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.
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.
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.
How would I notice that apart from running a benchmark or a game that needs a lot of GPU power? Mining bitcoins?
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.
Praying for the day my Pixel 7 doesn’t overheat with heavy use 🙏
Are you in a warm country? My Pixel 7 never overheats. It’s gotten warm before, sure, but never overheated.
Well the temps range from 30-35 degrees and humidity of 50-75% in my city… So yes warm is an understatement haha
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’m on it!
Pixel 4a, still waiting…
Pixel 4a didn’t get this update because if 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!
Yeah I used to have one, I only replaced it when the battery started going. I loved that phone, it was solid yet so light! I have a 6a now which is great but so much heavier than the 4a.
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 users who can share their experience?
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.
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.
