Pixel 9 Pro XLs Gaming Performance Is Disappointing: Is the Tensor G4 Slower Than Its Predecessor?

Pixel 9 Pro XLs Gaming Performance Is Disappointing: Is the Tensor G4 Slower Than Its Predecessor?While it was expected that the Tensor G4 wouldn't excel in gaming performance, as a Google executive previously stated that the chipset wasn't designed to break any benchmark records but rather to improve user experience, it seems that the user experience for gamers hasn't improved much, if at all. If youre a Pixel 9 Pro XL user, youll likely be disappointed by the gaming experience on the flagship device, especially when running Genshin Impact, as not only is it unable to run the game at a suitable framerate, but its also slower than the Tensor G2 that powered the previous generation Pixel 7 Pro from Google

Pixel 9 Pro XLs Gaming Performance Is Disappointing: Is the Tensor G4 Slower Than Its Predecessor?

While it was expected that the Tensor G4 wouldn't excel in gaming performance, as a Google executive previously stated that the chipset wasn't designed to break any benchmark records but rather to improve user experience, it seems that the user experience for gamers hasn't improved much, if at all. If youre a Pixel 9 Pro XL user, youll likely be disappointed by the gaming experience on the flagship device, especially when running Genshin Impact, as not only is it unable to run the game at a suitable framerate, but its also slower than the Tensor G2 that powered the previous generation Pixel 7 Pro from Google.

During testing, the Pixel 9 Pro XL impressed with its thermal performance. However, why is it unable to provide a stable framerate? Throughout extensive testing, DameTech found that the Pixel 9 Pro XL averages 39.2FPS on Genshin Impact at 720p resolution, with all visual settings maxed out. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the Galaxy S24 Ultra is 31% faster than the Tensor G4, while the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro Max leads by 51%.

While its almost certain that the Pixel 9 Pro XL wont be winning any awards in this category, what caught us off guard is that the Tensor G4 is slower than the Tensor G2 running inside the Pixel 7 Pro. Googles two-year-old chip averages 45.3FPS on Genshin Impact, which is 15% faster.

In making the comparison, we noticed that the Tensor G4 ran at a minimum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, leading us to conclude that the system-on-a-chip wasnt hitting a thermal wall, which is usually the culprit behind poor gaming performance. If heat isnt the problem, then the Pixel 9 Pro XL may have a power limit mechanism enabled; this was possibly implemented by Google to prevent the Tensor G4 from overheating.

Genshin Impact may receive future updates to optimize further for Googles Pixel 9 lineup, potentially bringing about better performance. At the time of writing this, the latest lineup hasnt officially launched in major markets, so were looking forward to a series of improvements arriving to enhance the gaming experience. Regardless, were happy to see that the addition of a vapor chamber has significantly tamed the Tensor G4. Even though the framerate is disappointing, it shouldnt be a deciding factor when upgrading to Googles high-end device.