Google responded: in order to avoid leaking hardware information, blocking the running software before launching Pixel 8 / Pro phones

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizen Alejandro86 for the clue delivery! CTOnews.com October 25, Google recently issued a statement to 9to5Google, saying that in order to prevent the disclosure of relevant hardware information, Google deliberately blocked mainstream benchmark applications on pre-released Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro phones.

The CTOnews.com translation statement reads as follows:

As in previous years, we blocked related benchmark applications during the pre-release phase of Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones to avoid benchmark testing and device specification disclosure.

After the launch of Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones, the restrictions have been lifted. If the reviewer wants to test the performance in advance, it can be installed and run by side loading.

CTOnews.com has previously reported that Google has taken extraordinary measures against Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro to prevent reviewers from downloading popular benchmarking tools, including Geekbench and 3D Mark, directly through its Play Store. In addition, the company extended the blockade to all new users after the release of Pixel 8 phones in an attempt to suppress the spread of score-running results.

Google stresses that the Tensor G3 chip is designed for efficiency and artificial intelligence, rather than simply pursuing performance, which shows that the company is well aware of the relative shortcomings of the chip in terms of performance. Although some reviewers have been prevented from installing these testing software through the Google App Store, some reviewers have been able to bypass this limitation through "side loading". As a result, the results of the Tensor G3 chip on Geekbench, 3DMark and other test software have been exposed, and these results show that its performance is very mediocre.