Google’s Tensor G5 chip pairs with Imagination’s IMG DXT-48-1536 GPU, but early user reports and benchmarks have raised red flags about heat and throttling under sustained loads. Many have pointed to the GPU as the weak link, and now Google is addressing the concern head-on with a pledge to steadily refine GPU driver quality through monthly and quarterly system updates.
In a statement shared with Android Authority, Google said it is continuing to improve driver quality in ongoing system updates, noting that the September and October patch releases already included GPU driver tweaks, with more on the roadmap. The careful wording is notable. While Google collaborated closely with Imagination on the IMG DXT-48-1536, Imagination retains proprietary control over DXT-series GPU drivers. In practice, that means Google can tune elements like power management and AI workloads, but foundational driver changes and hardware-specific code still depend on Imagination.
The performance gap highlights why these updates matter. According to NanoReview’s numbers, the Tensor G5’s AnTuTu 10 GPU score is roughly 40 percent of the score posted by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500’s Mali-G1 Ultra MC12. That disparity aligns with reports of early throttling and suggests the Pixel 10’s graphics stack would benefit from deeper optimizations.
For Pixel 10 owners, the takeaway is clear: keep devices updated to ensure you receive the latest GPU driver refinements as they land in monthly and quarterly patches. If Google and Imagination can deliver meaningful driver-level improvements, the Tensor G5’s thermal behavior and sustained performance should see steady gains over time, easing the throttling issues many users are facing today.
