CPU performance is not up to the mark.

The GPU being the same as last year, performs as expected. In fact, the ISP and TPU also remain the same. In comparison to the latest chipsets from Qualcomm and Apple, Google is almost a generation or two behind, which is laughably bad.

That said, Google has employed a vapor chamber for better cooling on the Pixel 9 Pro XL which should help in sustained performance and improve the battery life. But at the chipset level, the Tensor G4 is not a big upgrade over the Tensor G3. We will have to wait for the Pixel 10 series next year, which will bring the Tensor G5, built on TSMC’s cutting-edge fabrication process.