Tested: My Pixel 10 runs faster with the Android 16 QPR2 update

Google’s second main quarterly launch of Android 16 — generally known as Android 16 QPR2 — is lastly right here, bringing plenty of new features to Pixel homeowners, and ultimately different manufacturers as nicely. In line with anecdotal reviews from the standard corners of the web, one sudden bonus seems to be improved graphics efficiency for the Pixel 10.

Google hasn’t formally talked about a brand new GPU driver that Pixel 10 homeowners have been ready for, however that doesn’t imply that minor enhancements or optimizations aren’t tucked away inside. To seek out out, I grabbed my Pixel 10 Pro XL working the November 2025 patch, ran our ordinary check suite, after which up to date to the QPR2 December 2025 replace and examined once more.

Pixel 10 Professional XL benchmarks on Android 16 QPR2

In comparison with my out-of-the-box Pixel 10 Professional XL, there’s a clear efficiency enchancment by the point I reached the November replace. Nevertheless, the Android 16 QPR2 replace is roughly in the identical ballpark as earlier than the replace.

Since launch, CPU efficiency has improved barely, with GeekBench 6’s single-core efficiency exhibiting a 2% improve (which is near the margin of error), whereas multi-core scores have risen considerably extra by 5% when averaged throughout three exams. That’s welcome, however hardly a game-changer for peak efficiency. It’s additionally value noting that these new outcomes are nonetheless throughout the efficiency margin we noticed whereas testing the complete Pixel 10 collection, so that they haven’t considerably boosted efficiency to brand-new heights. As a substitute, the typical efficiency is healthier.

Alongside these traces, PCMark’s Work 3.0 check means that a wide range of use circumstances might even see a substantial efficiency leap. There’s a 19.6% enhance right here, which appears important. Nevertheless, we clocked an analogous rating for the Pixel 10 Professional at launch (whereas the Pixel 10 and XL have been slower), suggesting that some variability has all the time been current. I don’t wish to draw too many conclusions from this artificial benchmark, however hopefully, Google has managed to iron out among the efficiency kinks in Android 16, liberating the Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 to hit its peak efficiency extra constantly than earlier than.

Subsequent, let’s look at some graphics workloads courtesy of 3DMark’s stress exams.

The efficiency uplift we noticed on the CPU aspect is mirrored in revised GPU exams, however we will see that QPR2 is marginally quicker than its predecessor. Peak efficiency is up almost 5% within the Wild Life check and round 7% in Wild Life Excessive. So, let’s name this a modest 6% enhance on common, however the actual benefit appears to be that sustained efficiency will be higher on more moderen variations. Once more, this uplift gained’t revolutionize the cellphone’s distinctly common gaming efficiency. Nonetheless, it ought to lead to marginally greater peak body charges and, maybe extra importantly, higher stability and fewer janks in additional demanding titles and emulators.

By the way, each of those graphics exams use the Vulkan API; some customers are reporting considerably extra substantial positive aspects in OpenGL, however I haven’t been capable of confirm this but. As a bonus, this efficiency uplift comes with no extra value to temperatures or stability.

There’s an simple benchmarking enhance for my Pixel 10 Professional XL between launch and QPR2. Nevertheless, it seems that a lot of the efficiency enhancements have been already in place earlier than the newest replace was launched. Nonetheless, the arrival of QPR2 could have prompted a number of extra individuals to smash that replace button and at last profit from the positive aspects Google launched somewhat earlier (in all probability within the November patch).

That mentioned, any CPU and system enhancements seem to primarily consequence from ironing out earlier inconsistencies, however the GPU positive aspects appear somewhat extra promising. In any case, this modest efficiency enhancement is undoubtedly the cherry on high of an already substantial Android 16 QPR2 replace.

One often-overlooked good thing about attaining higher peak efficiency is that it could actually make a extra important distinction in worst-case situations. So, whereas a 5% enhance gained’t elevate latest Pixels to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ranges, it might imply that apps really feel somewhat smoother to load, and video games undergo from fewer janks, which aligns with anecdotal reviews of telephones feeling extra responsive.

We’ll see if this holds true as extra customers spend time with their up to date Pixels. Within the meantime, my subsequent step is to examine whether or not Android 16 QPR2 lastly addresses the Pixel 10’s dire emulation performance in comparison with its predecessor — or if we’ll nonetheless have to attend and hope {that a} future driver replace will make the Tensor G5 really feel extra like a real improve reasonably than a sidegrade.