Google Tensor G3 and Apple A15 Bionic power phones from different generations and platforms: Tensor G3 is in Google’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, while the A15 configuration detailed here is in Apple’s iPhone 13. The available specifications show different levels of detail, and public Geekbench results are user-submitted device scores—not a controlled, matched test of the chips. They do not establish a universal performance winner.
Which phones use Tensor G3 and A15 Bionic?
Google announced Tensor G3 for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in October 2023. Apple’s iPhone 13, introduced in 2021, uses A15 Bionic. The Apple core counts below are specifically for the base iPhone 13; they should not be assumed to describe every phone that uses an A15 variant.
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| 1 |
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Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed) | $409.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Pink - Unlocked (Renewed) | $405.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Blue - Unlocked (Renewed) | $410.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Apple iPhone 16e, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed) | $388.34 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed) | $262.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Tensor G3 vs A15 Bionic specifications
| Specification | Google Tensor G3 | Apple A15 Bionic in iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Phone configuration covered | Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro | Apple iPhone 13 |
| CPU | Google describes the chip as using the latest generation of ARM CPUs; core count and frequencies are not stated in the cited announcement. | 6 cores: 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores |
| GPU | Google says the GPU is upgraded; core count is not stated in the cited announcement. | 4 cores in the iPhone 13 configuration |
| AI and imaging components | Google describes a next-generation TPU designed for its AI models, plus a new ISP and Imaging DSP. | 16-core Neural Engine |
| Fabrication process and clock speeds | Not stated in the cited Google announcement. | Not stated in the cited Apple specification. |
| Official cross-chip benchmark score | Not stated in the cited Google announcement. | Not stated in the cited Apple specification. |
Google’s announcement emphasizes system capabilities rather than a conventional full chip specification table. It describes speech recognition and text-to-speech, computational photography, Live HDR, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser and on-device generative AI as Pixel capabilities. Those descriptions indicate Google’s product goals; they are not independent measurements of Tensor G3 performance.
Google also said that, compared with first-generation Tensor in Pixel 6, its latest phones ran more than twice as many machine-learning models on-device. The claim was made by Monika Gupta, Google’s VP of Product Management, in the October 4, 2023 announcement. It compares Tensor generations, not Tensor G3 with A15 Bionic. Google’s separate statement that on-device generative AI was “150 times more complex” than the most complex model on Pixel 7 uses Google’s own comparison framing and is not a chip benchmark.
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- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
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What do the benchmark results establish?
Geekbench publishes device pages and charts for Pixel 8 and iPhone 13. Its iOS chart is based on user-submitted results and requires at least five unique results for an included device entry; Geekbench says higher scores are better. The Pixel 8 page likewise describes results gathered from Geekbench Browser submissions. These are device-level aggregates, not laboratory measurements that isolate a processor.
A valid comparison needs the same Geekbench version and clearly identified devices, score type, software, and test conditions. A Pixel 8 result from one Geekbench generation should not be paired with an iPhone 13 result from another and presented as a head-to-head score. The public chart information does not establish matched software versions, equivalent thermal states, or a controlled cross-platform test of the two chips. Therefore, these sources do not establish that either processor is universally faster.
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- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
For current submissions and chart context, see the Geekbench Pixel 8 device page, Geekbench iOS chart, and Geekbench benchmark methodology information.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhich should you choose?
Choose between the Pixel 8 family and iPhone 13 as complete phones, not on the basis of an unmatched benchmark score. The available evidence supports a contrast in published design emphasis—Google highlights AI, speech and imaging systems, while Apple specifies A15’s CPU, GPU and Neural Engine core counts—but does not prove which phone will feel faster for a particular workload.
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- 8GB RAM, Apple A18 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), Apple GPU 4-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
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Rank #3
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
- For Google’s named AI and camera features, check whether the specific Pixel model and feature meet your needs; feature descriptions are not a substitute for a performance test.
- For a core-count comparison, Apple provides explicit iPhone 13 figures, while Google’s cited Tensor G3 announcement does not provide comparable CPU or GPU counts.
- For sustained performance, battery life or everyday responsiveness, look for testing of the exact phones under comparable conditions. The cited score pages alone cannot answer those questions.
Sources
- Google’s October 4, 2023 Tensor G3 announcement
- Apple iPhone 13 technical specifications
- Geekbench Browser Pixel 8 results
- Geekbench iOS chart and submission criteria
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