However, as the years went on and Google’s focus shifted heavily toward optimizing Tensor chips for machine learning rather than pure performance, that gap widened significantly.<\/p>\n
Qualcomm’s current flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, wipes the floor with the Google Tensor G5, with AnTuTu benchmark scores<\/a> showing a roughly 2.5x performance gap between the two. Even MediaTek’s latest SoCs, like the Dimensity 9500, easily beat Tensor processors by a massive margin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Connectivity is another recurring complaint among Pixel users<\/a>, and it once again ties back to the Tensor chips. Google uses Samsung’s Exynos-derived modems, which are notorious for causing random Wi-Fi and cellular issues<\/a>, call dropouts, and battery drain.<\/p>\n Funnily enough, even Samsung’s own flagship devices don’t use Exynos modems, instead opting for Qualcomm’s modems in the US market.<\/p>\n Still, the processors are just one part of the wider hardware issues that Pixel users experience.<\/p>\n A particularly notorious example was the dreaded pink line that appeared on Pixel 8 screens. This was a widespread defect that apparently happened after repeated stress on the flex cable, which prompted Google to launch an Extended Repair Program<\/a> that covered affected devices up to three years from the purchase date.<\/p>\n Google\u2019s obsession with AI and quick updates has destroyed the software experience<\/p>\n Pixel\u2019s greatest strength has become its biggest headache<\/p>\n The early Google Nexus phones were praised for their ultra-clean software. They represented a benchmark of what Android could offer if it wasn’t being weighed down by manufacturer skins that often slowed phones down.<\/p>\n The early Pixel phones were pretty much the same.<\/p>\n For better or worse, Google has always treated its own devices as an experimental playground for new features, apps, and services. Over time, the company’s focus shifted heavily toward AI. On-device AI processing was a big part of the reason why the Tensor chips were designed in the first place.<\/p>\n As things progressed, Google’s once-clean software experience slowly became bloated<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pixel owners are constantly being introduced to a growing number of unsolicited AI features<\/a> with each new update.<\/p>\n Over the past few years, the Pixel experience became far less about offering a hyper-clean Android experience and more about being a Gemini-powered device<\/a> that just happens to also be a modern smartphone.<\/p>\n A massive part of what made Pixel and the Nexus devices before them popular among enthusiasts was Google’s commitment to long-term software support.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, even this advantage started to lose some of its appeal when every update meant a potential new wave of AI-powered features and services<\/a>. Remember when Pixel Studio was making waves?<\/p>\n Worse still, as Google continues pushing half-baked updates to users, there’s no shortage of frustrating bugs<\/a> that can break major functionality. Each time a new update drops, the Google Pixel subreddit<\/a> gets filled with complaints. It\u2019s almost as if Google is treating Pixel owners as a massive pool of Android beta testers.<\/p>\n Put simply, by turning experimental Gemini features into the focal point of the Pixel experience instead of keeping them as helpful additions, Google is alienating fans of clean Android who helped build the brand in the first place.<\/p>\n Pixel owners have plenty of strong alternatives to pick from<\/p>\n Pixel needs to catch up fast<\/p>\n In the early days of Pixel, Google offered competitively priced phones with clean software, decent hardware, and some of the best camera processing the world had ever seen. Photos taken on a Pixel often looked like they came from a professional camera, with minimal editing required. It was the reason so many people flocked to Google Pixel phones.<\/p>\n Much of that camera magic eventually trickled down to the mid-range Pixel A-series, helping Google solidify its reputation as the leader in mobile photography.<\/p>\n However, that gap has shrunk significantly over the years. Other brands have caught up, and Pixel no longer holds the undisputed crown. Samsung and Apple can now capture incredible photos in a wide range of scenarios. Brands like OnePlus<\/a> and Motorola<\/a> have made major improvements to their camera systems as well.<\/p>\n At the same time, Pixel’s performance gap has become harder to ignore. Google’s Tensor chips continue to lag behind other flagship processors, making it difficult to justify Pixel’s premium pricing, particularly to users who prioritize hardware. When the time came for me to upgrade my phone<\/a>, I didn’t even bother looking in Pixel’s direction, purely because I was aware of just how far behind the Tensor chips are.<\/p>\n But Google’s shift toward AI instead of refining the core Android experience hasn’t helped either.<\/p>\n While Google has increasingly focused on experimental AI features<\/a>, Samsung has taken a more cautious approach, rolling out smaller updates that are optimized and tested before reaching older devices.<\/p>\n Ironically, Samsung, which was once criticized for heavy software skins, now offers one of the most polished Android experiences on the market with One UI. It might not be everyone’s preferred interface, but its level of polish is hard to deny.<\/p>\n Samsung has long been the default Android choice, with a 26% US smartphone market share compared to Google’s 3%<\/a>. Even Google seems to recognize that, as it has been using Samsung devices to showcase Android features in recent years.<\/p>\n For users chasing value or simply looking for something different, there is also no shortage of alternatives. Many Android brands now offer a stronger value proposition than Pixel, whether through better hardware, better pricing, or both.<\/p>\n Things aren’t looking great for the Pixel<\/p>\n In my opinion, things aren’t looking too hot for Pixel right now. The Pixel 10a that launched earlier this year was little more than a rebadged Pixel 9a, and if the rumors surrounding the Pixel 11<\/a> turn out to be true, Google’s next flagship device could end up being more of the same.<\/p>\n While it will ship with a new Tensor chip, we’ve seen time and time again that Google remains committed to optimizing its silicon for on-device AI rather than focusing on the raw performance and efficiency that many flagship phone buyers expect.<\/p>\n![\"Gemini](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gemini-live-running-on-the-google-pixel-9a.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
\n Credit:\u00a0Justin Duino \/ How-To Geek<\/p>\n![\"Pixel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pixel-10-pro-xl-and-galaxy-s26-ultra-in-the-hand.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
\n Credit:\u00a0Cory Gunther \/ How-To Geek<\/p>\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/google-pixel-10-5.jpg\"\/)
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