Google Pixel 8a Vs. OnePlus 12R: Night and Day

Summary

In this comparison, the OnePlus 12r and Google Pixel 8A battle for the title of best mid-range Android smartphone. The 12r boasts a superior display, powerful performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and impressive battery life, while the Pixel 8A offers robust software features, longer software support, and a more compact design. The choice depends on whether you prioritize hardware performance or software smarts and longevity.

Takeaways

• 📱 The OnePlus 12r is positioned as a mid-range device that can compete with flagships due to its performance, build quality, and battery life.
• 🔍 The Google Pixel 8A focuses on AI smarts and software, offering a more compact device with a focus on software features over hardware.
• 🏷 Both devices share similar price points but target different types of Android users, with the OnePlus 12r leaning towards performance and the Pixel 8A on software and AI capabilities.
• 📐 The OnePlus 12r has a more premium feel with a glass back, thin bezels, and a larger camera hub, compared to the Pixel 8A's plastic back and thicker bezels.
• 📺 Both phones feature full HD Plus 120 Hz OLED displays, but the OnePlus 12r's display is superior with better viewing angles and peak brightness.
• 🎮 For mobile gaming, the OnePlus 12r offers a smoother experience due to its more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
• 🔄 The OnePlus 12r's hardware advantage also means it will likely receive updates for a shorter period compared to the Pixel 8A's seven years of upgrades and security patches.
• 📷 The Pixel 8A has superior camera performance with more accurate images and better computational photography features, despite having similar hardware specs on paper.
• 🔋 The OnePlus 12r has a significant advantage in battery life and charging speed, with a 5000 mAh battery and fast charging capabilities, compared to the Pixel 8A's smaller battery and slower charging.
• 📹 In terms of video recording, the Pixel 8A provides more stable footage, while the OnePlus 12r's video can appear jarring in comparison.
• 🤖 The Pixel 8A's software features are more feature-rich, offering advanced AI capabilities for photo editing and voice recognition, which the OnePlus 12r lacks officially.

Q & A

What is the main difference between the Google Pixel 8A and the OnePlus 12r in terms of design?

The Google Pixel 8A has a more compact design with substantial bezels, a scratchy plastic back, and a streamlined camera bar, while the OnePlus 12r has a glass back, super thin bezels with curved screen sides, and a larger, more prominent camera hub.

Which smartphone has a superior display according to the script?

The OnePlus 12r has a superior display with better off-axis viewing angles, higher real-world peak brightness, and the ability to hit 120 FPS more frequently, making full use of the 120 HZ display.

What processor does the OnePlus 12r use, and how does it affect the device's performance?

The OnePlus 12r uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is more powerful both in terms of CPU and GPU, providing a smoother gameplay experience and faster device performance compared to the Pixel 8A.

How does the OnePlus 12r's performance and hardware compare to the Pixel 8A in terms of future-proofing?

The OnePlus 12r offers three years of platform upgrades and a further year of security patches, which is less than the Pixel 8A's seven years of upgrades and patches, making the Pixel 8A more future-proof.

What are some of the AI features that the Google Pixel 8A offers?

The Google Pixel 8A offers AI features such as voice recognition and transcription, Magic Eraser, audio eraser, the ability to change the sky in photos, and Top Shot for selfies.

How does the camera performance of the Pixel 8A compare to the OnePlus 12r?

The Pixel 8A has a signature Pixel look with more punchy colors and contrast, making it take more true-to-life photos. It also performs better in computational photography, such as portrait mode and night sight.

What is the main advantage of the OnePlus 12r in terms of battery life and charging?

The OnePlus 12r has a larger 4500 mAh battery, which can last up to 2 days with little worry, and comes with an 80 W or 100 W charger depending on the region, offering faster charging compared to the Pixel 8A.

How does the OnePlus 12r's build quality differ from the Pixel 8A's?

The OnePlus 12r has a higher-end build quality with a glass back and super thin bezels, making it feel more expensive compared to the Pixel 8A's plastic back and substantial bezels.

What is the main trade-off when choosing between the Pixel 8A and the OnePlus 12r?

The main trade-off is between the Pixel 8A's AI smarts, future software support, and lower build quality versus the OnePlus 12r's superior performance, build quality, and battery life at the expense of fewer software features.

What is the author's personal preference when it comes to choosing between the Pixel 8A and the OnePlus 12r?

