Updated
Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 29
Tensor G6 Trails Snapdragon 8 Elite by 2,100 CPU Points in First Efficiency Test
Updated
Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 29

Tensor G6 Trails Snapdragon 8 Elite by 2,100 CPU Points in First Efficiency Test

3 articles · Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 29

Summary

  • Geekerwan’s first published power-efficiency test found Google’s Tensor G6 and older G5 clustered with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-era chips rather than current flagships in both CPU and GPU workloads.
  • At the CPU peak, Tensor G6 reached about 8,000 Geekbench 6 points near 11W, versus roughly 10,100 points for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite at 15W; Apple’s A17 Pro and A19 Pro scored higher at comparable or lower power.
  • GPU results showed a similar gap: Tensor G6 peaked around 1,200 Steel Nomad Light points at 6W, while Snapdragon 8 Elite hit about 2,550 near 9.5W and Apple’s chips again led.
  • Geekerwan said Tensor G6’s CPU efficiency is roughly on par with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but its GPU efficiency is closer to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, leaving Google a few years behind Qualcomm and Apple’s top silicon.
  • Huawei’s Kirin 9030 Pro was a notable comparison point, posting near-parity with Tensor G5 despite reportedly using SMIC’s N+3 process—roughly comparable to TSMC’s older N6 rather than 3nm.

Insights

With Huawei's older tech matching Google's latest silicon, are traditional benchmarks failing to capture the true power of AI-first processors?
If Google's new 3nm chip barely matches older tech, is the Pixel's AI focus a genius pivot or a cover for failure?