Benchmarks pit Google's Tensor G5 against Snapdragon 8 Gen 2: faster CPU and efficiency for Tensor, but weaker GPU and gaming. See scores to decide now.
Google’s Tensor chips have stirred debate from the start: lauded for their tight AI integration and reliable everyday performance, yet faulted for lagging behind Qualcomm and MediaTek in raw speed. The fifth generation — Tensor G5 — was meant to mark a turning point. The question is whether it could outpace even the not-so-new, nearly three-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
According to AnTuTu, the overall win still goes to Snapdragon: 1,512,682 points versus 1,429,557 for Tensor. The real story, however, is in the breakdown. In the CPU tests, Tensor G5 pulled ahead — 483,989 against 373,687 — a 29% lead in compute power. Credit goes to the new Cortex-X4 and Cortex-A725 cores built on TSMC’s 3 nm process. Google also achieved better energy efficiency, which should pay off in multitasking and when launching heavy apps.
Geekbench backs up Tensor’s CPU advantage. It scored 2,316 in single-core versus 1,912 for Snapdragon, and 6,452 in multi-core versus 5,204. In practice, that points to snappier responses, a smoother interface, and steadier behavior with several tasks running at once.
The picture changes on the graphics side. Google’s PowerVRDXT-48-1536 GPU trails the Adreno 740 in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 by a wide margin: 416,313 versus 599,957 — a 44% deficit. On top of that, Adreno supports ray tracing and the Snapdragon Elite Gaming feature set, making it a far more appealing option for mobile gaming.
Memory and interface performance are close to a draw: Tensor edges ahead in the memory test (293,467 versus 273,714), while Snapdragon leads under UX loads. Day to day, the gap will be barely noticeable, but for games and 3D graphics the case for Qualcomm is hard to ignore.
The spec sheet also tilts toward Tensor: a newer 3 nm process versus 4 nm, faster cores, and Bluetooth 6.0 support. At the same time, Snapdragon brings a more advanced X70 modem with higher download and upload speeds, plus Wi‑Fi 7 with peak rates of 5.8 Gbps.
In the end, Tensor G5 does outgun Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in CPU performance and efficiency, but it falls behind on graphics. For gaming and multimedia, the older Qualcomm still looks preferable. For those who value a quick, fluid interface, strong multitasking, and AI-driven features, the new Tensor feels like a meaningful step forward.