Google’s ambitious foray into custom silicon with its Tensor series has been both praised and scrutinized. While the Tensor chips have powered the Pixel lineup with advanced AI capabilities and deep integration with Google’s software ecosystem, they’ve consistently faced criticism regarding thermal management and sustained performance. Now, early reports from users suggest that the upcoming Tensor G4, set to power the Pixel 9 Pro XL, might continue this troubling trend.
Early Throttling Concerns
The first alarm bells started ringing when a user on X, @callmeshazzam, shared results from a CPU throttling test conducted on their pre-ordered Pixel 9 Pro XL. The findings were concerning: the Tensor G4 appeared to lose more than 50% of its performance under extended load, raising questions about the chip’s ability to handle sustained tasks without overheating.
During the stress test, which tracks the frequency and performance of all eight CPU cores within the Tensor G4, throttling was observed to kick in after just three minutes. This led to a sharp decline in performance, continuing until the four-minute mark. By this point, the CPU was estimated to have lost nearly 60% of its processing power.
Performance Metrics and Implications
The raw data from the test revealed that the Tensor G4 initially peaked at an impressive 341 GIPS (giga instructions per second). However, as throttling took effect, the performance plunged, with the chip’s output dropping to just 145.5 GIPS at its lowest point—only 42.6% of its peak capability.
After this significant drop, the performance partially recovered, stabilizing at around 65% of the chip’s maximum potential. Despite this recovery, the frequency charts painted a worrying picture: the performance cores of the Tensor G4 fell as low as 1.32 GHz, while the efficiency cores reached a minimum of 570 MHz. This substantial decrease in frequency indicates that the chip might struggle to maintain its high-performance claims during extended periods of heavy use.
Official Specs vs. Real-World Performance
While Google has yet to officially release the detailed specifications of the Tensor G4, earlier leaks from Geekbench hinted at promising figures: a single core reaching up to 3.1 GHz, with three cores clocked at 3.6 GHz, and four efficiency cores running at 1.95 GHz. However, the early throttling tests suggest that these theoretical maximums might be difficult to achieve in real-world scenarios, especially during prolonged tasks that push the chip to its limits.
What This Means for Pixel 9 Pro XL Users
If these early findings are indicative of the final product’s performance, it could spell trouble for users who rely on their devices for intensive tasks, such as gaming, video editing, or extended multitasking sessions. Throttling not only impacts the phone’s ability to maintain high performance but could also lead to increased frustration among users who expect their devices to perform consistently.
Google’s Tensor G4 is undoubtedly a powerful piece of hardware, but these early reports highlight a critical issue that could undermine its potential. As the official launch of the Pixel 9 Pro XL approaches, all eyes will be on Google to see if they address these thermal management challenges or if users will need to brace for a repeat of the performance dips seen in previous Tensor-powered devices.
