OnePlus 12 vs Pixel 8 Pro: Tough Call, Clear Winner!

Summary

In this detailed comparison, Alex Doby pits the OnePlus 12 against the Google Pixel 8 Pro, two flagship Android phones priced competitively. While the OnePlus 12 impresses with its superior performance, larger battery, faster charging, and smooth Oxygen OS, the Pixel 8 Pro shines with its legendary camera, AI-powered features, and superior software support. The OnePlus 12 provides excellent value for money with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and additional RAM, though the Pixel's camera and software ecosystem may still win over enthusiasts. Ultimately, for most users, the OnePlus 12 offers a more well-rounded package.

Takeaways

• 😀 OnePlus is targeting the Google Pixel with the OnePlus 12, priced competitively at $800 in the US and $849 in the UK, undercutting the Pixel by a couple of hundred dollars.
• 😀 The OnePlus 12 has a chunkier design with a curved OLED display, while the Pixel features a flat OLED screen. The display quality is excellent on both, with OnePlus boasting a higher peak brightness of 4500 nits.
• 😀 In terms of design, the Pixel wins with its streamlined aesthetic, while the OnePlus 12 is considered more cluttered due to reflective patterns and notches around the camera.
• 😀 OnePlus 12 has superior hardware with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, more storage options, and up to 16GB of RAM. It outperforms the Pixel in benchmarks and demanding games.
• 😀 OnePlus 12 has a larger battery (5400mAh) with faster wired and wireless charging (up to 100W wired and 50W wireless). Battery life is better than the Pixel 8 Pro, which typically lasts through a full day of use.
• 😀 OnePlus 12's OxygenOS software is smooth, fast, and optimized for performance, with multitasking features like floating windows and smart sidebar. However, the software is more iOS-influenced and plain compared to Pixel's.
• 😀 The Pixel 8 Pro excels in AI-powered software features like the Magic Photo Editor, call screening, and live translation, making it unique for users who value AI integration.
• 😀 Google's Pixel 8 Pro offers seven years of software updates and monthly security patches, far outpacing OnePlus, which offers four years of updates and a less consistent patch schedule.
• 😀 In terms of camera performance, the Pixel 8 Pro leads with its superior color science, low-light performance, and software processing, though the OnePlus 12's main camera is a close competitor.
• 😀 OnePlus 12 features a 64MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x zoom, while the Pixel's telephoto camera offers 5x zoom, and Google's image processing is stronger in challenging lighting conditions, especially for video.
• 😀 Despite the camera differences, the OnePlus 12's overall performance, battery life, and hardware make it a better choice for most people, even if the Pixel's camera is superior in certain aspects.

Q & A

What is the main difference in pricing between the OnePlus 12 and the Google Pixel 8 Pro?

The OnePlus 12 is priced at $800 in the US or $849 with tax in the UK, which undercuts the Google Pixel 8 Pro by a couple of hundred dollars in the UK and matches its sale price in the US at the time of the video.

How does the display of the OnePlus 12 compare to the Pixel 8 Pro?

The OnePlus 12 has a slightly larger display at 6.8 inches with a curved OLED panel, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a 6.7-inch flat OLED display. The curved design on the OnePlus is less common among high-end phones, but the flat screen on the Pixel may be more practical for screen protectors.

What are the differences in design between the OnePlus 12 and the Pixel 8 Pro?

The OnePlus 12 has a more cluttered design with reflective speckled patterns and notches around the camera area, whereas the Pixel 8 Pro has a cleaner, more streamlined design. The OnePlus 12 also offers a matte black and frosted green color, while the Pixel offers a 'Bay Blue' colorway.

Which phone offers better performance in terms of internal hardware?

The OnePlus 12 outperforms the Pixel 8 Pro in terms of hardware, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, more storage options (up to 512GB), and up to 16GB of RAM, which is not available in the Pixel 8 Pro.

How does the battery and charging performance compare between the two phones?

The OnePlus 12 has a 5400 mAh battery with faster charging speeds (up to 100W wired and 50W wireless), while the Pixel 8 Pro has a smaller battery and slower charging speeds. The OnePlus 12 has better battery life, though the Pixel 8 Pro still offers a full day of use in most cases.

How does the software experience differ between the OnePlus 12 and the Pixel 8 Pro?

The OnePlus 12 uses OxygenOS 4, which is fast, smooth, and offers multitasking features like floating windows and a smart sidebar. On the other hand, the Pixel 8 Pro has Google’s AI-driven software with features like Magic Photo Editor, Call Screening, and Live Translate, which are exclusive to Google.

Which phone offers better software support?

Google promises 7 years of software updates and monthly security patches for the Pixel 8 Pro, while OnePlus offers 4 years of updates with less frequent security patches.

How do the camera systems compare between the OnePlus 12 and Pixel 8 Pro?

While the Pixel 8 Pro has a superior camera overall, especially with its AI-powered processing and image tuning, the OnePlus 12 offers a competitive camera system, including a 64MP periscope telephoto lens and a new Sony Lyt 808 main sensor. The Pixel excels in color accuracy, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

Which phone performs better in low-light photography?

The Pixel 8 Pro performs better in low-light situations, pulling out more detail in shadow areas, while the OnePlus 12 tends to leave shadows darker and may over-sharpen images.

What is the difference in telephoto performance between the OnePlus 12 and the Pixel 8 Pro?

The OnePlus 12 has a 64MP periscope telephoto camera with a 3x optical zoom, while the Pixel 8 Pro has a hybrid 5x zoom using its main sensor. At 3x zoom, the OnePlus captures more detail, but at higher zoom levels (5x), the Pixel 8 Pro outperforms with sharper images and better dynamic range in challenging lighting conditions.