The wait is finally over. The Google Pixel 5 is here! At a more attractive price point than ever, there’s a lot to like about Google’s newest flagship. The Pixel 5 is not without competition, however. With the new price tag, it can compete with cheaper brands like the popular OnePlus.
Value for money has been a cornerstone of the OnePlus ethos for years, while Google is relatively new to super-mid-tier gaming. However, Mountain View is a quick study that builds on the success of the affordable Pixel 3a with its new lineup. So is it worth waiting a few more weeks to see what the Shenzhen brand has in store with the highly anticipated OnePlus 8T, or is Google’s phone a safe buy today? Let’s take an early look at the OnePlus 8T and Google Pixel 5.
Connected: The best Google Pixel 5 alternatives
Google Pixel 5: Buy Now?
Google is offering its first 5G-capable flagship smartphone with the Pixel 5. However, unlike more expensive flagships, it uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G SoC to power the handset – the same chipset as the OnePlus Nord budget phone, OnePlus Nord. The integrated modem and the lower performance point are a boon for the battery life and the price. However, this comes at the expense of peak performance compared to devices with similar prices. That’s not to say Google’s flagship is slow. There is 8 GB of RAM for smooth multitasking. The phone fulfills all of your daily needs and even most of the games are fine.
Deep dive: Snapdragon 765G vs Snapdragon 865: How will the Pixel 5 stack up?
What the Pixel 5 lacks in raw power, it makes up for in features. Google offers wireless charging, an IP68 rating, and a great 90Hz display. Let’s not forget three years of Android updates either. That’s pretty much everything you’d expect from a flagship handset, and many brands charge a lot more for these features. Google struck a good balance between performance, features, and price.
The US Pixel 5 model also supports mmWave. This promises even faster 5G data speeds in compatible networks than 5G below 6 GHz. While this increases the price a little to $ 699, it’s a bit more expensive than non-US versions of the handset. Still, that’s pretty cheap for an mmWave phone.
Google offers its top-notch phone cameras for the cheapest price ever.
Of course, you also get one of the best smartphone cameras in the business. The formula is very familiar with a 12-megapixel main sensor, 8-megapixel selfie camera, and Google’s software to improve results. The Pixel 5 has a new 16-megapixel wide-angle sensor for a little more shooting flexibility, but is much better crafted than the quad camera setups that are pervading the market. That said, quality is better than quantity, and the Pixel 5 almost certainly won’t disappoint here.
There is software to consider too. Fans of “standard” Android today might prefer to buy the Pixel 5. After all, you get the latest Android 11 out of the box and three years of updates. Android 11 includes the new conversation notification, notification history, chat bubbles, a screen recorder and media control functions. The Google operating system is as feature-rich as any other these days.
OnePlus 8T: should you wait?
We may be waiting for the fuller details on the OnePlus 8T’s features, but we can safely say that this is the preferred choice for the performance enthusiast if the leaked specs are correct. The premium Snapdragon 865 outperforms the Snapdragon 765G of the Pixel 5 in gaming, heavy-duty, and AI scenarios. Day after day, it is unlikely that there will be much of a difference between the phones. However, there is no doubt that the OnePlus 8T will prevail in terms of extra performance.
The 8T optimizes the existing OnePlus 8 formula.
Rumor has it that a 12GB RAM model is too much of a good thing, and OnePlus is said to offer media lovers a 256GB storage option, doubling Google’s 128GB maximum storage option. The OnePlus 8T will undoubtedly win here. The phone is also 5G capable, but will likely support Sub-6GHz if you are on a compatible network.
The OnePlus 8T has also been confirmed to support 65W wired charging and is rumored to contain a larger 4,500mAh battery. That’s twice as fast as previous 30W warp charge implementations. The phone should also have its own FHD + 120Hz display, but it reportedly lacks the wireless charging and IP rating of the OnePlus 8 Pro and Pixel 5. It’s a quad camera setup with a 48 megapixel -Main sensor and a 16 megapixel wide angle travel, 5MP macro and a 2MP monochrome lens. This is a very flexible package that offers more options than Google. However, in the past we’ve had some concerns about the overall quality of OnePlus’ camera settings, especially with trickier, low-resolution cameras.
Continue reading: OnePlus 8T: all the rumors and everything we know so far
In terms of software, OnePlus’ critically acclaimed Oxygen OS has taken a controversial turn lately. OnePlus’ Oxygen OS 11 software is a little more difficult to improve on the user interface than previous generations. However, the operating system offers some useful new features. These include a new display that is always on, tweaks to Zen mode, and scheduling dark mode. Google’s take on Android is far from straightforward, too, but Android enthusiasts may tend to focus on implementing Google.
OnePlus 8T vs Google Pixel 5: should you wait?
We don’t know exactly how much the OnePlus 8T will cost just yet, but rumors point to a competitive price. One that is set so that the phone comes in contact with the Google Pixel 5.
According to rumors, there is an entry point for the OnePlus 8T of 599 euros. That’s a bit cheaper than the introductory price of € 629 for Google’s Pixel 5, but pretty much the same as the US $ 699 price for the Pixel 5 with mmWave in tow. In a listing from Amazon Germany (now abolished) a price of € 693.18 (~ $ 815) was given for the more powerful version of the 8T with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB, which is slightly more expensive. While final and regional prices may vary slightly, these two handsets definitely fall into the same affordable 5G phone category.
Choose OnePlus for raw performance and Pixels for refined software
On paper, the OnePlus 8T should be best suited for the performance enthusiast and have a faster 120 Hz display. It’s also expected to have more flexible camera setup, more internal storage, and cost a few dollars less. However, it is the Pixel 5 that has a slightly wider range of features including wireless charging, 5G mmWave in the US, a more refined viewing experience, and possibly the better software experience as well. As expected, it’s a very close call between the two of them.
The OnePlus 8T seems like another very competent handset from OnePlus, but the formula sounds very familiar to the OnePlus 8. If you haven’t thought about getting a OnePlus handset, there is no big reason for fans of the Google ecosystem to delay further. Especially after waiting so long for the Google Pixel 5!
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