OnePlus Turbo vs. Google Pixel 7a: A Head-to-Head Comparison of Power and Polish
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing peak performance and rapid charging, the OnePlus Turbo is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 offers a substantial performance advantage. However, the Google Pixel 7a remains a strong contender for those valuing camera quality, software experience, and a more balanced overall package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Turbo | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 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 bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Rumored | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | - | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | - | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1272 x 2800 pixels (~459 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 109.1 cm2 | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 16, ColorOS 16 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | Up to 512GB | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 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 |
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 23mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired Bypass charging | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 8000 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black; other colors | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | - | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | - | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
OnePlus Turbo
- Blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance
- Ultra-fast 100W wired charging
- Potential for superior display technology (LTPO)
- Camera performance is unknown
- Software experience may not be as refined as Pixel
Google Pixel 7a
- Exceptional camera quality and image processing
- Clean and intuitive Google software experience
- Solid battery life and endurance
- Slower charging speeds (18W wired)
- Less powerful processor compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7a boasts a measured peak brightness of 1070 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the OnePlus Turbo’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to expect a comparable, if not superior, brightness level given its flagship-leaning positioning. The Pixel 7a’s display technology is standard OLED, while the Turbo’s panel details are unknown; the inclusion of LTPO on the Turbo would be a significant advantage for adaptive refresh rates and power efficiency. Bezels are likely similar between the two, and color accuracy is expected to be strong on both, though the Pixel benefits from Google’s color calibration expertise.
Camera Comparison
The Google Pixel 7a is renowned for its computational photography capabilities. While specific sensor details aren’t provided, Google’s image processing algorithms consistently deliver excellent dynamic range, accurate colors, and impressive low-light performance. The OnePlus Turbo’s camera specifications are not detailed, making a direct comparison difficult. However, the Pixel 7a’s strength lies in its software, leveraging the Tensor G2’s image signal processor (ISP) for features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. The Pixel 7a excels in both photo and video, while the Turbo’s camera performance remains an unknown quantity. We can assume the Turbo will have a capable camera, but it’s unlikely to match the Pixel’s software-driven advantages.
Performance
The OnePlus Turbo’s Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) is the star here. Its octa-core CPU, featuring 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M cores, promises a significant leap in performance over the Pixel 7a’s Google Tensor G2 (5nm). The Tensor G2, with its 2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, is no slouch, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s newer architecture and 3nm process node translate to superior efficiency and sustained performance. The Turbo’s likely use of LPDDR5x RAM further enhances its memory bandwidth, crucial for gaming and demanding applications. Thermal management will be key; the Turbo’s more powerful chipset will require effective cooling to prevent throttling.
Battery Life
The Pixel 7a boasts an endurance rating of 76 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the OnePlus Turbo’s 100W wired charging is a game-changer. While the Pixel 7a offers a comparatively slow 18W wired charging (PD3.0) and 7.5W wireless charging, the Turbo can likely achieve a full charge in under 30 minutes. This difference in charging speed significantly impacts usability, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery. The Turbo’s battery capacity is unknown, but the faster charging mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Turbo if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding games, multitasking, or content creation, and if 100W charging is a must-have. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you prioritize a consistently excellent camera experience, a clean and intuitive software interface with guaranteed updates, and a more refined, all-around user experience, even if it means sacrificing some raw speed.