TSMC and the Tensor G5
The Tensor G5 uses TSMC’s 3nm N3E process to provide better thermal stability than the Samsung-made Tensor G4. This move away from Samsung addresses yield and efficiency problems with the previous 3nm GAA process. Google and TSMC established a five-year deal in late May 2025 to ensure continued chip delivery. The 1+5+2 core architecture uses a single Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.78GHz alongside five Cortex-A725 cores running at 3.05GHz and two Cortex-A520 cores at 2.25GHz to manage all daily mobile workloads. The TPU delivers 60% more power for AI tasks, and the CPU delivers 34% faster average performance. This performance exceeds the Apple A19 Pro in specific neural tasks.
The Tensor G5 runs Gemini Nano 2.6x faster for Pixel Screenshots and Recorder. The 4th Gen Edge TPU handles generative AI with improved speed. While the TPU scales well, the GPU struggles with heavy gaming like Fortnite, which averaged only 25 FPS at maximum settings.
AI and the Sony LYT-818 sensor
Google uses a Sony LYT-818 sensor in the Pro models to improve readout speed. This sensor works with the Tensor G5 to allow for faster AI processing. The ProRes Zoom uses a diffusion model for 100x shots. Camera Coach uses Gemini to suggest better angles and lighting. Auto Best Take examines 150 shots to blend the best expressions. Magic Eraser takes 4 to 6 seconds to remove complex objects, while Photo Unblur takes 3 to 4 seconds to correct motion. Live Translate operates with 0.2 to 0.5 seconds of delay.
The camera hardware varies across the lineup. The base Pixel 10 has a 48 megapixel 30.7mm2 sensor, whereas the Pro models use 48MP 23.5mm2 chips. The telephoto lens provides 5x optical quality and up to 20x Super Res Zoom. The base model includes a 13.1MP ultra wide sensor and a 10.8MP telephoto lens. Users can also use voice commands to remove reflections or add clouds to the sky. The Pro models support 8K video via cloud-based Video Boost, which uses AI to improve lighting and color. You probably remember how much better the Pixel 9’s 50 megapixel sensor felt compared to the quality of cheaper alternatives.
| Specification | Tensor G5 | A19 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Process | 3nm TSMC | 3nm TSMC |
| RAM | 16GB (Pro/XL) | 12GB |
| Video | 4K60 / 8K30 | 4K120 Dolby Vision |
Thermal and battery reality
The Tensor G5 stays cooler than previous chips. During 45 minutes of PUBG Mobile, the Pixel 10 Pro reached 41.2 degrees Celsius, which is lower than the 44 to 45 degrees Celsius seen on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. However, the Pixel 10 Pro XL lacks sufficient battery endurance. I see only four hours of screen-on time on the XL model, while the regular Pixel 10 reaches five hours. The Pixel 10 Pro XL often dips below 20% and triggers Battery Saver mode before the end of the day.
The move to TSMC provides more efficiency for light tasks like web browsing and 4K video playback. The device manages 12-15 apps in memory without reloads due to 16GB of RAM. I found that the Instagram app launches in 1.8 seconds, which is 14% faster than on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Google promises seven years of updates for the Pixel 10 series. Will the 2nm transition solve these efficiency gaps? The transition to TSMC provides better yield stability than Samsung, but the phone still struggles with heavy 5G battery drain.
