Key Highlights
- As part of the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 update, the Pixel 10 now runs Imagination’s 1.634.2906 driver version, bringing with it Vulkan 1.4 support and a selection of other improvements. So why does this matter?
- We previously noted that the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s gaming performance was fine but certainly not on the cutting edge, as you might expect from a $1,199 flagship.
- In fact, last year’s Pixel 9 Pro XL easily outperformed it in a series of emulation tests, suggesting that Google’s choice of a DXT-48-1536 GPU inside the Tensor G5 chip might have backfired. Still, gradual performance improvements and a new driver have now arrived.
- While a driver update isn’t a cure-all for dubious performance, it might help improve frame rates in some titles.
- I’ll be interested to see if there’s a bigger boost for any games that can take advantage of new Vulkan 1.4 features, such as Host Image Copy.
