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This time around, we’re comparing the Google Pixel 6 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro. These two handsets are the best Google and OnePlus have to offer. They are big, powerful, and not cheap. They are quite different, though, in so many ways. So, opting for one or the other will depend entirely on your preferences. If you don’t like big smartphones, and are not willing to spend quite a bit of cash to get a phone, you can move along. If you do, however, read on.
First, we’ll list the spec sheets of these two smartphones, as per usual. Then we’ll move to the design, display, performance, battery, camera, and audio sections of the comparison. As already mentioned, these two phones are quite different, so this will be interesting. That being said, let’s kick off the Google Pixel 6 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro comparison, shall we.
Specs
| Google Pixel 6 Pro | OnePlus 9 Pro | |
| Screen size | 6.71-inch QHD+ AMOLED curved display (120Hz refresh rate, LTPO) | 6.7-inch WQHD+ AMOLED LTPO curved display (120Hz adaptive refresh rate) |
| Screen resolution | 3120 x 1440 | 3216 x 1440 |
| SoC | Google Tensor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 12GB LPDDR5 | 8GB/12GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1); non-expandable |
| Rear cameras | 50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 26mm lens, omnidirectional PDAF, OIS, Laser AF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 114-degree FoV) 48MP (f/3.5 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, OIS, PDAF, 114-degree FoV, 4x optical zoom) |
48MP (Sony IMX789, f/1.8 aperture, 7P lens, OIS, EIS, 1.12um pixel size 48MP images, 2.24um pixel size 12MP images (4-in-1 binning), 23mm focal length) 50MP (ultra-wide, f/2.2 aperture, Freeform Lens, 7P lens, Sony IMX766) 8MP (telephoto, 1.0um pixel size, f/2.4 aperture) 2MP (monochrome) |
| Front cameras | 11.1MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, 20mm lens) | 16MP (Sony IMX471, 1.0um pixel size, EIS, Fixed Focus, f/2.4 aperture) |
| Battery | 5,003mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging, 23W wireless charging | 4,500mAh, non-removable, 65W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7mm |
| Weight | 210 grams | 197 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 11 OxygenOS |
| Price | $899 | $969 / $1,069 |
| Buy | OnePlus |
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Design
Both of these phones are quite large, and made out of metal and glass. They do feel somewhat different in the hand, and they also look different. The Pixel 6 Pro has a more squarish design, and its display camera hole sits in a different place as well. The back side looks completely different in comparison. The Pixel 6 Pro has a camera strip that goes all the way from one side to the other. The OnePlus 9 Pro has a more regular camera island on the back.
Both phones are curved towards the sides, on the back, and they also include curved displays. Both devices are quite slippery, so using a case with both of them is highly recommended. They are almost equal in terms of height, though the Pixel 6 Pro is noticeably wider. They’re almost the same when it comes to thickness. The Pixel 6 Pro is also a bit heavier than the OnePlus 9 Pro.
It is also worth noting that both devices are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. The Pixel 6 Pro has Gorilla Glass Victus on the back, while the OnePlus 9 Pro includes Gorilla Glass 5. Both phones have aluminum frames, by the way. Despite what some sources have been claiming, the Pixel 6 Pro does not have a stainless steel frame. They both feel premium in the hand, and it’s up to you to choose the one that fits you more.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Display
The Google Pixel 6 Pro features a 6.71-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED display. This display is curved, and it does support HDR10+ content. This is an LTPO display with a 120Hz refresh rate, by the way, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus. We’re looking at a 19.5:9 display aspect ratio here, in case you were wondering.
The OnePlus 9 Pro, on the other hand, includes a 6.7-inch QHD+ (3216 x 1440) LTPO Fluid AMOLED 2 display. This display can project 1 billion colors, and it also offers a 120Hz refresh rate. It does support HDR10+ content, and it gets quite bright at 1,300 nits of peak brightness. This panel is protected by the Gorilla Glass 5, though, not Gorilla Glass Victus, though that’s a difference you won’t notice. This display is curved as well.
