In August 2026, the mobile technology industry received the first real data on the performance of Google's new flagship, the Pixel 11 Pro XL. The device, equipped with the Tensor G6 processor, appeared in the Geekbench 7 benchmark, giving analysts and enthusiasts a chance to assess the real potential of the chipset. Despite obvious progress compared to its predecessor, the test results reveal a serious issue: Google's lag behind key competitors like Samsung and Qualcomm persists.

Test Results: Progress, but not a breakthrough

According to data published in the Geekbench database, the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL scored 2,410 points in the single-core test and 7,107 points in the multi-core test. These figures indicate that the new Tensor G6 chipset indeed provides a noticeable performance increase compared to the previous generation. For comparison, last year's Pixel 10 Pro XL model based on Tensor G5 showed results of 2,010 and 5,923 points respectively. This means Google managed to achieve a performance increase of approximately 20% in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.

Competitive Battle: 40% Lag

However, if we look at the results in the context of the global market, the picture looks less optimistic. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra flagship, equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, demonstrates overwhelming superiority. In the same tests, the Samsung device scored 3,082 points in single-core and 10,381 points in multi-core mode. This makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra approximately 40% more powerful than the Pixel 11 Pro XL. Thus, despite internal evolution, the Tensor G6 is still at the level of competitors' chipsets from the previous generation.

Tensor G6 Market Positioning

Experts assess the current position of Tensor G6 as intermediate. In terms of CPU performance, it sits between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets, comparable to the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor. This means Google maintains a one-generation lag behind current flagship systems. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Qualcomm plans to present a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro processor next month, which will likely widen the gap even further.

Contradictory Data

While most sources agree on a 20% performance increase, there are discrepancies in testing details. Some analysts note that the Tensor G6 multi-core result in certain scenarios could be even worse than the predecessor, contradicting general conclusions. Furthermore, there is an opinion that Geekbench results do not always accurately reflect real-world performance in daily tasks, especially in AI processing and photography, where Google has traditionally been strong.

Outlook for Google

Despite current figures, Google continues to invest in developing its own chipsets, betting on integration with the Android ecosystem and advanced AI features. However, to compete with Qualcomm and Samsung, the company needs to not only improve performance but also optimize energy efficiency and heat dissipation. Future updates and possible architectural revisions to Tensor G6 could change the situation, but for now, the lag remains a fact.