Pixel 12's Tensor G7 faces make-or-break moment as Pixel 11 Pro problems pile up

Android Authority's testing of the Tensor G6 shows that Google's custom silicon continues to fall behind rival flagship chips, especially in graphics performance. Early gaming tests on the Pixel 11 Pro reportedly reveal a familiar list of issues, and a week with the phone suggests many of Google's newest AI tricks are not strong enough to compensate. The publication argues that while Google does not need to build the fastest smartphone chip, the Tensor G7 must narrow the gaps in performance, efficiency, and AI hardware to prevent Pixel buyers from sacrificing long-term value.

One of the most obvious areas for improvement is the GPU. Android Authority's benchmarks show that competing chips offer more than twice the peak graphics performance in some tests. The Pixel 11 Pro may not feel twice as slow in daily use, but it struggles to play the latest games and leaves no headroom for future titles over the promised seven years of software updates. Google's choice of graphics components has also affected driver stability and game support. The publication suggests that Google may need to revisit its GPU partnership with Arm or adopt newer PowerVR parts.

Beyond raw performance, the Tensor G7 needs a significant upgrade to its TPU to make Google's AI ambitions truly useful. The article notes that Tensor's TPU gains with the G6 are meaningful, but the AI features on the Pixel 11 Pro are not yet strong enough to offset the performance lag. Google's AI hardware must provide a foundation for features that people actually want to use.

In a separate report, Android Authority details how a Pixel 11 Pro became a brick just five days after the author received it. After a factory reset, the phone entered a shutdown loop, turning off every few seconds during setup. The author tried safe mode, a recovery-mode OTA sideload, and ADB-based fixes, but none helped. The phone displayed an overheating message even in an air-conditioned room at about 18 degrees Celsius. Online communities show multiple Pixel 11 owners reporting unexpected shutdowns and setup problems, suggesting it is not an isolated incident. Google appears to be offering easy device swaps to some affected customers, the publication says.

Another Android Authority piece highlights that the Pixel 11 Pro's camera flash is significantly weaker than that of older Pixels and competitors. Reddit users have called it the weakest among phones they tested, ranking below the Pixel 9 Pro and the iPhone 17e. Preliminary testing by Android Authority measured the torch mode at 89 lux on the Pixel 11 Pro XL, compared to 123 lux on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The likely cause is a physical diffuser added for the new HiLight LED array, which also has severely limited functionality in Google's software.

The experimental Gemini Device Help feature is now appearing on Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro units. Android Authority's testing found it can diagnose battery and Wi-Fi issues, open settings, and change system preferences, but it is still a Labs feature and can get things wrong. In one test, it produced inconsistent instructions for the Magic Capture feature, so it is not completely reliable yet.

Meanwhile, Google has confirmed a fix for a bug that stopped some Google Home devices from setting alarms via voice command. The issue affected both Google Assistant and Gemini for Home on Nest speakers, displays, and third-party devices like Lenovo smart displays. According to Android Authority, alarms are now setting and triggering correctly again after several days of reports and odd workarounds.