The OnePlus 10 Pro is one of the big Android flagship contenders of early 2022. But can it stand up to Google’s impressive Pixel 6 Pro?
Android OS foundation aside, these are two very different phones with very different histories.
We haven’t had a chance to familiarize ourselves with the OnePlus 10 Pro yet, given its first launch in China. But what we have is a full list of specs and images.
Here’s how the two pros compare on paper.
OnePlus 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro: Price and availability
The covers were officially removed from the OnePlus 10 Pro on January 11, 2022, but only in its home territory of China. We are still awaiting a global rollout.
Pricing in China starts at 4,699 Chinese Yuan for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which translates to around $740/£550/AU$1,056. You’ll pay 4,999 Chinese Yuan ($786/£586/AU$1,123) for 8GB and 256GB, or 5,299 Chinese Yuan ($833/£621/AU$1,191) for 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage.
Google launched its Pixel 6 Pro on October 28, 2021. Prices start at $899 / £849 / AU$1,299 for 128GB of storage. You can upgrade to 256GB for $999 / £949 / AU$1,449. Our American and Australian friends also get a 512GB model for $1,099 / AU$1,599.
OnePlus 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro: design
These two phones don’t look much alike, which is quite refreshing in a mature smartphone market where true design innovation is rare.
Both phones have separate camera modules. The OnePlus 10 Pro’s camera is squarer and flatter, and it emerges from the frame on the left side of the phone.
The Pixel 6 Pro camera module looks like a visor, sitting the full width of the phone and standing strong and proud like a Daft Punk helmet.
There’s a lot to be said for how bold and fresh the Pixel 6 Pro approach is, especially with its two-tone coloring, split on either side of that camera module.
Aesthetics aside, despite being both big phones, the Pixel 6 Pro is the bigger and heavier of the two. While the OnePlus 10 Pro measures 163 x 73.9 x 8.6mm and weighs 200.5g, the Pixel 6 Pro measures 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm and weighs 210g.
Both phones have aluminum frames and Gorilla Glass Victus covers, and both have an IP68 rating, so there’s not much to choose between them on build quality stakes.
OnePlus 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro: display
There are not too many differences between the screens of these two phones. They’re similar in size, with the OnePlus 10 Pro measuring 6.7-inches and the Pixel 6 Pro at 6.71-inches.
Both also have QHD+ resolutions, so they’re positively pixel-packed. You also get the benefits of punchy AMOLED display panel technology, which means vibrant colors and deep blacks.
While the Pixel 6 Pro is an LTPO display, the OnePlus 10 Pro tops it up to LTPO2. This means that while the Pixel 6 Pro can go from 120Hz to 10Hz, the OnePlus 10 Pro can go down to 1Hz. In other words, it’s the more efficient of the two.
The OnePlus 10 Pro display also gets a lot brighter, with a peak brightness of 1300 nits compared to the Pixel 6 Pro’s 800 nits.
We’ll have to experience the OnePlus 10 Pro display firsthand to be sure, but it seems to have the slightest advantage over the Pixel 6 Pro on paper.
OnePlus 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro: Cameras
Early signs suggest the Pixel 6 Pro probably has the better camera here. While Google has taken a noticeable step forward with its camera offering, OnePlus seems to be treading water, at least from a hardware perspective.
The OnePlus 10 Pro gives you a 48 MP f/1.8 wide sensor, an 8 MP sensor capable of 3.3x optical zoom, and a 50 MP ultra-wide. All of these appear to be the same as last year’s OnePlus 9 Pro, except the ultra-wide has a new, wider 150-degree angle.
Conversely, the Pixel 6 Pro really shook things up from the Google Pixel 5. It’s led by a new 50MP wide sensor accompanied by an f/1.85 aperture, plus a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor and a 48MP telephoto sensor with a 4x optical zoom.
Overall, we found the Pixel 6 Pro to offer “the best photography experience yet on a Pixel phone.” Presumably, the OnePlus 10 Pro will improve on its predecessor with enhanced AI algorithms and more advanced image processing, but that’s unlikely to be a huge improvement.
OnePlus 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: specs and performance
The OnePlus 10 Pro uses Qualcomm’s cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which is said to be 20% faster than the Snapdragon 888. Conversely, the Pixel 6 Pro is the first to use Google’s own Tensor processor.
This seems to give the OnePlus 10 Pro the edge in raw performance, even before we tested it. The Pixel 6 Pro returned an average multi-core score in Geekbench 5 of 2760, which is well behind even the 3630 of the OnePlus 9 Pro running the older Snapdragon 888.
While there may be a CPU advantage for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 here, we won’t be counting the Tensor just yet. Google has focused on machine learning capabilities for its own chip, which helps this wonderful camera perform at its best, among other things.
Also, the Pixel 6 Pro is just as fast and smooth as any other flagship phone we’ve used in recent months.
OnePlus has equipped its phone with 8GB of RAM, although there is a 12GB upgrade option. The Pixel 6 Pro gives you 12GB as standard.
Storage-wise, both phones give you 128GB and 256GB options, while the Pixel 6 Pro also offers a 512GB option in some regions.
Another point of contention here will be the user interface. We still don’t know how the OnePlus 10 Pro will look in the West, given that it runs Oppo’s ColorOS in its initial form from the Chinese region.
We’re expecting the return of OnePlus’ sleek OxygenOS, although this will be layered over ColorOS due to the merger of the two companies.
The Pixel 6 Pro doesn’t have such uncertainty surrounding it. This is the flagship of Android 12, with “Material You” themed smart wallpapers. It will also receive three guaranteed full software updates.
OnePlus 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro: battery
Both of these Pro phones run a 5,000mAh battery, which is necessary given those large, crisp, high-refresh-rate screens.
We don’t yet know what the OnePlus 10 Pro’s endurance will be like, but it’s likely to be a noticeable improvement over the OnePlus 9 Pro, whose battery “will reliably get you through a full day on full charge with typical use. ”.
As for the Pixel 6 Pro, we found its battery life to be one of the weakest things about the phone. Again, though, it was good for a full day of typical use.
There’s a clear winner when it comes time to reload. The OnePlus 10 Pro gives you an incredibly fast 80W charger in the box. Google only supports up to 30W charging, and that doesn’t give you a brick either.
In terms of wireless charging, the OnePlus 10 Pro supports 50W, while the Google Pixel 6 Pro supports 12W as standard. Google has created its own custom wireless charging station, but it can only reach 23W.
Carry
We’re going to have to try the OnePlus 10 Pro before we can call a winner here, but as it stands it has the potential to give the Pixel 6 Pro a good run for its money.
Its screen, processor and charging speeds look likely to give it an edge over Google’s flagship phone.
On the other hand, we like Google’s unique design, and its camera seems on track to improve on the relatively unchanged OnePlus effort. We’re also not entirely convinced that OnePlus will be able to maintain its exemplary Custom UI work while Google gives you pure Android 12.
Add in the unknowns surrounding the OnePlus 10 Pro’s regional pricing, and we’re left with a frustrating lack of conclusions. We’ll come back to this flagship Android fight as soon as we have more practical information.