Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Google Confirms Pixel 10 GPU Driver Updates Are Coming

The phones shipped with outdated PowerVR firmware, with newer Imagination drivers available for Google to deploy.

Overview

  • Google says future monthly and quarterly Pixel 10 updates will include GPU driver improvements, noting September and October patches already made changes.
  • Pixel 10 uses Imagination’s PowerVR IMG DXT-48-1536 GPU but launched on driver v24.3, which lacks proper Android 16 support.
  • Imagination has released newer drivers, including v25.1 and v25.2 with Android 16 and Vulkan 1.4 support, that Google could roll out.
  • Benchmarks and user reports cite underperforming graphics, game glitches such as with Genshin Impact, and thermal throttling on Tensor G5 devices.
  • Outlets indicate the first substantial driver upgrade may arrive in an upcoming patch, though Google has not provided a timeline or promised specific gains.