Google Pixel 7 Pro vs. OnePlus 10T: which one should you buy?

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  Source: Google

  Google Pixel 7 Pro

  Google’s Pixel 7 Pro has everything you’re looking for in a flagship smartphone. From a great screen to great cameras and an excellent software experience. Even with a starting price of $250 more than the OnePlus 10T, we think it’s the better phone for most people.

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  OnePlus 10T

  While the OnePlus 10T has incredible power and a pretty nice display, it’s hard for most people to recommend it over the Pixel 7 Pro because of its shortcomings. But if you’re looking for a gaming phone and don’t mind OxygenOS, it’s certainly not a bad phone.

The competition for the best Android phones seems to be getting tighter every year, and both Google’s and OnePlus’ annual flagships always seem to be in talks – that’s certainly the case with the Google Pixel 7 Pro and the OnePlus 10T. So which one is best for you?

While the OnePlus 10T offers plenty of power and thermal efficiency which could make it a pretty nice gaming phone for someone looking to save some money we have no doubt the Pixel 7 Pro is the better phone thanks it’s better cameras and a better Android experience.

If you compare the phones on paper and look at the specs, it’s very easy to see the similarities. The screens are similar, the primary camera looks the same and the battery size is pretty close too, but the spec sheet doesn’t tell the whole story.

Google Pixel 7 Pro vs OnePlus 10T: Pricing, Availability and Network Connectivity

The good news is here in the US: the Google Pixel 7 Pro and the OnePlus 10T are supported by all major carriers, so you don’t have to worry about switching networks to get the phone you want. That includes all 5G networks as both phones have 5G compatibility, although the Pixel 7 Pro is the only one to support both sub-6 and mmWave 5G. The OnePlus 10T only supports sub-6, so it can’t access those crazy fast speeds that mmWAve offers. Of course, that only helps if you live in an area where a reliable mmWave connection is available, so whether that matters to you probably depends on where you live.

The price point between the two phones is interesting because the OnePlus 10T is roughly $250 cheaper than the Pixel 7 Pro at first glance. The OnePlus 10T costs $650 if you opt for a version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. That’s less RAM than Google gives you with its Pro phone, which has 12GB and starts at $899. With OnePlus, of course, you can bump up to 16GB of RAM with 256GB of internal storage for just an extra $100, still making it $ 150 is cheaper than the Pixel 7 Pro. While you can’t upgrade the Pixel 7 Pro’s RAM, Google does give you the option to choose from models with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage.

Pixel 7 Pro vs OnePlus 10T: Hardware and Design

Both phones are quite large, and while they’re quite comfortable to hold, the huge 6.7-inch displays (more on that in a little bit) will make one-handed use a little awkward when you’re trying to squeeze the very edges of the screen. . Still, the metal frame on the Pixel 7 Pro feels a bit more premium than the plastic frame on the 10T, but the camera bar on the Pixel 7 Pro certainly makes the phone stand out, even if the polished metal finish is a fingerprint magnet.

We mentioned the size, but the screens on both phones produce similar results, although the screen on the Pixel 7 Pro has the edge over the 10T. The Pixel 7 Pro lets you switch between 1440p and 1080p, and we’ve found that the 1080p resolution makes text on the screen seem a bit more readable. The OnePlus 10T’s display only has the 1080p option.

Both displays can reach a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz per second, which is great for sharp scrolling and crisp gaming experiences, but the OnePlus 10T only offers 60 Hz, 90 Hz and 120 Hz, meaning it doesn’t really have an adaptive approach like the Pixel 7 Pro. Google’s phone changes the refresh rate from 10-120 Hz depending on usage; this is likely to benefit the device’s battery performance and keep the always-on screen from using too much power. And when it comes to using your phones outside in the sun, the Pixel 7 Pro has a brighter display that helps you see better.

Both the OnePlus 10T and the Pixel 7 Pro have fingerprint scanners under the screen. While they were quite reliable in our testing, the 10T’s scanner is in a frustrating position at the bottom of the screen. The Pixel 7 Pro has its scanner slightly raised from the bottom of the screen in a more natural resting place, making it more comfortable to use. Both phones also offer some Face Unlock, although we don’t really like the implementation of either, especially as the Pixel 7 Pro only seems to work in well-lit conditions.

