Google Pixel 9 vs. OnePlus 12: It’s all about priorities

Google Pixel 9 vs. OnePlus 12: Design

I have a tendency to make use of Pixels fairly a bit over the course of the 12 months, and these gadgets stood out due to the distinctive digital camera bar on the again. With the Pixel 9 era, Google is making wholesale adjustments to the design; the digital camera bar continues to be intact, nevertheless it does not mix seamlessly into the mid-frame, and the perimeters of the cellphone are actually flat.

If something, the brand new design makes the Pixel 9 appear like the iPhone 15; I am not a fan of the design tweaks, however I’ll admit that the Pixel 9 has higher construct high quality than its predecessors. The cellphone does not have any flex to the chassis, the buttons have good tactility, and it has good sturdiness — one thing that was an enormous downside on earlier Pixels.

The OnePlus 12, in the meantime, retains the identical design language as its predecessors, providing a svelte design with clean curves and rounded edges. The Flowy Emerald choice appears to be like beautiful, and it’s nonetheless the perfect coloration variant obtainable. The matte texture on the again is pleasant, and though the machine is bulkier than the Pixel 9 at 9.2mm (versus 8.5mm), you do not really feel that in common use. OnePlus rolled out the Glacial White model of the machine a couple of months in the past, and that is one other variant to contemplate if you’d like a sublime design. 

I additionally just like the digital camera housing on the OnePlus 12; the person rings across the cameras and the seamless means the island merges into the mid-frame is fairly cool. Different design niceties embrace the alert slider, a {hardware} toggle that allows you to swap between ring, vibrate, and silent modes.

Whereas OnePlus clearly received loads proper on the design facet of issues, the OnePlus 12 misses out on IP68 mud and water resistance — the cellphone as an alternative will get an IP65 score, and that simply is not sufficient in 2024. Fortunately, the Pixel 9 is not restricted on this space, and the machine will get IP68 ingress safety.

The Pixel 9 is thinner, lighter, and smaller, and whereas small Android telephones aren’t actually a factor today, it’s on the smaller finish of the size. So if that is a consideration, the Pixel 9 may very well be a more sensible choice. On the entire although, I want the design of the OnePlus 12, with the machine managing to ship an evocative design that appears elegant.

Google Pixel 9 vs. OnePlus 12: Show

The Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED panel, and whereas it is not fairly as diminutive because the Zenfone 10, it’s a compact machine. The panel now goes as much as 2700 nits in HDR mode, however the actual distinction is in day by day use, the place it has a transparent edge over the Pixel 8 — each with reference to brightness and coloration vibrancy.

Google did all the best issues on this space, and whereas some points stay — the ambient mild sensor is not fairly as quick to change brightness when shifting to a room with low lighting — the Pixel 9 is a a lot better displaying than earlier years. You additionally get Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and I did not run into many issues within the month I used the machine.

The OnePlus 12 does not have a nasty displaying both; the cellphone’s 6.82-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel is among the finest round, and it has higher PWM dimming — one thing that is nonetheless an issue on Pixels — together with nice coloration saturation. The 4500-nit max brightness determine is a little bit of a gimmick because it measures miniscule parts of the panel when viewing HDR content material, however I did not see any points with the panel even beneath harsh daylight.

Nevertheless, the Pixel 9 wins this spherical, with the cellphone managing to get noticeably brighter in auto mode. Google did a terrific job tuning the panel this time round, and the Pixel 9 — together with the 9 Professional XL — has one of many brightest OLED panels within the business.

Google Pixel 9 vs. OnePlus 12: {Hardware}

Google does not have the perfect {hardware}, and that hasn’t modified with the Pixel 9. The cellphone is powered by the Tensor G4, nevertheless it does not have any significant upgrades over the G3 — if something, it throttles sooner in video games. You now get 12GB of RAM as commonplace, and whereas that’s good to see, the bottom mannequin is proscribed to only 128GB of storage, and that is not sufficient.

You may have to shell out an extra $100 to get the 256GB mannequin, and no matter no matter variant you select, you get the older UFS 3.1 storage and never UFS 4.0. Whereas the mobile modem is best than earlier years, it does not fairly handle to ship the identical bandwidth as Qualcomm-powered gadgets.

The OnePlus 12, fortunately, does not have such limitations. The cellphone continues to have among the best {hardware} packages round, and it’s a delight to make use of. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is improbable in common use, and it holds up extremely properly even in prolonged gaming classes. The cellphone has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage as commonplace, and there is a 16GB/512GB mannequin if you happen to want further storage.

You additionally get a large 5400mAh battery, and it manages to last as long as two days between expenses with medium use. Even if you happen to push the cellphone, you may get a day and a half value of use earlier than it’s essential to cost it. And on that entrance, 100W charging tech ensures the battery expenses in beneath 45 minutes.