The author prefers the OnePlus 12r due to its superior hardware, despite the cameras not being as good as the Pixel 8A's, as the overall performance and build quality are more important factors.

What is the script's stance on the importance of software features in the context of choosing a mid-range smartphone?

The script suggests that while software features are important, they cannot substantially speed up a phone or increase its battery life beyond the hardware's limits, but they can significantly impact camera performance.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Mid-Range Smartphone Showdown: OnePlus 12r vs Google Pixel 8A

The script introduces a comparison between Google's Pixel 8A and the OnePlus 12r, two mid-range smartphones with different focuses. The Pixel 8A is highlighted for its compact size, AI capabilities, and software strengths, while the OnePlus 12r is praised for its performance, build quality, and battery life. The video aims to help viewers choose the best mid-range Android device, considering factors like design, display, performance, and software features. The OnePlus 12r is positioned as a device that can compete with flagships due to its superior hardware, despite having a similar price point to the Pixel 8A.

05:01

🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Hardware, Camera, and Battery Life Comparison

This paragraph delves deeper into the hardware specifications, camera performance, and battery life of the two devices. The OnePlus 12r is noted for its more premium feel, superior display with better viewing angles and peak brightness, and the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which provides a smoother gaming experience. However, the Pixel 8A is commended for its long-term software support, AI features, and computational photography capabilities, which include voice recognition, Magic Eraser, and the ability to change photo skies. The Pixel 8A also takes better photos and videos, with more stable recording and a more feature-rich toolkit for post-production. The OnePlus 12r's battery life and fast charging are highlighted as significant advantages, but the Pixel 8A offers all-day battery with the absence of a charger in the box. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the different customer preferences these devices cater to: one for smart software and future support, the other for speed, longevity, and build quality.

Keywords

💡OnePlus 12r

The OnePlus 12r is a mid-range smartphone from the company OnePlus, which is positioned as a performance-oriented device with a focus on build quality and battery life. It is one of the central subjects of the video, where it is compared with Google's Pixel 8A. The script mentions its high-end feel, superior display, and powerful processor, which are key selling points in the comparison.

💡Google Pixel 8A

The Google Pixel 8A is another mid-range smartphone highlighted in the video, known for its compact size, AI capabilities, and software features. It is compared against the OnePlus 12r, with the script discussing its more modest hardware but emphasizing its long-term software support and advanced AI features.

💡Mid-range smartphone

A mid-range smartphone is a device that offers a balance between price and features, typically not as high-end as flagship models but more advanced than budget phones. The video script discusses the OnePlus 12r and Google Pixel 8A as examples of this category, exploring how they cater to different user preferences within the mid-range market.

💡Performance

In the context of the video, performance refers to the speed and responsiveness of a smartphone, often linked to its hardware capabilities. The OnePlus 12r is praised for its performance due to its powerful processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which allows for smoother gameplay and faster operation compared to the Pixel 8A.

💡Build quality

Build quality pertains to the materials and construction of a device, affecting its durability and aesthetic appeal. The script contrasts the build quality of the OnePlus 12r, which has a glass back and a more premium feel, with the Pixel 8A's plastic back and larger bezels, suggesting a more budget-oriented design.

💡Battery life

Battery life is a critical aspect of smartphone usability, referring to how long a device can operate before needing to be recharged. The video highlights the OnePlus 12r's superior battery life, capable of lasting two days for the reviewer, compared to the Pixel 8A's all-day battery, which is a significant factor for users prioritizing longevity.

💡Display

The display of a smartphone includes its screen size, resolution, and refresh rate. The script notes that both phones have Full HD Plus 120 Hz OLED displays, but the OnePlus 12r's panel is described as superior with better viewing angles and peak brightness, making it ideal for gaming and media consumption.

💡Software features

Software features refer to the applications and capabilities built into a device's operating system. The Pixel 8A is commended for its AI features, such as voice recognition, Magic Eraser, and the ability to change the sky in photos, which are more advanced than those found on the OnePlus 12r, indicating a focus on software innovation.

💡Hardware

Hardware encompasses the physical components of a device, such as the processor, camera sensors, and memory. The OnePlus 12r is described as having superior hardware, particularly its processor and camera setup, which contributes to its performance and image quality, despite not having the same software enhancements as the Pixel 8A.

