Google's Tensor chipset, which will debut in the Google Pixel 6 series, may not be as underperforming as rumors have led us to believe. Benchmarks of the new Pixel 6 Pro have been posted on Geekbench, and the news is quite good.

In fact, the benchmark results show single-core scores that are not far behind Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 chipset and the Exynos 2100 found in Samsung's non-US model of the Galaxy S21.

In previous benchmarks, the Tensor chip's single-core score was 414 and its multi-core performance was 2,074, not very good. The Snapdragon 888, on the other hand, typically scores 1,000 and 3,500 in the same tests.

The recent single-core score rose to 1,034 points, just 8% ahead of the Snapdragon 888's average score of 1,121 points and 3% ahead of the Exynos 2100's 1,070 points. Sadly, while multicore scores improved, the difference is not as great: the Tensor chip's score of 2,756 points is 23% behind the Exynos' average of 3,392 points and 31% behind the Snapdragon 888's 3,599 points.

At least for now, the iPhone 13 with the A15 Bionic chip reigns supreme. In our iPhone 13 review, Apple's flagship phone scored 1,684 and 4,129 in single-core and multi-core tests.

But as we noted the last time benchmark scores leaked, there's no need to worry just yet. The Pixel 6 Pro tested this time is still running pre-release software, and there will no doubt be a number of updates and tweaks to that software between now and when it is released.

Samsung's Galaxy S21 FE is another great example of this behavior, with steadily improving numbers since it first appeared on Geekbench in May. Whether the phone will actually be released, however, is still up for debate.

It is good to hear that Tensor scores are improving as well. After all, one of the main advantages of producing chips in-house is that they can manufacture them specifically to work well with Google Pixel hardware, rather than trying to adapt Qualcomm's chips for the same purpose.

In theory, this should lead to better overall performance, just as Apple's A-series chips regularly outperform their competitors. And it's all because of the closer relationship between the chipset and the phone's software.

Tensor is also reportedly focused on AI and machine learning, in which Google has invested a lot over the past few years. This means that it is likely to offer significantly more powerful machine learning capabilities and upgraded computational photography than previous phones.

It may deserve a slight dip in performance compared to other phones

but for now we will have to wait and see what happens when Google actually puts the phone in our hands. Current rumors have the Pixel 6 scheduled for release by the end of the month, with a launch date of October 19. In other words, we don't have to hold out that long.