Pixel phones see up to 20% performance gains after the new Android 16 update
Google’s Pixel phones are known for offering a stock Android experience and using Google’s own Tensor G-series processors. However, their performance has historically been somewhat underwhelming. That may be changing, as the latest Android 16 update has brought a noticeable improvement to Pixel 10 Pro XL performance.
Over the past few days, Google has rolled out the Android 16 QPR2 update to Pixel phones. Unexpectedly, users and testers discovered that device performance has improved significantly, especially in graphics performance.
Android Authority tested the Pixel 10 Pro XL and found that CPU performance gains were modest. In Geekbench 6, single-core performance improved by 2%, while multi-core performance increased by 5%, which isn’t a dramatic change.



PCMark’s Work 3.0 score, however, showed a much more substantial improvement, rising by 19.6%. This benchmark simulates everyday tasks such as web browsing and image editing, making it a better reflection of real-world usage.
Graphics performance also saw gains. In 3DMark’s Wild Life test, scores improved by around 5% to 7%, averaging roughly 6%.
Interestingly, despite no change in the GPU driver version, the OpenCL benchmark shows a score jump from the previous 3,063 to 4,061. That’s a nearly one-third improvement.
The possible reason for the gain
So how can a simple Android system update deliver such a performance boost?
According to AndroidPolice, the gains may come from deeper optimizations in Android 16, which introduces a more advanced and efficient memory garbage collection mechanism. This reduces CPU load during garbage collection, minimizes lag, and improves overall smoothness.

The good news is that these improvements aren’t limited to the new Pixel 10 series. Some users report that older models, such as the Pixel 8a, have also seen higher benchmark scores and better frame rates in 3DMark tests (via Reddit).
What remains unclear is whether these optimizations are exclusive to Google’s in-house Tensor processors. If the changes are more broadly applicable, other Android phones could also see meaningful performance gains through future updates.
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The post Pixel phones see up to 20% performance gains after the new Android 16 update appeared first on Gizmochina.