Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Tl; DR
- Viral videos show that the Pixel 10 Pro XL is completely devastating while running the latest version of HEMIN IMPACT.
- The problems could be linked to the shipment of Pixel 10 with a Powervr GPU, for which the manufacturers of the game have abandoned support earlier this year.
- A future pilot update could solve performance problems, but if game developers continue to delete the management of PowerVR GPUs, Google may need to rethink its strategy.
Videos showing the Glitching Pixel 10 Pro XL when performing one of the most popular Android games – Genshin Impact – have been circulated on social networks During the weekend. In these clips, the textures sparkle, control badly and the screen is tearing itself apart after the last update of the game, giving people another reason to strongly criticize the choice of Google de Gpu this year. But are things really as bad as they appear?
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The problem obviously stems from the impact of GENSHIN Powervr GPU deletion support With its August update (V5.0, which introduced the Natlan region into the game). Google went from GPU Mali d’Arm to the Powervr imagination series for the Pixel 10 range, in particular the Powervr DXT-48-1536. This connection has fueled speculation that the Pixel 10 series is completely incompatible with the game.
However, in our first tests, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail and Diablo Immortal all installed and executed correctly on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Android Authority’s Robert Triggs has played each title without noticing performance or graphic problems similar to those appearing in online videos.
To check if the problem with Genuhin Impact is recent, we have also installed the game, with its latest update on our Pixel 10 Pro XL, and it seems to be very good.
Does this mean that the videos are false? Not really. Problems can be caused by specific game versions, certain regions or content / gameplay elements or obsolete pilots. However, the contrast between these clips and our tests suggest that the problem may not be as widespread as it seems online.
However, it is a warning panel for Google. Many users have critical Pixel 10 GPU performance on forums like Reddit. Problems can be linked to the phone shipping with an older driver (V24.3) for the GPU Powervr DXT-48-1536. Imagination Technologies published a updated pilot (V25.1) in August, which adds Android 16 compatibility, Vulkan 1.4 support, etc. However, Google has not yet deployed it to the Pixel 10 series.
The company generally updates GPU pilots for tensor fleas when it deploys new software versions. A similar update for the Powervr GPU of the Pixel 10 could arrive in future drops of pixels, perhaps even the next one, which should be deployed in December.
For the moment, our first tests show that the Pixel 10 Pro XL can manage some of the most demanding games of Android without major problems. However, if the developers continue to remove PowerVR support, Google may need to reconsider its GPU strategy for future pixel phones.
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