Google Pixel 6 benchmarks — Tensor is better than you think

(Epitome credit: Future)

How fast is Google'due south Tensor bit for the Pixel 6? Sure, Google may be looking primarily to heave the on-board intelligence of its phones through a defended Tensor Processing Unit, simply does that commitment to machine learning-powered features come at the expense of overall performance?

Now that we've had a risk to test Google's latest flagships for both our Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro reviews, we have a better answer to that question. The Tensor chip powering both new Pixels has a lot in common with the Snapdragon 888, Qualcomm's leading arrangement-on-fleck found in many of the pinnacle Android phones released this twelvemonth. Only the A15 Bionic chipset that debuted with the iPhone thirteen family continues to ready the pace for smartphone operation.

Pixel six vs. Pixel six Pro: These are the biggest differences
The best Android phones and where the Pixel 6 ranks
Plus: The Google Pixel 6 is a year behind other flagships — hither'south how

Here'southward a look at how the Pixel half dozen and Pixel half-dozen Pro performed on benchmarking tests and how the Tensor's numbers compared to results from other leading smartphones.

Pixel vi: Geekbench 5 results

The synthetic Geekbench 5 test measures overall functioning. While not definitive indicator of smartphone speed, it is helpful to compare phones running different generations of chipsets, non to mention cross-platform comparisons. Nosotros wait at both unmarried-core and multicore results, as the latter can point how a phone takes advantage of multiple cores.

	Processor	Geekbench 5 single core score	Geekbench 5 multicore score
Google Pixel 6	Google Tensor	i,029	two,696
Google Pixel six Pro	Google Tensor	i,027	2,760
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	Snapdragon 888	one,123	three,440
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold iii	Snapdragon 888	one,107	3,418
Apple iPhone thirteen	A15 Bionic	one,668	four,436
Apple tree iPhone 13 Pro Max	A15 Bionic	1,720	iv,549
Nubia RedMagic 6S Pro	Snapdragon 888 Plus	1,130	3,685

This is the one surface area where Tensor seems to lag the Snapdragon 888-powered competition with the single- and multicore results finishing off the stride set by other Android flagships. The fastest Android phone on this examination — the Snapdragon 888 Plus-powered RedMagic 6S Pro gaming telephone — has a single core score that's x% faster than what the Pixel half dozen Pro produces; the multicore score is 34% improve.

No Android phone can hold a candle to the iPhone thirteen models, cheers to Apple tree's A15 Bionic chip. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the fastest telephone hither, with a multicore score that's 65% faster than what the Pixel 6 Pro mustered.

The lesson here is that the Tensor chip is probably not every bit well positioned to take advantage of apps that rely on multiple cores when compared to the Snapdragon 888. In anecdotal testing, nosotros didn't discover a lag when running apps on the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, but the results hither are undeniable.

Pixel half-dozen: Graphics test results

To measure graphics performance, we find that 3DMark's Wild Life Unlimited gives us the best fashion to do cantankerous-platform comparisons of unlike devices. Wild Life requires phones to render complex scenes in existent-time, in the spirit of games that feature short bursts of intense activity; these tests runs those tests off-screen.

	Processor	Wild Life Unlimited score	Wild Life Unlimited FPS
Google Pixel vi	Google Tensor	5,735	34.3
Google Pixel 6 Pro	Google Tensor	6,682	xl
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	Snapdragon 888	5,739	34.4
Samsung Milky way Z Fold 3	Snapdragon 888	five,622	33.seven
Apple iPhone 13	A15 Bionic	9,331	55.ix
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max	A15 Bionic	11,418	68.iv
Nubia RedMagic 6S Pro	Snapdragon 888 Plus	v,881	35.2

The Pixel 6 fares much better when it comes to gaming, with results on 3DMark's Wild Life Unlimited matching nigh Android phones. The Pixel 6 Pro does fifty-fifty better, with its FPS result topping the RedMagic 6S Pro'south 35.2 FPS and Galaxy S21 Ultra. And the Snapdragon 888 Plus in the Nubia phone is particularly geared toward boosting graphics performance, making the Pixel vi Pro's result even more impressive.

Again, Apple'south phones are the stride-setters on this test, with the iPhone 13 and iPhone thirteen Pro Max producing scores of 55.9 and 68.four FPS, respectively. That'southward well alee of either Pixel 6 model.

Pixel 6: Video encoding results

We also attempt to run real-globe tests that mimic activities you'd perform in everyday usage of your phone. Our favorite involves video transcoding using the Adobe Premiere Blitz app. We take a 4K video clip and convert it to 1080p, timing how long it takes each phone to terminate the task. Typically, this is an expanse where iPhones dominate, though nosotros've seen some Android devices inching closer.

	Processor	Adobe Premiere Blitz transcode fourth dimension (Mins:Secs)
Google Pixel 6	Google Tensor	0:49
Google Pixel half-dozen Pro	Google Tensor	0:48
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	Snapdragon 888	i:03
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3	Snapdragon 888	0:l
Apple iPhone 13	A15 Bionic	0:26
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max	A15 Bionic	0:25

Stop us if nosotros're repeating ourselves, but Apple continues to win this examination handily. Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone thirteen Pro Max were able to transcode the video in less than 30 seconds, with the larger of the two iPhones posting the best time.

Notwithstanding, the Pixel 6 models both exercise well here. They've posted the best time among Android phones, with both the Pixel half dozen (49 seconds) and Pixel 6 Pro (48 seconds) besting the Galaxy Z Fold 3's fifty-2nd outcome. (Note that we don't have numbers for the RedMagic 6S Pro here, as Adobe Premiere Rush isn't compatible with that phone.)

Pixel 6 functioning outlook

Geekbench results for the Pixel 6 models may not match what you would get from a Snapdragon 888-powered telephone, just the results are close enough for most users. Furthermore, the superior operation on graphics testing and video transcoding should alleviate whatsoever concerns you have near the Pixel 6's performance relative to other Android devices.

The iPhone 13 models withal remain the kings of smartphone performance. Only the Pixel 6 and its Tensor chip tin can concur its own against whatever other Android handset.

More: The Pixel 6'southward killer feature — information technology'south the price

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.