Google’s upcoming Tensor G5 chipset, rumored to power the Pixel 10 series, promises impressive performance improvements, but there’s a catch. Recent benchmark leaks, tested on the unreleased Pixel 10 Pro Fold, show a noticeable 36% performance increase compared to its predecessor, the Tensor G4. Google has switched its chipset manufacturing to TSMC, and it seems to have made a difference in terms of performance. 
The Tensor G5 managed to score 2,276 in single-core and 6,175 in multi-core tests, highlighting solid gains over the G4.
However, despite these improvements, the Tensor G5 is still a step behind other premium chipsets on the market, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Dimensity 9400, and Apple’s A18 and A18 Pro chips. These competitors will likely continue to widen the gap with their next-gen iterations, such as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, Dimensity 9500, and Apple’s A19 series. So while the Tensor G5 brings a solid boost, it’s clear that it is not quite on par with the competition.
The chipset’s CPU architecture follows a ‘1 + 5 + 2’ configuration, with a single high-performance core alongside 5 efficiency cores and 2 additional cores for specific tasks. Even with just one high-performance core, the gains in speed are noticeable. Google’s move to TSMC’s second-gen 3nm process has certainly paid off, but it seems like there’s still room to grow. Looking ahead, the Tensor G6 could take advantage of TSMC’s 2nm technology in 2026, which could further enhance performance.
Alongside the chipset, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is rumored to come with 16GB of RAM and run on Android 16. But despite these enhancements, the Tensor G5 might struggle to compete directly with the high-end chips from Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Apple. In the Pixel 9 announcement, Soniya Jobanputra from Google mentioned that the G4 was designed not to chase benchmark scores but to focus on user experience. If the Pixel 10 series, with the Tensor G5, can offer a similar experience to premium devices with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 or Dimensity 9500, it may justify the higher price. Otherwise, it might be worth waiting for discounts to get the best value for your money.