Google Tensor G5 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite: War of Processors

Smartphone processors never stop competing, and the latest battle is between Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite in the OnePlus 13s and Google’s new Tensor G5 inside the new Pixel 10 Pro.

The Tensor G5 is special because it’s Google’s first chip made by TSMC instead of Samsung Foundry, a shift meant to fix the heating and efficiency problems that dogged earlier Tensors. But does it finally close the gap with Qualcomm? We at Gizbot have tested both the processors to their limit, be it for CPU tests, GPU tests, AI benchmarks, gaming, and more. Let’s look at the numbers.

Specs at a Glance

Before jumping into benchmarks, here’s how the two chips look on paper:

Specs already hint at different priorities: Qualcomm goes for raw horsepower, while Google leans into AI acceleration with its TPU.

AnTuTu Performance: Raw Numbers Don’t Lie

AnTuTu bundles CPU, GPU, memory, and UX scores into one composite figure, giving a broad sense of performance. Here, the Snapdragon 8 Elite doesn’t just win—it dominates.

What makes the situation even more surprising is that the Tensor G5 isn’t just behind Qualcomm’s newest chip—it can’t even edge past the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which first appeared in 2022. Benchmarks from NanoReview show the 8 Gen 2 hitting 1,563,919 on AnTuTu, still higher than the G5’s score.

What this means:

• The CPU gap is smaller, meaning everyday tasks like browsing, messaging, and light apps will feel smooth on both phones.
• The GPU gap is massive. With Snapdragon clearing a million points, it can handle heavy gaming and demanding visuals easily, while Tensor’s sub-400k score shows its limits.
• Memory and UX scores suggest the OnePlus 13s will open apps, install games, and juggle multitasking faster than the Pixel.

Thermals

While running the AnTuTu benchmark, we tracked both CPU and surface temperatures — using AnTuTu’s data for the CPU and a temperature gun for the phone’s body.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite peaked at around 61°C on the CPU, while the display surface reached 47°C and the back panel 46°C. The phone feels warm in hand, but that’s because the chip pushes harder to sustain performance.

The Tensor G5 stayed noticeably cooler, with the CPU at about 45°C and surface temps around 39°C on both front and back. It’s much more comfortable to hold, but the downside is heavy throttling — the chip cut its output to less than half of peak levels to maintain those lower temps.

In short: Snapdragon allows more heat for consistent performance, while Tensor keeps things cool at the cost of raw power.

We've also put together a video comparing the Tensor G5, Snapdragon 8 Elite, and MediaTek Dimensity 9400.

Geekbench 6: Multi-Core vs Single-Core

Geekbench looks more closely at CPU strength, measuring how well chips handle both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.

What this means:

• Single-core scores matter for snappy day-to-day responsiveness. Snapdragon wins here, so it’ll feel slightly faster.
• Multi-core is about handling many tasks at once—video exports, multitasking, or complex AI tasks. Again, Snapdragon pulls ahead.

3DMark: Stress and Stability

3DMark benchmarks push GPUs to their limits, showing how they handle sustained graphics loads.

What this means:

The Snapdragon 8 Elite nearly doubles Tensor’s scores here, which aligns with the huge GPU gap seen in AnTuTu. For gamers, this means higher frame rates, better visuals, and less chance of throttling during extended play.

Gaming Performance: BGMI Settings

When it comes to BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India), both the OnePlus 13s and the Pixel 10 Pro unlock the same high-end graphics options. Players can choose Smooth + Ultra Extreme (120fps) for maximum frame rates or HDR + Extreme (60fps) for sharper visuals.

On paper, this makes them evenly matched in terms of capability. However, how well each device can sustain these settings is a different story.

CPU Throttling: Sustained Performance

Peak performance is one thing, but sustained workloads are just as important—especially for gamers. In our CPU throttling test, the differences were stark.

• Snapdragon 8 Elite (OnePlus 13s): Throttled to 81% of its maximum output.
• Tensor G5 (Pixel 10 Pro): Throttled to just 47%.

This result is concerning for Tensor, especially when you see red lines on the graphs. While the Pixel 10 Pro may technically support the same BGMI graphics settings as the OnePlus 13s, maintaining steady frame rates over long sessions will be more challenging.

Heat buildup and sharp dips in performance are much more likely on the G5, repeating some of the same issues we’ve seen in past Tensor chips.

Storage and Memory Speeds

Storage speeds often get overlooked, but they play a big role in how responsive a phone feels—installing apps, transferring files, and loading heavy games all depend on it.

What this means:

Apps will install faster, large games will load quicker, and updates will finish sooner on Snapdragon. Wired transfers between devices will also be quicker. One of the few upgrades that the Pixel's Pro lineup gets this year is UFS 4.0 storage. That said, the results above don’t really show the values that would reflect UFS 4.0 tech.

Verdict

When you line up all the numbers, the Snapdragon 8 Elite walks away as the clear winner. It’s faster across the board, it holds its performance better under pressure, and it just feels like a more well-rounded chip if you care about raw power.

That said, the Tensor G5 isn’t a lost cause. Google shifting production to TSMC was a smart move, and the chip really does shine in areas that benchmarks don’t fully capture—like AI features, smarter camera tricks, and everyday smoothness. If you’re not the kind of person who pushes your phone with long gaming sessions or heavy multitasking, you probably won’t notice its shortcomings.

But if you are looking for the complete package—speed, stability, and gaming performance—the Snapdragon 8 Elite is the more exciting choice right now. Google still has work to do to catch up on that front. For now, Qualcomm takes this round.