The Google Pixel 9 is expected to launch in a few months, and leaks and rumors about it are already circulating. Recent benchmarks from Geekbench, however, paint a concerning picture about the performance of the upcoming flagship.
The leaked benchmarks show a Pixel 9 Pro XL with a 1378 single-core and a 3723 multi-core score. The Pixel 9, meanwhile, scores 1653 in single-core and 3313 in multi-core. These numbers fall short of expectations, especially considering the Pixel 9 Pro XL is rumored to be equipped with a powerful 3.10GHz primary core, three 2.6GHz performance cores, four 1.95GHz efficiency cores, and 16GB of RAM. The Pixel 9 is expected to have the same CPU cluster with 8GB of RAM.
The lackluster performance is particularly noticeable when compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which was praised for its impressive performance in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Even compared to the Tensor G3 chip in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, which delivered excellent performance, the leaked benchmarks for the Pixel 9 series are disappointing.
While it’s important to note that these are preliminary results and could change before the final launch, they raise concerns about the Tensor G4 processor. Google’s Tensor chipsets have historically lagged behind Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipsets in terms of raw performance, and these leaks seem to continue that trend.
The leaked benchmarks should be taken with a grain of salt. There’s no confirmation that these are actually the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL, and they might be running early software that still requires optimization. Furthermore, benchmarks can be manipulated and may not accurately reflect real-world performance.
Ultimately, we need to wait for the Pixel 9 series to launch in the fall to get a definitive answer about its performance. Google is expected to release three models: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL, with prices likely aligning with last year’s releases.
Besides performance, we anticipate several design changes in the Pixel 9 series, including a revised camera array, flatter sides, and more. Only time will tell if these design changes will be enough to offset the potential performance concerns raised by the leaked benchmarks.