Both of these displays are excellent, to say the least. They are bright, vivid, and have great viewing angles. Thanks to their refresh rates, scrolling is immensely smooth, while they are also saving battery as these are LTPO panels. There’s really not much to complain about these panels, in fact, I don’t have a single complaint. They even look great side-by-side, only slightly different, which is barely noticeable. These are some of the best displays out there.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Performance
When it comes to performance, both of these smartphones shine. The Pixel 6 Pro is equipped with Google’s new Tensor SoC, while the OnePlus 9 Pro includes the Snapdragon 888 processor. Both of those chips are immensely powerful, and amongst the best in the market. Those chips are paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 flash storage on both devices. That, in collaboration with well-optimized software, brings great performance to the table.
Both of these smartphones perform great in both everyday tasks, and some more SoC-hungry tasks. They open and close apps extremely fast, and the same goes for multitasking, browsing, consuming multimedia, and so on. Gaming is also great on both phones, though do note that the Pixel 6 Pro does get a bit warmer overall, that goes for both regular use and gaming. That could change via updates, but for now, that’s the case. Do note that it doesn’t get too warm, though.
We can’t really say one is faster than the other, as they’re pretty even across the board when it comes to performance. One thing worth noting is that the OnePlus 9 Pro’s in-display fingerprint scanner does perform better, though. It’s noticeably faster than the one on the Pixel 6 Pro, and it will have a higher accuracy rate. In other words, it will misread your fingerprint less often than the Pixel 6 Pro.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Battery
The battery life is really great on the Pixel 6 Pro, while the OnePlus 9 Pro is also an all-day smartphone, that’s for sure. The OnePlus 9 Pro did have a rather odd battery life pattern at first, but that was fixed via updates. The Pixel 6 Pro does vary quite a bit for people, it seems. After a week or two, though, the phone does get a lot better with battery life. We had great battery life from the get-go, to be quite honest.
The Pixel 6 Pro crossed the 7-hour screen-on-mark for us (over a 24-hour period), while the OnePlus 9 Pro can go over 6-6.5 hours (since last full charge) without a problem as well. Do note that your mileage may vary, of course, as we use our phones differently, and our locations are different as well, so… you may get considerably different results. What is worth noting, though is that the Pixel 6 Pro comes with a 5,003mAh battery, while the OnePlus 9 Pro includes a 4,500mAh unit.
The Pixel 6 Pro offers 30W charging, kind of. The phone goes up to 22W at the most, despite what you may think, and it takes about 2 hours to fully charge. Google slows down its charging considerably after it crossed the 50-percent mark. The OnePlus 9 Pro charges way faster thanks to its 65W wired charging. The Pixel 6 Pro also supports 23W wireless charging, while the OnePlus 9 Pro offers 50W wireless charging. The Pixel 6 Pro also supports reverse wireless charging.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Cameras
The OnePlus 9 Pro launched with Hasselblad optics, after the two companies partnered up. The thing is, it was pretty underwhelming at first, but OnePlus did improve the camera setup quite considerably since launch. The colors that the phone provides in images are excellent, while images during daytime are detailed, and well-balanced. The dynamic range is good. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, delivers extremely sharp images, with excellent dynamic range, and plenty of detail. The phone boosts HDR and puts some extra sharpening on images, to make them pop out, and that’s what people seem to love.
In low light, the Pixel 6 Pro does a better job. Don’t get me wrong, the OnePlus 9 Pro is really, really good in low light, but it cannot compare. The Pixel 6 Pro pulls a lot more light from the shadows, and keeps more details than the OnePlus 9 Pro. If we compare ultrawide cameras, then the results are a bit closer in comparison, but the Pixel 6 Pro is the overall nighttime winner. Videos coming from the Pixel 6 Pro are also slightly better stabilized, while quality is excellent on both smartphones.
Audio
Both of these phones come with a pair of stereo speakers, and the speakers on both are excellent. They’re not the best in the business, but they get the job done, and offer that stereo sound you’re looking for. They do get plenty loud, and audio separation is good.
A 3.5mm headphone jack, on the other hand, is not present on either of the two devices. You can connect your headphones either via Bluetooth, or use the Type-C USB port at the bottom, though you’ll need a dongle for that. Overall, though, audio is really, really good on both smartphones, and if you’re not an audiophile, you won’t have much to complain about here, both phones deliver what is expected of them.