5mo ago

Your Pixel phone quietly got a big boost in GPU performance in the latest Android update

www.androidauthority.com

TL;DR

Multiple Pixel phone users are reporting significant boosts in Geekbench GPU scores after updating to the Android 16 beta.
Android Authority can confirm that Pixel phones are performing better in this benchmark since launch, but that this is also the case on the most recent Android 15 stable release.
The reason for this performance increase hasn’t been confirmed but likely has to do with recent GPU driver updates.

Google Pixel @lemdro.id

limerod @reddthat.com

5mo ago

Your Pixel phone quietly got a big boost in GPU performance in the latest Android update

www.androidauthority.com /pixel-phones-gpu-performance-boost-3537248/

20 comments

- The article mentions upwards of 50% performance increase for Pixel 7a and 20-30% improvement for others.
  You can notice it in the way of your phone running more cooler. Using less battery or some of your games being smoother than before, etc. No need to be dismissive.
Reddit users attribute this boost in GPU performance to changes in Android 16. However, my Pixel 6a is running the latest stable release of Android 15, and it still saw a nearly 23% increase in the Geekbench 6 GPU benchmark. In fact, my Pixel 6a scored a total of 8252 points in the test, outperforming even the Pixel 9 Pro. Therefore, it’s unlikely that anything particular in Android 16 is responsible for this boost in GPU performance.
I've noticed that animations seem a bit smoother, but that's hella anecdotal.
- I've noticed that animations seem a bit smoother, but that's hella anecdotal.
  Yeah I noticed this too. Plus some recent update fixed my lawnchair, the app launch animations were kinda broken for a few months.
Have the changes reached grapheneos yet?
- Depends if the maintainers implemented it yet. You should go bug them, I hear maintainers love entertaining these kinds of questions.
- I ran geekbench on my pixel 7 with both the stable and beta branch of grapheneos. No difference between the branches. Didnt see any performance numbers like in the article. It scored higher than run to run variance compared to the average geekbench presents though.
I wonder if this made it into the android kernel: https://www.androidpolice.com/pixel-stutter-bug-addressed-by-third-party-dev/
Or if it is just general updates.
Pixel users who can share their experience?
- Only stuff that I noticed after the latest update on my pixel 7 is that notification sounds feel a bit with less bass than before. And possibly the haptics a bit different. But this is after reading someone complaining about that, so it might be a placebo effect on my mind
- The march update definetly helped with system ui animations, the recent apps menu would stutter on every opening, whereas now it's always smooth.
  Also ruined haptics.
- The article is referring to Android 16 Beta. Most people will be on Android 15 or older.
  I'm on Graphene, so Stable channel is 15 and I am not brave enough for Beta on my everyday driver.
Could be a great opportunity for MLC Chat, which uses OpenCL.
- Oh shit, I use MLC Chat. I ought to see if i can pull this update
Pixel 4a, still waiting....
- Pixel 4a didn't get this update because It is out of software support.
  
  Haha yes, I was making a joke, it's still my main phone tho.
  
  Yeah, Pixel 4A only gets that one update that mutually breaks the battery management.
- Yeah they're not doing it for 4a, Google might offer you a voucher to replace your phone.
  
  I like the 4a a lot, so I am not gonna replace it. It works like a charm, still!

20 comments