Kamila Wojciechowska schools the leak community: Yes, that’s a Tensor G5 for the Pixel 10

In the high-stakes world of smartphone chip leaks, things can get messy pretty quickly. Case in point: what was initially thought to be an early Tensor G4 prototype with a unique PowerVR GPU from Imagination Technologies was spotted on Geekbench last week, sending rumor mills into overdrive. Was this some kind of experimental chip? Had Google finally ditched the Mali GPU? Or was this, as some media outlets reported, actually a teaser of the much-anticipated Tensor G5?

Well, buckle up, because a “correction” has hit the tech world, and it’s a juicy one. According to an update from Kamila Wojciechowska, a known leaker with a track record for dishing out reliable Pixel gossip, this Geekbench sighting wasn’t a Tensor G4 prototype at all. Instead, it’s the real-deal Tensor G5 A0 revision chip – the very same processor expected to power the Pixel 10, codenamed “Frankel.” And, oh boy, Kamila didn’t hold back when it came to calling out the skeptics. Responding to X user Richard Miller who initially labeled this chip as an early G4 prototype, she roasted the “leaking community” for jumping to conclusions a bit too quickly.

In her words, “It’s kinda crazy how stupid some of the people in the leaking community are. This IS an actual Tensor G5 A0 revision chip. Obviously, it’s not final; there’s gonna be at least one more revision, but ~10 months before release, Google definitely already has the chip ‘layout’ finalized.” Translation? This isn’t some experiment in chip driver testing; Google’s Tensor G5 design is very much locked and loaded, even if the fine-tuning is still underway.

Unlike its predecessors, this Tensor G5 packs a punch in the graphics department. Out with the Mali-G715 GPU and in with the next-gen PowerVR D-Series DXT-48-1536 GPU from Imagination Technologies. And yes, for those wondering, the Tensor G4 prototype that made waves had an IMG CXT GPU, not this DXT version – making the previous leak officially debunked. This new GPU choice could be a significant shift in Google’s approach, promising performance gains and potentially better power efficiency to match the upcoming flagship’s expected battery life demands.

The CPU configuration also got an overhaul. Here’s what we’re looking at under the hood:

• 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.4GHz for heavy lifting.
• 5x Cortex-A725 @ 2.86GHz to balance performance and efficiency.
• 2x Cortex-A520 @ 2.44GHz for lower-power tasks.

The Geekbench 6 scores offer a sneak peek into the chip’s muscle, with a single-core score of 1323 and a multi-core score of 4004. Now, it’s worth noting that these numbers were achieved with the chip running at around 2GHz – a bit below its full potential. Once that CPU revs up to its intended speed, we can expect those scores to soar even higher.

If these specs hold up in the final production version, Pixel 10 could be packing some serious hardware that brings Google’s flagship closer to the performance of competing chipsets from Apple and Qualcomm. And with the new GPU onboard, the Pixel 10’s performance in gaming and graphics-intensive tasks might see a noticeable upgrade, especially as Google continues to refine its custom silicon approach to cater to AI-driven tasks. That’s right: think improved image processing, smoother UI, and a Pixel experience that may feel more responsive than ever.

Of course, this G5 chip is still in its A0 revision, so expect at least one more revision before Google finalizes it. Google has been known to keep its cards close to its chest, iterating on its Tensor chips right up to the last minute to ensure it’s fine-tuned for the latest Pixel. So, we’re still a few months out from seeing this finalized in the flesh – but it’s safe to say the broad strokes are done.

Kamila’s roast may have added some spice to the chip-leak chaos, but it also underscores how quickly (and sometimes wrongly) information spreads in the world of tech leaks. If there’s a takeaway here, it’s that when it comes to Google’s Tensor plans, it’s best not to jump to conclusions.

Kamila wasn’t shy about schooling the community on this front. Headlines blaring about a “PowerVR GPU” had fueled theories of Google jumping ship from its Mali GPUs – but, according to Kamila, those theories are way off. “Nobody seems to have any f***ing idea how that works,” she bluntly stated, pointing out that “PowerVR” is simply a driver report for compatibility or legacy reasons.

She explained that GPU drivers often use name strings like “PowerVR” (the MediaTek Dimensity 930 is a good example, as captured in the screengrab below that she shared on X) to help certain apps function properly, meaning it’s not uncommon for a GPU to show a legacy branding string even if it’s not actually a PowerVR chip. For anyone doubting, she even shared an example with MediaTek’s Dimensity 930, which reports “IMG BXM-8-256” as PowerVR – a GPU not branded as such. As Kamila put it: “It doesn’t mean s***.”

So, if you’re eagerly awaiting the Pixel 10, rest assured that the Tensor G5 is indeed real, loaded with exciting new tech, and has its “layout finalized.” Google’s journey with custom silicon continues to be a winding road, and we’ll be here for every twist, turn, and X spat along the way.

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