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It’s also something that’s been noticed with other Pixel 10 handsets, and last month it emerged that outdated drivers may be at least partially responsible.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