OnePlus 9 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 6 Pro emerges as the better choice. Its superior image processing, coupled with Google’s software support, outweighs the OnePlus 9 Pro’s faster charging. However, users prioritizing peak gaming performance and incredibly rapid charging will still find value in the OnePlus.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus 9 Pro | Google Pixel 6 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU | 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 - GLUOG, G8VOU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU | 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 - G8VOU |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 23 | 2021, October 19 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 30 | Available. Released 2021, October 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) | 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 197 g (6.95 oz) | 210 g (7.41 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 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-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 | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| 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 (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless | 23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 5003 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black | Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black |
| Models | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 | GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ |
| Price | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 | € 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 86h | Endurance rating 84h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Incredibly fast 65W wired charging
- Strong gaming performance with Snapdragon 888
- Generally more affordable now
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
- OxygenOS is less unique than Pixel's software
Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Exceptional camera with Google’s computational photography
- Clean and intuitive Android experience with guaranteed updates
- Unique AI-powered features
- Significantly slower charging speeds
- Tensor chip isn't as powerful as Snapdragon 888 in raw performance
Display Comparison
Both the OnePlus 9 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro feature excellent displays, but subtle differences exist. The OnePlus 9 Pro achieves a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, slightly edging out the Pixel 6 Pro’s 846 nits. While the difference is minimal in most scenarios, the OnePlus will be marginally more visible in direct sunlight. Both displays offer smooth scrolling thanks to their high refresh rates, though neither specification was provided. The Pixel 6 Pro boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, while the OnePlus 9 Pro’s contrast ratio is not specified, but is expected to be similarly high. The Pixel 6 Pro’s curved display edges may appeal to some, while others may prefer the flatter screen of the OnePlus 9 Pro.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is its standout feature. While both phones offer capable photography, Google’s computational photography prowess gives the Pixel a significant edge. The Pixel 6 Pro leverages the Tensor chip’s AI capabilities to deliver exceptional dynamic range, accurate colors, and impressive low-light performance. Details regarding sensor sizes and apertures are missing, but the Pixel’s image processing consistently produces more natural-looking and detailed images. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera is still excellent, particularly for video recording, but it relies more on hardware than software to achieve its results. The absence of detailed camera specs for both phones makes a precise comparison difficult, but the Pixel’s software advantage is undeniable.
Performance
The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 9 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-X1 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Pixel 6 Pro, however, is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor chip (5nm). While the Tensor has two Cortex-X1 cores clocked at 2.80 GHz, its architecture prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks. In synthetic benchmarks, the Snapdragon 888 generally demonstrates higher raw CPU and GPU performance. However, the Tensor excels in tasks like image processing and voice recognition. Both phones feature ample RAM, though the specific amount isn't provided, ensuring smooth multitasking. The Snapdragon 888’s thermal management is a known concern, potentially leading to throttling under sustained load, a factor the Tensor’s design aims to mitigate.
Battery Life
Battery endurance is relatively close between the two devices, with the OnePlus 9 Pro achieving an 86-hour endurance rating and the Pixel 6 Pro scoring 84 hours. However, the charging experience is where they diverge dramatically. The OnePlus 9 Pro supports a blistering 65W wired charging, reaching 100% in just 29 minutes. It also offers 50W wireless charging (43 minutes to full) and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Pixel 6 Pro, in contrast, is limited to 23W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes) and 23W wireless charging. While the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery life is respectable, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s charging speed is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you need the absolute fastest charging speeds available, consistently high frame rates in demanding games, and a more 'traditional' Android experience. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prefer a camera that excels in challenging conditions, a clean and intuitive software experience with guaranteed updates, and a focus on AI-powered features.