Tensor G4: A Deep Dive into the Pixel 9's Processor, Its Strengths and Weaknesses

The Google Tensor G4 is powering the Pixel 9, but how does it stack up against other flagship chips? Discover its strengths, weaknesses.

Google Tensor G4: A Deep Dive into the Pixel 9's Processor

Pixel 9 series brings forth the Tensor G4, an incremental upgrade over the one before but not necessarily one that revolutionizes performance. Google brings with it Arm's new CPU cores with slightly faster clock speeds and a new Exynos modem. The experience remains in line with what occurred in the case of the G3 last year. Everyday usage is seamless, but intensive workloads like gaming and advanced photography reveal limitations.

Key Features:

  • Connectivity: 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support with a more stable Exynos 5400 modem.
  • Energy Efficiency: Built on Samsung's 4nm process for better thermal efficiency and battery life.
  • CPU: 8-core architecture:
    • 1 × Cortex-X4 at 3.1 GHz – high-performance core
    • 3 × Cortex-A720 at 2.6 GHz – performance cores
    • 4 × Cortex-A520 at 1.92 GHz – efficiency cores
  • GPU: ARM Mali-G715 MP7 with 6 cores for better (but still mid-range) gaming performance.
  • RAM: Pixel 9 has 12GB; Pixel 9 Pro XL has 16GB RAM.
  • Storage: Still at UFS 3.1 even on 256GB and 512GB variants — a long-term problem.

Benchmark Performance:

Although the Tensor G4 takes incremental steps, it lags behind competition like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Apple's A18 Pro in benchmarks and gaming:

Category Vivo X100 Ultra Pixel 9 Pro XL Pixel 9 Pixel 8 Pro
PCMark Work 3.0 (Overall) 14899 13028 12907 12478
Web Browsing 11497 10322 9150 11575
Video Editing 6278 7606 7364 7356
Writing 22368 15582 15399 13976
Photo Editing 32759 19293 20133 18901
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) 2174 1895 1210 883
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) 6375 4111 3298 2748
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (Score) 4677 2483 2588 2251
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS) 28.01 14.86 15.5 13.48

Tensor G4 advantages:

  • AI Integration: Created to maximize on-device machine learning for driving features like real-time transcription, voice typing, and improved photography.
  • Thermal Efficiency: The Pixel 9 Pro XL features a vapor chamber for better cooling, avoiding overheating — an improvement compared to previous Pixel generations.
  • Software Synergy: Optimized for Pixel-only features with prolonged software support and Google AI updates.

Limitations & Considerations:

  • Gaming: Tensor G4 is lacking in high-end gaming and lacks GPU brawn found in Snapdragon-flagship phones.
  • Thermal Throttling: Gradual slow-downs in sustained tasks — fairly noticeable without the vapor chamber on the stock Pixel 9.
  • Storage Tech: No UFS 4.0 — a consideration for users eagerly awaiting read/write speeds in the future.
  • Camera Delays: Despite quality photo ability, portrait photo saves are slower than on other high-end devices.

Is the Pixel 9 Worth Buying

When used for extended periods, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL are clear upgrades in terms of thermal efficiency and AI processing but fall short in gaming and outright performance. If gaming is your area of interest, other flagships might deliver more stability and performance. But if you are in Google's ecosystem, use AI capabilities, and require long-term support, the Pixel 9 series based on the Tensor G4 is still a good buy in 2024.

Final Thoughts

The Tensor G4 doesn't change the game, but it provides incremental improvements across stability, AI output, and daily usability. Its biggest benefit remains the seamless experience across Google services — not raw speed. For most consumers, that's a fair trade.

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mgtid
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