While both phones are roughly the same size, the Pixel 7 Pro has a slightly larger battery with a capacity of 5,000 mAh. Unfortunately, the device’s battery life isn’t great. It’s not bad, and we noticed some improvement over time as the Adaptive Battery feature kicked in after a few weeks, but usually it’s just enough to get you through a day, and you’ll need it every night to upload. I wish I could tell you the OnePlus 10T was different, but it’s pretty much the same. With average use, you’ll have to plug it in every night. If you’re planning to be away from an outlet for any length of time with either phone, you’ll probably want one of the best power banks to accompany you on your journey.

Charging, however, is a bit of a different story. OnePlus is known for shipping its phones with a super-powered charger and allowing for one of the fastest chargers on the market, and the 10T is no different. With the charger included in the box, the OnePlus 10T can get to 100% battery in just 20 minutes of charging – that’s ridiculously fast. Of course there are a few drawbacks, mainly that the 10T doesn’t offer wireless charging. The Pixel 7 Pro can charge via the USB-C port and wirelessly at up to 23W when using the Pixel Stand, but it only offers up to 12W charging with other Qi-compatible wireless pads. Plus, it also offers reverse charging, meaning you can charge your favorite earbuds or other devices with your Pixel 7 Pro if needed.

For phone photographers, the Google Pixel 7 Pro outshines the OnePlus 10T in just about every way, even though both phones have 50MP as their main camera on the back array. In terms of colour, sharpness and detail, every photo on the Google Pixel 7 Pro far outperforms what OnePlus’ phone can produce. This is especially true when shooting in low-light conditions and using the ultra-wide angle lens, which has a 12MP sensor on the Pixel 7 Pro, but only an 8MP sensor on the 10T.

Then there’s the third camera, which on the Pixel 7 Pro is a 48MP telephoto lens that offers 5x optical zoom. It’s great for getting closer to your subjects without actually having to move and produces fantastic results. The OnePlus 10T offers a 2MP macro lens that serves a niche purpose – you probably won’t be using it much anyway – and it doesn’t perform as well. We just can’t recommend the OnePlus 10T if a good camera on your phone is important to you.

Google Pixel 7 Pro vs OnePlus 10T: Software and Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset powering the OnePlus 10T is powerful and offers a ton of performance, making the 10T a very good phone for heavy productivity or serious gaming. Backed by at least 8GB of RAM, it’s an impressive device to run some of the hottest games like Apex Legends Mobile, and it has the thermal efficiency to handle long sessions. Of course, this only gets better when you upgrade to the 16GB RAM available on the 10T.

Meanwhile, Google’s own Tensor G2 found on the Pixel 7 Pro might be a slight performance drop compared to the chip powering the 10T, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of power either. It’s powerful enough to handle anything, and when it comes to day-to-day tasks like browsing TikTok, checking emails, and shopping online, you probably won’t even notice the difference between the two chips. It’s not until you absolutely push the phones to their limits that you see a difference.

In terms of software support, the Pixel 7 Pro probably slightly outshines the OnePlus 10T, as it’s guaranteed to receive five years of security patches and at least three years of OS upgrades. That means if you buy a Pixel 7 Pro today, you’re probably guaranteed the latest Android features up to Android 16. The One Plus 10T is only slated for four years up to Android 15 and security patches. What’s worse is that OnePlus is notoriously slow at getting those updates out to people, which can be a little frustrating, while Google has the advantage of a more streamlined approach.

When it comes to software performance, it will mostly come down to personal taste. OnePlus’ OxygenOS is a fine take on Android, but it’s starting to look more and more like Oppo’s ColorOS lately, and that might not be to your liking. I think most people would consider the Android 13 experience on the Pixel 7 Pro to be a bit cleaner. Still, all in all, the 10T certainly contains competent software, albeit a little less customizable than previous versions.

Google Pixel 7 Pro vs. OnePlus 10T: which one should you buy?

It’s pretty easy to call the Pixel 7 Pro the winner here, though the price might be a sticking point for some. We think the Pixel 7 Pro’s better cameras, software experience, and more premium nature make it worth the extra $250, but if you’re on a strict budget, the OnePlus may be a better option. Not to mention that the OnePlus 10T is arguably one of the best Android phones for gaming if you don’t plan on spending $1,000 or more.

Still, the Pixel 7 Pro beats the OnePlus 10T in too many key areas to ignore, and we think more people will be happier with the overall experience. Plus, it’s a bit easier to recommend knowing it’ll have solid software support for years to come, something OnePlus could improve on in the future.