Google confirms more Pixel 10 GPU driver updates, timing unclear

Google confirmed this week that it will deliver further GPU driver updates for the Pixel 10 series but did not specify what or when those updates will include. A company spokesperson said, "We are continuing to improve driver quality in our monthly and quarterly system updates. For example, the most recent September and October patch releases included driver improvements. In future releases we are planning further GPU driver updates." The announcement leaves uncertainty about whether users will receive a routine tuning release or a full driver revision that adds new features.

The Pixel 10 lineup uses the Tensor G5 chip with an Imagination PowerVR DXT481536 graphics core and currently ships with driver version 24.3. Imagination released a newer driver, version 25.1, in August that adds compatibility with Android 16 and support for the Vulkan 1.4 graphics API, along with other performance and stability tweaks. That newer build has not yet been distributed to Pixel 10 devices, and owners have reported performance problems and compatibility issues since launch.

Early benchmark tests and user reports indicate the Pixel 10's GPU performance trails that of the previous generation and...