Google Pixel 4 vs OnePlus 8T+ 5G: A Detailed Comparison for 2024

The Google Pixel 4, while an older flagship, remains a compelling option due to its clean software and excellent camera. The OnePlus 8T+ 5G, released later, offers a more modern chipset and significantly faster charging. This comparison dissects these two devices to determine which provides the best experience for today's user, considering their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users in 2024, the OnePlus 8T+ 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the Pixel 4’s Snapdragon 855, and the 65W charging is a game-changer. While the Pixel 4’s camera is excellent, the 8T+ 5G offers a more well-rounded package.

PHONES
Phone Names Google Pixel 4 OnePlus 8T+ 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands-2, 25, 41, 66, 71 Sub6/mmWave
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA-
Launch
Announced2019, October 152020, October 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2019, October 22Available. Released 2020, October 16
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions147.1 x 68.8 x 8.2 mm (5.79 x 2.71 x 0.32 in)160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 2.92 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIMNano-SIM
Weight162 g (5.71 oz)-
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~444 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size5.7 inches, 80.7 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, 90Hz, HDRFluid AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13Android 11, OxygenOS 11
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1-
Main Camera
Dual12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (market dependant)
Battery
Charging18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless65W wired, 100% in 39 min
TypeLi-Po 2800 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsClearly White, Just Black, Oh So OrangeAquamarine Green, Lunar Silver
ModelsG020M, G020I, GA01188-US, GA01187-US, GA01189-US, GA01191-US, GA01189-USKB2007
PriceAbout 200 EURAbout 640 EUR
Tests
Audio quality Noise -71.5dB / Crosstalk -69.8dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 62h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker Voice 79dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 83dB -
Performance AnTuTu: 395351 (v8) GeekBench: 2542 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Google Pixel 4

  • Compact and pocketable design
  • Excellent camera with Google’s computational photography
  • Clean and bloatware-free Android experience

  • Older Snapdragon 855 chipset
  • Slow 18W charging
  • Limited battery life compared to newer phones

OnePlus 8T+ 5G

  • Powerful Snapdragon 865 5G chipset
  • Incredibly fast 65W charging
  • Modern feature set and 5G connectivity

  • Larger form factor
  • OxygenOS may include some bloatware
  • Camera may not match Pixel 4’s computational photography in all scenarios

Display Comparison

The Pixel 4 features a display capable of 423 nits of peak brightness, which is adequate but falls short of modern standards. The OnePlus 8T+ 5G’s display specifications aren’t provided, but OnePlus typically prioritizes vibrant, high-refresh-rate panels. The Pixel 4’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a strong OLED panel, but without knowing the 8T+ 5G’s panel type, a direct comparison is difficult. The 8T+ 5G likely benefits from a higher refresh rate, contributing to smoother scrolling and animations, a feature absent on the Pixel 4.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are described as having capable photo and video capabilities. However, without specific sensor details, a precise comparison is challenging. The Pixel 4 is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s software algorithms to produce stunning images, particularly in low light. The OnePlus 8T+ 5G likely relies more on hardware, but its newer processor allows for faster image processing. The absence of details regarding OIS or lens apertures makes it difficult to assess the 8T+ 5G’s low-light performance relative to the Pixel 4.

Performance

The OnePlus 8T+ 5G’s Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+) represents a significant leap over the Pixel 4’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 865 boasts a newer CPU architecture (Cortex-A77 vs Kryo 485) and a more powerful GPU, resulting in faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. While both chips share an octa-core configuration with a similar peak clock speed (2.84 GHz), the architectural improvements in the 865 translate to real-world gains. The 8T+ 5G’s 5G modem is another advantage, offering faster cellular data speeds where available.

Battery Life

The Pixel 4’s endurance rating of 62 hours suggests a moderate battery life, but this is based on older testing methodologies. The OnePlus 8T+ 5G’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 65W wired charging – capable of a full charge in just 39 minutes – is a massive advantage. The Pixel 4’s 18W charging with PD2.0 is comparatively slow. While the Pixel 4 might offer slightly better standby time due to its software optimizations, the 8T+ 5G’s rapid charging mitigates any concerns about battery drain.

Buying Guide

Buy the Google Pixel 4 if you prioritize a compact form factor, Google’s pure Android experience, and a consistently excellent camera, and are willing to accept older hardware and slower charging. Buy the OnePlus 8T+ 5G if you value performance, incredibly fast charging, and a more modern feature set, even if it means sacrificing the Pixel’s smaller size and software simplicity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 855 in the Pixel 4 still hold up for gaming in 2024?
While the Snapdragon 855 is still capable of running most games, it will struggle with the most demanding titles at maximum settings. You may experience frame drops and longer loading times compared to the Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8T+ 5G, which offers a more consistent and smoother gaming experience.
❓ How much does the faster charging of the OnePlus 8T+ 5G actually improve the user experience?
The 65W charging on the OnePlus 8T+ 5G is a game-changer. Being able to go from 0% to 100% in under 40 minutes eliminates range anxiety and allows you to quickly top up your battery during short breaks. The Pixel 4’s 18W charging, in contrast, takes significantly longer, requiring overnight charging for a full refill.
❓ Is the Pixel 4’s camera still competitive with newer phones like the OnePlus 8T+ 5G?
The Pixel 4’s camera remains excellent, particularly for still photography in challenging lighting conditions. However, the OnePlus 8T+ 5G’s newer processor allows for faster image processing and potentially better video recording capabilities. The Pixel 4’s strength lies in its software, but the 8T+ 5G offers a more versatile camera system overall.