- Google Tensor G4 features eight CPU cores whereas Tensor G4 packs nine CPU cores. It may seem like a downgrade, but Tensor G4 brings the latest ARM cores.
- The CPU frequency is also slightly elevated on the Tensor G4, delivering around 14% better CPU performance than the Tensor G3.
- The Mali-G715 GPU remains the same, but thankfully, Google has packed a much-improved Samsung Exynos 5400 5G modem on the Tensor G4.
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 and AnTuTu 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.
Specs Tensor G4 Tensor G3 CPU Eight-core CPU
(1+3+4)Nine-core CPU
(1+4+4)CPU Cores 1x 3.10GHz (Cortex-X4)
3x 2.60GHz (Cortex-A720)
4x 1.95GHz (Cortex-A520)1x 2.91GHz (Cortex-X3)
4x 2.37GHz (Cortex-A715)
4x 1.70GHz (Cortex-A510)Process Technology Samsung’s 4nm Samsung’s 4nm GPU Mali-G715 GPU
Up to 940MHz7-core Mali-G715 GPU
Up to 890MHzMachine Learning and AI Google Custom TPU (Codename Rio) Google Custom TPU (Codename Rio) ISP Google Custom DSP (Codename Callisto) Google Custom DSP (Codename Callisto) Modem Samsung Exynos 5400 5G modem
Up to 14.79Gbps Peak DownloadSamsung Exynos 5300 5G modem
Up to 3.0Gbps Peak Download
Up to 422Mbps Peak UploadOthers AV1 Encoder and Decoder
Titan M2 security chipAV1 Encoder and Decoder
Titan M2 security chip
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 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. Despite the Tensor G4 packing one fewer core, it’s expected to perform better than Tensor G3 due to higher clock speeds, and the latest ARM cores which are both performant and efficient. You can check out the Geekbench scores below to understand the performance difference.
Tensor G4 vs G3: Geekbench Score
In a leaked Geekbench listing of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the Tensor G4 with its octa-core CPU scores 2,005 in the single-core test and 4,835 in the multi-core test. In contrast, the Tensor G3 scores 1,751 in single-threaded tasks and 4,208 in multi-threaded tasks. There is a 14% performance difference in both single-core and multi-core performance.
Geekbench 6 Score Tensor G4 Tensor G3 Single-core 2,005 1,751 Multi-core 4,835 4,208
AnTuTu Benchmark
In a leaked AnTuTu benchmark, the Tensor G4 on the Pixel 9 Pro XL has crossed the 1 million mark, standing with a score of 1,176,410 points. Last year, we ran several benchmarks on the Tensor G3 chipset, and it scored 1,021,731 points in the AnTuTu benchmark. Here, the difference comes down to 15% which is decent at best.
Tensor G4 Tensor G3 Benchmark Score 1,176,410 1,021,731
Tensor G4 vs G3: GPU
As for the GPU, the Tensor G4 is packing the same ARM Mali-G715 GPU available on last year’s Tensor G3. However, Google has amped up the GPU frequency from 890MHz to 940MHz. It means that the GPU performance on the Tensor G4 should be slightly better than Tensor G3. In addition, we don’t know how many GPU cores Google has opted for on the Tensor G4. For your information, the Tensor G3 had seven GPU cores.
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. Except for newer ARM CPU cores and an upgraded 5G modem, the Tensor G4 doesn’t offer substantial upgrades over the Tensor G3.
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.
If Google has employed a large vapor chamber for better cooling on the Pixel 9 series, users might get better battery life and sustained performance, but for that, we will have to see how well Google has improved its thermals for heat dissipation.
So, 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.