The Pixel 9 lasts as much as a day with relative ease, however the 4700mAh battery does not have wherever near the identical longevity because the OnePlus 12. The charging state of affairs is not pretty much as good both, with the machine restricted to 27W. Like earlier years, you do not get a charger within the field, so you have to to make use of a USB PD charger.

In day by day use, the OnePlus 12 is the plain alternative if you happen to want a robust cellphone that is constructed for gaming. The machine has a lot better fluidity and handles demanding video games with ease, and there are not any slowdowns. The Pixel 9 is not fairly on the identical stage, and it throttles early in demanding video games, introducing lag. Whereas overheating is not as large an issue as final 12 months, the cellphone tends to throttle rapidly.

Google Pixel 9 vs. OnePlus 12: Cameras

The Pixel 9 has a brand new 50MP important digital camera on the again, and it is joined by a 48MP wide-angle lens. You do not get a devoted zoom lens, however the principle digital camera doubles as a 2x shooter, and also you get detailed photographs. Whereas the digital camera {hardware} is not the perfect by a protracted shot, Google tends to ship stellar photographs by leveraging its software program skillset.

The OnePlus 12 has higher digital camera {hardware}, with the machine touting a 50MP important digital camera, 64MP 3x zoom lens with OIS, and a 48MP wide-angle lens. It has Hasselblad tuning, 4K60 video on all again cameras, and the power to shoot Dolby Imaginative and prescient footage. There’s an motion mode that does a superb job with shifting objects, Lens integration, and attention-grabbing taking pictures modes.

Google had a sizeable lead on this space prior to now, however that is not the case in 2024. If something, the OnePlus 12 does a barely higher job in low-light eventualities, delivering photographs with saturated colours and good element. The Pixel 9 continues to be probably the most constant digital camera round, and it’s improbable with shifting objects.

It is clear that Google must replace its digital camera {hardware}, and whereas it is ready to ship exceptional outcomes with its software program tuning, it’s beginning to lag behind its rivals. The OnePlus 12 has a flexible digital camera system, and it takes photographs which are simply pretty much as good.

Google Pixel 9 vs. OnePlus 12: Software program

The principle purpose I exploit Pixels is due to the software program. Google provides a clear software program with zero bloatware, and the Materials You interface is colourful and customizable. A giant speaking level with the Pixel 9 is AI, and Google is rolling out a slate of options on this space. Add Me is my favourite function, with the function designed to make group photographs enjoyable.

Pixel Studio permits you to create photos utilizing generative AI, and it does a good sufficient job in its personal proper. The brand new climate widget makes use of AI to offer a abstract of the day’s climate, and Pixel Screenshots does a terrific job organizing screenshots and making them searchable.

The brand new AI additions be a part of the likes of Magic Eraser, Recorder, and all the opposite mainstays on earlier Pixel gadgets, and actually, if you happen to’re interested by attempting out cell AI, there is not a more sensible choice. Google has a transparent lead on this space, and different producers are partnering with the model to convey a few of these AI utilities to their gadgets.

Clearly, you do not get a lot in the best way of AI on the OnePlus 12, however the machine has a good set of options which are extremely customizable. I just like the fluidity of the interface, however there’s bloatware, and a minimum of in my very own use, it is not as fulfilling because the Pixel 9.

Google has a definite benefit in relation to software program updates as properly, with the Pixel 9 guaranteeing seven Android OS updates. The OnePlus 12, in the meantime, will get 4 Android OS updates as commonplace, and whereas that’s on par with most different gadgets, it does not measure as much as the Pixel 9.

Google Pixel 9 vs. OnePlus 12: Which do you have to purchase?

With the Pixel 9, Google has cemented its AI dominance; Gemini Stay, Pixel Studio, Add Me, and the slate of AI-assisted options obtainable on the machine give it a definite edge. The design is best than final 12 months, the OLED panel is considerably brighter, and the cameras proceed to be superb.

Nevertheless, the 256GB mannequin of the Pixel 9 prices $899, and it is not fairly as attractive an worth. In contrast, the 12GB/256GB model of the OnePlus 12 is out there for $699 within the U.S., and that may be a higher deal when you think about the {hardware} you are getting. You might be getting higher software program and long-term updates on the Pixel 9, however the {hardware} is not as highly effective, and there is not as vast a gulf in relation to the cameras as earlier years.

There is a comparable distinction in different areas; the OnePlus 12 is out there for ₹64,999 ($774) in India, and you may get the 256GB Pixel 9 at ₹79,999 ($953) within the nation. As a lot as I just like the Pixel 9, I do not assume it’s pretty much as good a worth in the mean time, and if you happen to want all of the AI-focused options, it is best to anticipate the machine to go on sale — Google normally provides thrilling reductions on its telephones in the course of the vacation season, and that ought to be the case this time as properly.

In the event you do not want the AI utilities and desire a highly effective cellphone with loads of customizability, the OnePlus 12 is a more sensible choice. The cameras are excellent, you get an even bigger battery and considerably sooner charging, and it is the plain alternative if you happen to’re interested by cell gaming.