- Pixel 10 GPU performance questioned
- Google says more updates are on the way
- These updates may include the latest GPU drivers
There were question marks around the Pixel 10 series’ graphics performance before the phones were even official, but Google promised that more GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) updates were on the way.
This comes from a statement made by a Google spokesperson to Android Authority, in response to a question about the GPU inside the Pixel 10 handsets – which is a PowerVR GPU developed by Imagination Technologies.
“We continue to improve driver quality in our monthly and quarterly system updates,” the statement said. “For example, the most recent patches in September and October included driver improvements. In future releases, we expect additional GPU driver updates.”
These system updates are often called Pixel Drops, and the next one is scheduled for December. If you’re seeing subpar gaming and graphics performance on a Pixel 10, that could change by the end of the year.
Performance issues
In our review of the Google Pixel 10, we noted the phone’s relatively slow performance when running demanding games such as Call of Duty Mobile, although in terms of everyday use there are no issues with speed or responsiveness.
This is something that has also been noticed with other Pixel 10 handsets, and last month it emerged that outdated drivers could at least partly be to blame. In other words, the GPU wasn’t performing as well as it could have been.
As Android Authority notes, Imagination Technologies released new drivers in August for the PowerVR GPU inside Pixel 10 handsets. These drivers make the GPU fully compatible with Android 16 and with support for Vulkan 1.4 – this is the technology that handles some of the fundamental graphics processing.
However, these drivers have not yet rolled out to Pixel 10 devices. These may be the updates Google is referring to in its statement, although we will have to wait and see. This is at least something Google is working on.
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