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There was a moment in time when Google’s Nexus phones and OnePlus’ earlier models were held in high standards by Android enthusiasts, in addition to more wallet-friendly prices which factored into their cult status. That being said, times have changed and both companies now compete mainly in the premium market segment, as seen with devices like the OnePlus 12, and the newly-launched Pixel 9 Pro.
With that in mind, maybe you’re in the market for a new flagship Android phone, in which case you might be considering these two smartphones. Let’s take a quick look at what the Pixel 9 Pro and OnePlus 12 offer users – read on below!
Pixel 9 Pro: Camera and Software Prowess
If you watched the Made by Google launch event, you’ll see a lot of mention about AI, particularly Google’s Gemini model. It’s baked into nearly every corner of the Pixel 9 series, allowing users to generate images, pinpoint lost emails, and more. Additionally, new AI-based photo features such as Magic Editor and Add Me also bring a layer of uniqueness to the Pixel 9 pro’s already-impressive camera hardware, which consists of a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide and telephoto cameras, and a 42MP front camera with autofocus.
Of course, having newer hardware doesn’t hurt either – in fact, the phone now comes with a brighter (and more compact) 6.3-inch LTPO OLED which houses an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. This is surrounded by a newly-revamped design with a more polished look, falling in line with recent trends of flat sides and more minimalist smartphone designs.
This minimal look is a perfect reflection of the Pixel 9 Pro’s software, as Google keeps it simple and practical with its overall UI choices. Features like call screening, spam message filters, and Circle to search (to name a few) might come off as gimmicks for some, but prove to be rather useful for everyday smartphone usage. With seven years of software and security updates, Google is targeting users who just want a reliable daily smartphone that can take outstanding photos.
OnePlus 12: A Focus on Power
On the other hand, there’s no beating around the bush with the OnePlus 12 – right off the bat, the phone’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset means serious business. Like a lot of other Android flagships this year, OnePlus wants to impress users with the 8 Gen 3’s performance, and the fact that the phone comes in a 24GB RAM variant is further proof of this. It’s also ideal for gaming, as the gorgeous-looking 2K-resolution display shows; it also gets impressively bright at 4,500 nits of peak brightness.
The OnePlus 12’s camera system is no slouch either – you’re getting a 50MP main camera, aided by a 64MP periscope telephoto sensor and 48MP ultrawide sensor, rounded out by a 32MP sensor in front. While OnePlus says that the 12’s cameras have been developed alongside Hasselblad, there’s still a bit of ways to go when compared to the Pixel 9 Pro’s camera which comes with an added boost of computational photography.
There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. It’s clear that the OnePlus 12 is more of a power user’s phone, and this distinction extends to the phone’s battery setup. It’s larger at 5,400 mAh (versus the Pixel’s 4,700 mAh), and charges much faster as well with 100W charging speeds. For context, a quick 26-minute charge gets your battery back all the way to 100%, versus 55% on the Pixel. The OnePlus 12 is clearly meant for buyers who want a phone that they can also regularly use for gaming, without sacrificing battery or overall efficiency.
Pricing and Conclusion
As for price, the OnePlus 12 is more affordable, starting at $800 for the base storage configuration, versus the Pixel 9 Pro’s thousand-dollar price tag. This means that for a considerably lower price, you’re getting a top-tier performer with a capable chipset, insanely-fast charging speeds, and a terrific display. On the other hand, if you’re willing to spend a bit more, you get a phone that’s more attuned to users after practical and smarter features, impressive camera performance, as well as longer software updates.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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