- Pixel 10 GPU performance has been questioned
- Google says more updates are on the way
- These updates may include the latest GPU drivers
There have been question marks around the graphics performance of the Pixel 10 series since before the phones were even official, but Google has promised that further updates for the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) are on the way.
This comes from a statement given by a Google spokesperson to Android Authority, in response to a query about the GPU inside the Pixel 10 handsets – which is a PowerVR GPU developed by Imagination Technologies.
“We are continuing to improve driver quality in our monthly and quarterly system updates,” says the statement. “For example, the most recent September and October patch releases included driver improvements. In future releases we are planning further GPU driver updates.”
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These system updates are often referred to as Pixel Drops, and the next one is due sometime in December. If you are experiencing gaming and graphics performance that’s below par on a Pixel 10, that might change by the end of the year.
Performance problems
The Pixel 10 phones, including the Pro XL, run on a Tensor G5 chipset (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
In our Google Pixel 10 review, we did note the relatively slow performance of the phone when running demanding games such as Call of Duty Mobile, although in terms of day-to-day use there aren’t any issues with speed or responsiveness.
It’s something that’s been noted with other Pixel 10 handsets too, and last month it emerged that out-of-date drivers might at least be partly responsible. In other words, the GPU wasn’t performing as well as it could have been.
As Android Authority notes, Imagination Technologies released new drivers in August for the PowerVR GPU inside the Pixel 10 handsets. These drivers make the GPU fully compatible with Android 16, and with Vulkan 1.4 support – that’s the tech that handles some of the fundamental graphics processing.
However, these drivers haven’t yet been rolled out to Pixel 10 devices – these might be the updates Google is referring to in its statement, though we’ll have to wait and see. It’s something Google is working on, at least.
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