Android GPU Inspector: Open Beta Release
Article Summary
Jay Kong from Google's Gaming and Graphics team just opened the beta for Android GPU Inspector, and early results are impressive. Diablo Immortal cut vertex bandwidth by 45%, while Crash Bandicoot slashed frame times from 16ms to 8ms.
Android GPU Inspector (AGI) is Google's new graphics profiling tool that lets developers peer inside Android device GPUs to find performance bottlenecks. After a limited preview with major game studios, it's now available in open beta for Pixel 4 devices running Android 11.
Key Takeaways
- Shows GPU timeline with hardware counters and Vulkan activity information
- Crash Bandicoot improved GPU frame time from 11-16ms to stable 8ms
- World War Doh reduced GPU frametime by 45% using AGI insights
- Currently supports Pixel 4/4XL, more devices coming via OEM partnerships
Even with single-device support, AGI delivered measurable performance wins for major mobile games by exposing GPU-level bottlenecks previously hidden from developers.
About This Article
Android GPU Inspector needed updated firmware and video drivers to work properly. This limited support to just Pixel 4 and 4XL devices running Android 11 at launch, even though developers across the Android ecosystem wanted access.
Google worked with device manufacturers and SoC vendors to add support for more devices beyond the initial Pixel phones. This created a path for broader hardware compatibility while still proving the tool's value with limited device support.
The tool made it possible to create texture optimization tutorials and Medium documentation that developers can use as reference material. AGI's open beta launched on gpuinspector.dev with setup instructions and release notes, helping the gaming industry adopt it faster.