Google is powering the Pixel 11 series with its new Tensor G6 processor and the company calls it the Pixel's fastest and most powerful chip yet. This is the most interesting Tensor chip in years as it packs a brand-new CPU and a new MediaTek modem. On the other side, we have the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip by Qualcomm. Let's now see how the Tensor G6 stacks up against the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 across our benchmark suite.
Tensor G6 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: AnTuTu Score
| AnTuTu V11 Benchmark | Tensor G6 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu Score | 1,687,489 | 3,740,686 |
| CPU | 739,209 | 1,054,518 |
| GPU | 251,126 | 1,368,986 |
| Memory | 340,262 | 428,822 |
| UX | 356,892 | 888,360 |
In our first AnTuTu V11 benchmark, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 scored 3,740,686 points while the Tensor G6 achieved 1,687,489 points. Basically, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is 2.2x ahead in terms of overall performance.
In the CPU department, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 scored 1,054,518 points, about 43% higher than the Tensor G6. And in graphics performance, the Adreno 840 GPU scored a whopping 1,368,986 points, which is over five times higher than what Tensor G6's GPU could muster. The PowerVR CXTP-48-1536 GPU in the Tensor G6 is just too weak.
By the way, last year's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs Tensor G5 benchmark comparison also showed a big GPU gap and the Tensor G6 has not done anything to close it.
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Tensor G6 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Geekbench Score
| Geekbench 6 CPU | Tensor G6 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-core | 2,691 | 3,588 |
| Multi-core | 7,203 | 10,207 |
In the Geekbench 6 CPU test, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 came out on top with a lead of 33% in single-core and 42% in multi-core. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 got 3,588 and 10,207 points in single-core and multi-core, compared with 2,691 and 7,203 for the Tensor G6.
Qualcomm has clocked its Oryon v3 prime cores at 4.60GHz, while Google has locked its Arm C1-Ultra core at 4.11GHz. In multi-core, the deciding factor is the CPU layout. Qualcomm uses two prime cores along with six performance cores, whereas Google pairs a single C1-Ultra core with six C1-Pro cores.
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Tensor G6 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: CPU Throttling Test
| CPU Throttling Test | Tensor G6 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Score | 343,713 GIPS | 425,678 GIPS |
| Average Score | 248,160 GIPS | 293,717 GIPS |
| Minimum Score | 133,360 GIPS | 246,893 GIPS |
| Throttling Percentage (Higher is better) | 47% | 58% |
To check sustained performance, we ran the CPU Throttling Test for 15 minutes. Here again, Qualcomm leads even though it's clocked at a higher frequency. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 had 58% of the peak performance left at the end while the Tensor G6 ended the test at 47%.
The iQOO 15 kept its prime cores at 4.60GHz for about three minutes before slowing them down to reduce heat. The Pixel 11 Pro XL, by contrast, never got hot during the run. So, Google appears to be capping power on the Tensor G6 by design rather than hitting a heat limit.
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Tensor G6 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: 3DMark Score
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | Tensor G6 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Best Loop Score | 3,338 | 6,867 |
| Lowest Loop Score | 2,236 | 1,715 |
| Stability | 67% | 25% |
Moving on to graphics, the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test runs 20 loops of a heavy 3D scene. Qualcomm's Adreno 840 GPU put up 6,867 points at its best, which is double of Tensor G6's 3,338 points. On peak graphics performance, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 wins.
However, by the end, the Adreno 840 GPU had dropped to 1,715 points, leaving it with only 25% stability. Interestingly, Google's PowerVR CXTP-48-1536 GPU never fell below 2,236 points, so it kept 67% of its peak performance.
In the final loops, the Tensor G6's GPU was 30% ahead of Qualcomm's chip, even though it was nowhere near the peak performance. Basically, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will give you top-tier graphics performance, but it won't last long. However, Tensor G6 will offer better stability over longer sessions with reduced performance.
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Tensor G6 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Speedometer Score
Next, we ran Speedometer, which tests how the chip handles complex and heavy websites in the browser. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 scored 28.9 while the Tensor G6 scored 25.7 points. For everyday web browsing, I think both chipsets are equally good and you will face no such problems.
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Tensor G6 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Benchmark Gallery
Tensor G6 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Specs Comparison
| Specs | Tensor G6 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Process Node | TSMC 3nm (N3P) | TSMC 3nm (N3P) |
| CPU | 7-core Arm C1-series CPU | 8-core 3rd-gen Qualcomm Oryon CPU |
| CPU Cores | 1x Arm C1-Ultra at 4.11GHz, 4x Arm C1-Pro at 3.38GHz, 2x Arm C1-Pro at 2.65GHz | 2x Oryon Prime cores at 4.60GHz, 6x Oryon Performance cores at 3.62GHz |
| GPU | Imagination PowerVR CXTP-48-1536 (C-Series), 1.29GHz | Adreno 840, up to 1.2GHz, 18MB Adreno High Performance Memory |
| NPU | Fifth-gen Google TPU | Hexagon NPU |
| ISP | Upgraded ISP with a dedicated video portrait accelerator, 4K Portrait Video, Instant Night Sight (Pro models) | Triple 20-bit Qualcomm Spectra AI ISP, up to 320MP photos |
| Storage and Memory | LPDDR5X, UFS 4.0 (Zoned UFS 4.0 on 512GB and above) | LPDDR5X up to 5300MHz, UFS 4.1 |
| Modem | MediaTek M90 5G modem, up to 12Gbps peak download | Snapdragon X85 5G modem, up to 12.5Gbps download and 3.7Gbps upload |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 and UWB (Pro models), Wi-Fi 6E (Pixel 11), Bluetooth 6.0 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, UWB support |
Verdict
So, what is the conclusion? Well, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a far more powerful chip and the GPU gap between the two is night and day. It scores more than double in AnTuTu and leads by 33% and 42% in Geekbench single-core and multi-core. Not to mention, you get twice the peak graphics performance as we saw in the 3DMark test.
I think Google's Tensor G6 is pretty good for day-to-day tasks. It stays cool and keeps the graphic performance consistent over a long session. Not to forget, the smooth Pixel experience and a new MediaTek modem should finally fix the signal complaints.
Gamers and anyone who wants the most raw power should get a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 phone with good cooling. And choose the Pixel 11 series if you want a cool-running phone and Google's AI experiences.
Finally, Qualcomm has released its 2026 flagship chips: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. You can check them out and learn what kind of new upgrades these chips bring.
