Google Pixel 6 vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Android Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera quality, software experience, and long-term software support, the Google Pixel 6 emerges as the winner. While the OnePlus 9 Pro boasts faster charging and a brighter display, the Pixel 6’s Tensor chip delivers unique features and a superior photographic experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 6 | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GB7N6, G9S9B16 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G9S9B | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GB7N6 | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 19 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 28 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 207 g (7.30 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP20 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm | - |
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired (based on 30W charger), PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 21W wireless Reverse wireless | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4614 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral, Stormy Black | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | GB7N6, G9S9B16, G9S9B, GR1YH | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | $ 172.48 / C$ 238.84 / £ 169.99 / € 191.89 / ₹ 23,719 | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 86h | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -26.9 LUFS (Good) | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 676831 (v9) GeekBench: 2899 (v5.1) GFXBench: 57fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Google Pixel 6
- Superior AI-powered features with the Tensor chip
- Exceptional camera image processing and software features
- Guaranteed long-term software updates from Google
- Slower charging speeds compared to OnePlus 9 Pro
- Display brightness may be lower in direct sunlight
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Blazing-fast 65W wired charging
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Customizable OxygenOS interface
- Snapdragon 888 can run hotter under load
- Potentially shorter software support lifecycle compared to Pixel
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display boasts a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Pixel 6, which lacks a specified peak brightness but relies on an 'infinite' contrast ratio. While the Pixel 6’s contrast ratio suggests excellent black levels, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor users. Both displays likely utilize high refresh rates, though not explicitly stated, and are expected to deliver smooth scrolling and animations. The lack of LTPO specification on either device suggests they may not dynamically adjust refresh rates as efficiently as newer panels.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but their approaches differ. The Pixel 6 leverages Google’s computational photography expertise, focusing on image processing to deliver consistently excellent results. The OnePlus 9 Pro, developed in partnership with Hasselblad, aims for more natural color reproduction. While both are capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos, the Pixel 6’s Tensor chip enables features like Magic Eraser and Motion Mode, providing unique creative options. The absence of detailed sensor information in the provided data makes a direct comparison difficult, but Google’s history suggests a focus on software optimization to overcome hardware limitations.
Performance
Both the Pixel 6 and OnePlus 9 Pro utilize an octa-core CPU configuration with a Cortex-X1 prime core, but differ significantly in their underlying chipsets. The Pixel 6’s Google Tensor (5nm) is designed for machine learning tasks, accelerating features like voice recognition and image processing. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) prioritizes raw CPU and GPU performance. While both chips are built on a 5nm process, the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat under sustained load, potentially leading to thermal throttling. The Pixel 6’s Tensor chip, while not necessarily faster in traditional benchmarks, excels in AI-related tasks, offering a different kind of performance advantage.
Battery Life
Both the Pixel 6 and OnePlus 9 Pro share an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, their charging capabilities differ dramatically. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W wired charging can fully charge the battery in just 29 minutes, a significant advantage over the Pixel 6’s 30W charging (50% in 30 minutes). The OnePlus 9 Pro also offers faster wireless charging at 50W (100% in 43 minutes) compared to the Pixel 6’s 21W. Both phones support reverse wireless charging, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 5W output is less powerful than the Pixel 6’s.
Buying Guide
Buy the Google Pixel 6 if you need a phone with exceptional camera capabilities, a clean and constantly updated Android experience, and innovative AI features like Magic Eraser. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize blazing-fast charging, a vibrant and bright display for outdoor use, and a more customizable OxygenOS interface, and are comfortable with a potentially shorter software support lifecycle.