💡Camera performance

Camera performance assesses the quality of photos and videos a smartphone can capture. The script discusses how the Pixel 8A has a signature look with more punchy colors and contrast, making it more true to life, while the OnePlus 12r's images are described as slightly washed out, indicating a difference in aesthetic preference and technical capabilities.

💡Upgrade Cadence

Upgrade cadence refers to how frequently a user replaces their device. The video script mentions the importance of this factor when considering the software support offered by the Pixel 8A versus the OnePlus 12r, where the former offers longer-term updates, which could be more appealing for users who keep their phones for a longer period.

Highlights

Google's Pixel 8A and OnePlus 12r are the best mid-range Android smartphones.

Pixel 8A focuses on AI smarts and software, while OnePlus 12r leans into performance, build quality, and battery life.

The OnePlus 12r has a more premium feel with a glass back, thin bezels, and a larger camera hub.

Both phones have full HD Plus 120 HZ OLED displays, but the 12r's panel is superior with better viewing angles and peak brightness.

The OnePlus 12r uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for smoother gameplay and better performance.

The Pixel 8A offers seven years of upgrades and patches compared to OnePlus 12r's three years.

The Pixel 8A has more AI features, including voice recognition, Magic Eraser, and the ability to change the sky in photos.

The OnePlus 12r lacks some official Google features but offers better hardware for performance.

In terms of camera performance, the Pixel 8A has a more natural and true-to-life look.

The OnePlus 12r's camera is good but not as impressive as the Pixel 8A's computational photography.

The Pixel 8A records more stable video, while the 12r's footage can appear jarring.

Battery life is superior on the OnePlus 12r, lasting up to 2 days with rapid charging.

The Pixel 8A's battery life is adequate but not as long-lasting as the 12r's.

The choice between the two phones depends on the user's preference for software features versus hardware performance.

The OnePlus 12r is recommended for users valuing speed, longevity, and build quality.

The Pixel 8A is better for those prioritizing software features, future support, and camera quality.

Transcripts

[Music]

Google's latest a series device was

already a little confusing given the

rest of the lineup but what happens when

you throw oneplus's mid-range answer

into the mix here's why you need to

consider the OnePlus 12r because

flagships aren't the only devices this

thing can kill let's talk about

[Music]

