OnePlus 7 Pro 5G vs Google Pixel 7a: A Detailed Showdown

The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G was a flagship powerhouse when it launched, boasting a stunning display and blazing-fast performance. Now, the Google Pixel 7a offers a compelling alternative with its renowned camera and Google's signature software experience. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone reigns supreme.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Pixel 7a wins overall thanks to its superior camera, smoother software experience, and modern features. While the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G still offers solid performance, its age shows in areas like charging speed and software updates. It's a great value if you find it heavily discounted.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus 7 Pro 5G Google Pixel 7a
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ
5G bands41 NSA/Sub6/mmWave1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8
Launch
Announced2019, May 14. Released 2019, September 062023, May 10
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, May 10
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight206 g (7.27 oz)193.5 g (6.84 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+OLED, HDR, 90Hz
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, OxygenOS 10.0.4Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual-64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Triple48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 78mm (telephoto), 3x zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS, no video rec. with ultrawide camera4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
SingleMotorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging30W wired18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4385 mAh
Misc
ColorsMirror Grey, Almond, Nebula BlueCharcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
ModelsGM1925GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
PriceAbout 800 EUR€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980

OnePlus 7 Pro 5G

  • Large, vibrant display
  • Fast charging (30W)
  • Powerful Snapdragon 855
  • Smooth 120Hz refresh rate

  • Older software support
  • Slower charging compared to modern phones
  • Camera not as good as Pixel 7a
  • Battery life degradation likely

Google Pixel 7a

  • Excellent camera quality
  • Clean Android experience
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Wireless charging
  • Bright display

  • Slower wired charging (18W)
  • Smaller screen size
  • Tensor G2 can throttle under sustained load

Display Comparison

The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G features a 6.67-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Pixel 7a has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a measured peak brightness of 1070 nits, making it excellent for outdoor visibility. While the OnePlus has a larger screen, the Pixel 7a's brightness gives it an edge in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 7a's camera is a major highlight, consistently delivering excellent image quality with Google's computational photography prowess. It excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G has a triple-lens camera system, but its image processing isn't as refined as the Pixel's. The Pixel 7a wins hands down in camera quality.

Performance

The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G's Snapdragon 855 is still a capable performer, but the Pixel 7a's Google Tensor G2 chipset offers a more modern architecture and improved AI capabilities. The Tensor G2 handles demanding tasks and machine learning tasks with greater efficiency. The 7 Pro 5G's CPU is powerful, but the Pixel 7a's chip is generally faster and more responsive.

Battery Life

The Pixel 7a boasts an impressive endurance rating of 76 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G has a 4085mAh battery, which was good for its time, but battery life has degraded over time. The Pixel 7a's battery life is significantly better.

Buying Guide

Buy the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G if you prioritize a large, vibrant display and raw processing power and can find it at a significantly reduced price. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you want a fantastic camera, clean Android experience, guaranteed software updates, and modern features like wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G still worth buying?
It can be a good value if you find it at a significantly reduced price and don't need the latest features or software updates. However, be aware of its age and potential battery degradation.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Google Pixel 7a has significantly better software support, with guaranteed updates for several years. The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G's software support has largely ended.