Google’s Android 16 QPR2 update for the Pixel 10 Pro lineup brings real but understated performance gains, all based on fresh benchmark testing from launch through the December 2025 update.
According to Android Authority hardware tester and data scientist Robert Triggs, who benchmarked his own Pixel 10 at launch and after the update, CPU performance has improved slightly since the Pixel 10 Pro XL went on sale. GeekBench 6 shows single-core performance rising 2%, close to the error margin, while multi-core scores climb roughly 5% across multiple test runs.
These changes are good, but here’s the best one. PCMark’s Work 3.0 test paints a different picture, with a 19.6% boost in real-world usage scenarios. This means the Tensor G5 chip can hit its peak speeds more reliably than before.
In the other tests:
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GPU tests show a moderate average improvement of 6%.
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3DMark Wild Life stress test performance increased by nearly 5%.
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3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test performance rose by about 7% when using the Vulkan API.
Users also report that games and emulators run more smoothly after the QPR2 update, with fewer stutters and frame drops.
It’s important to note that Google has not yet released a new Pixel GPU driver, so these improvements are coming from OS-level changes. The update introduces no new heat or stability issues; temperatures and battery life remain steady, Android Authority reports.
Gaming performance, while improved, still ranks as average compared with top-tier Snapdragon and Apple chips. The real win is more reliable performance during everyday use.