that hey guys I'm Ryan Thomas and if

you're looking for the best mid-ranged

Android smartphone right now these two

are your Best Bets Google's pixel 8A is

a more compact device that focuses on

its AI smarts and software where

oneplus's approach with its larger 12r

leans into performance build quality and

battery life while they may share

similar price tags they aren't squarely

aimed at the same type of Android User

this is obvious the first time you pick

these two devices up while the pixel a a

done some substantial bezels a scratchy

plastic back and a streamlined subtle

camera bar the OnePlus 12 RS build feels

considerably higher end with a glass

back super thin bezels with curved

screen sides and a larger more prominent

camera Hub that protrudes further out

the back of the device to put it bluntly

the 12r just feels more expensive and

higher end than the pixel 8A now as cool

as those curved sides are they are a

little impractical and I've had my fair

share of phantom touches with not only

the 12r but also the regular 12 and for

that reason I love the fact that Google

went for a flat display with the AA

thick and uneven bezels aside it is the

easier panel to operate due to its more

reachable size and lack of Curves both

phones on paper Rock full HD Plus 120 HZ

OLED displays so are sharp fast bright

and when you hold them side by side you

quickly realize that the 12 hours panel

is the far superior one with better off

AIS viewing angles higher real world

Peak brightness and being bigger makes

it better for playing games and watching

films it's great that Google upgraded

the A's display from 90 HZ to 120 as

it's something you can certainly feel

but it's just not quite at the level of

the OnePlus which is able to hit 120 FPS

more frequently to make full use of the

120 HZ display because it employs the

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 a much more

powerful processor from both a CPU and

GPU standpoint both phones are Zippy in

and around the OS browsing social media

all the basics that kind of thing and

while the 88 isn't particularly bad when

it comes to 3D gaming it can play games

for sure but it's just not at the level

of the OnePlus if you're a big mobile

gamer I'd take the 12r for its far

smoother gameplay experience and I quite

like the game modes on oxygen OS with

its hyper boost mode that drops

background apps and Discord integration

right in the game that you're

playing this better performance hard

hardware setup makes the 12 art the

faster device now but also going forward

which is an area that gets kind of

tricky for OnePlus at the same time

because its three years of promised

platform upgrades and a further year of

security patches is a fraction of the

pixel 8 A's seven years of upgrades and

patches whether this kind of thing

matters to you is heavily going to

depend on your personal preference for

upgrade Cadence are you the sort of

person to trade in your device every 2

or 3 years if so no worries you can go

with either phone and be absolutely fine

but if you keep your phone longer the

pixel 88 is the Nob brainer where it

matters more is actually in the

secondhand Market because that means

that in 3 or 4 years time when someone

sells their old pixel 8A on eBay it'll

still get another 3 or 4 years of

upgrades for the next user which keeps

the thing out of landfill or at least

delays the inevitable and the software

itself is more feature Rich on the pixel

side of things if you're the kind of

person to really engage with and use all

the features on the spec sheet the aa's

AI features are brilliant the voice

recognition and transcription is usable

and reliable Magic Eraser and audio

eraser come in clutch too not to mention

the ability to change the sky in photos

and of course Top Shot for getting just

the right selfie these features are

pretty great when they work and sure

it's not 100% hit rate but it's early

doors for this kind of thing and it

works surprisingly well on the AA the

OnePlus 12r not having these things

officially could put some people off and

I know you can Sid load these things but

the average person isn't going to want

to go through the hassle of doing that

it's safe to say that Google has leaned

super hard into its software and kind of

let the hardware side just pass now this

software can't really speed up a phone

or increase its battery life

substantially to beyond the Hardware's

limits but we all know that it can

massively impact a phone's camera

performance and if we take a look at

these things on paper for just a second

you'll realize that these two phones

aren't that far apart when it comes to

their Hardware Tech and in the real

world the 8A has that signature pixel

look to it when it comes to the colors

the contrast there's more punch and an

almost crisper looking profile by

comparison the 12 R photos tend to look

a a little more washed out with lifted

Shadows which sure will give you a

little more detail in those Shadows but

it also contributes to images that in my

opinion just aren't as fun to look at

these aren't bad photos at all but they

aren't the level of the pixel 8A and

more often than not the pixel took

photos that were more true to life and

more what I saw with my own eyes when

shooting the 12r not sharing the

hassleblad processing with the full fat

12 means it can't compete with the more

natural AA I found the same to be true

in terms of computational Photography

where the pixel did portrait mode and

night sight better overall with more

accurate images across the board side

note though I do actually prefer the

less processed look of the oneplus's

night mode it's not as technically

impressive but the tones down approach

to lifting Shadows does actually make

its images look a little nicer to me but

that's personal preference when it comes

to video these phones both have their

compromises with their main cameras they

can both shoot Ultra HD 4K at up to 60

FPS which is great whereas the ultra

wide cameras can only shoot up to Ultra

HD 30 on the pixel 88 and actually full

HD 30 on the 12r I found the pixel8 a to

record the more stable video as a whole

and the 12 hours footage can look a

little jarring so the pix 8A just does

video better and I think as a whole the

pixel 8A does cameras better don't get

me wrong the 12 hourz cameras are pretty

good for the price point they're

absolutely fine but the 88 cameras are

better from a quality standpoint from an

aesthetic standpoint in my opinion and

also come with the far more feature Rich

toolkit for augmenting your media after

the

fact and if you're worried about battery

life i' just say this skip the pixel a

and just go straight for the 12r the for

is pretty much 4500 Milah battery is a

whole th000 Milah hours smaller than the

OnePlus 12 hours and the charging is

substantially slower too not to mention

there's no charger in the box with the

8A where you get an 80 W or 100 wat

brick with the 12r depending on your

region look the pixel 8's battery life

isn't bad it's an all day phone for me

with absolutely no bother but the 12

hours battery can last Me 2 days with

little worry and that combined with the

rapid charging is reason enough for me

to consider the 12r over the pixel

8A but when it comes down to it these

phones are made for entirely different

mid-range smartphone customers one

offers you all the smarts the future

support at the cost of build quality and

performance and the other goes all out

on speed longevity and build quality at

the expense of software features if it's

me I'm taking the 12 the cameras is

aren't as good as the AA but the

hardware is just that much better that

it's a no-brainer for me I want to hear

what you have to think about these

though because I can certainly see why

one might pick one over the other it

really is a tossup while you're down

there be sure to hit like if you enjoy

today's content and subscribe to never

miss another upload I've been Ryan

Thomas and I'll catch you later cheers