OnePlus 8T vs Google Pixel 5

OnePlus 8T vs Google Pixel 5 - Which affordable 5G phone should you buy - Android

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The Google Pixel 5 has an attractive price point, but the OnePlus 8T is a close rival.

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

2020 offers bargain hunters plenty of affordable smartphones to pick from. Two of the latest and greatest are the OnePlus 8T and the Google Pixel 5. Both offer solid hardware packages, complete with cutting edge 5G networking and friendlier price tags than many other flagship smartphones. But which one should you buy?

With official specifications and prices now out in the open and our verdicts in, here’s a thorough run-through of the OnePlus 8T vs Google Pixel 5.

Our verdicts: OnePlus 8T review | Google Pixel 5 review

Specs

	OnePlus 8T	Google Pixel 5
Display	6.55-inch AMOLED 2,400 x 1,080 resolution 402ppi 120Hz refresh rate 20:9 aspect ratio	6-inch OLED 2,340 x 1,080 resolution 432ppi 90Hz refresh rate 19.5:9 aspect ratio >1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 4x Cortex-A77 4x Cortex-A55	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 2x Cortex-A76 6x Cortex-A55 Titan M Security Module
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 620
RAM	8GB / 12GB LDPPR4x	8GB LPDDR4x
Storage	128GB / 256GB No microSD slot	128GB No microSD slot
Cameras	Rear Main: 48MP, f/1.7 aperture, 0.8µm pixels, optical + electronic image stabilization Secondary: 16MP, f/2.2 aperture, ultra-wide (123-degree FoV) Macro: 5MP, 3cm focal length Monochrome: 2MP 4K at 60fps/30fps Front 16MP sensor, f/2.4 aperture, 1.0 μm pixels, fixed focus, electronic image stabilization	Rear Main: 12.2MP, f/1.7 aperture, 1.4µm pixels, optical + electronic image stabilization Secondary: 16MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1 micron pixel, ultra-wide (107-degree FoV) 4K at 60fps/30fps Front 8MP sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 1.12µm pixels, fixed focus, 83-degree FoV
Headphone jack	No	No
Battery	4,500mAh 65W charging	4,080mAh 18W charging 12W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging
IP rating	None for unlocked model IP68 rating for T-Mobile version	IP68
Sensors	In-display Fingerprint Sensor Accelerometer Electronic Compass Gyroscope Ambient Light Sensor Proximity Sensor Sensor Core, Flicker-detect Sensor Barometer Sensor (North America exclusive)	Proximity / ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyrometer Magnetometer Pixel Imprint fingerprint sensor Barometer Spectral and flicker sensor
Software	Android 11	Android 11
Dimensions and weight	160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4mm 188g	144.7 x 70.4 x 8mm 151g
Colors	Aquamarine Green, Lunar Silver	Just Black, Sorta Sage

Features

Both the OnePlus 8T and Pixel 5 offer excellent displays, although the OnePlus 8T offers more screen real-estate, at 6.55- versus 6-inches. Pixel density is virtually identical between the two, but the 8T does offer a 120Hz refresh rate versus the still speedy 90Hz refresh rate of the Pixel 5. This larger screen results in a bulkier handset though. The OnePlus 8T weighs 188g vs the Pixel 5’s 151g. It’s also the wider and thicker of the two handsets.

Where the OnePlus 8T really pulls ahead is in the performance department. The flagship tier Snapdragon 865 outperforms the Pixel 5’s Snapdragon 765G, especially when it comes to gaming and AI workloads. Although the 765G is no slouch for the vast majority of day-to-day workloads. The chip should really help out the Pixel 5’s battery life too.

Read more: Snapdragon 765G vs Snapdragon 865: How does the Pixel 5 stack up?

You shouldn’t notice a performance difference for most apps, but the OnePlus 8T is definitely the better option for those who need gaming or more extreme performance.

OnePlus also nudges ahead on storage. Both phones come with 128GB flash and 8GB LPDDR4x RAM as a minimum. However, the OnePlus 8T offers a larger 256GB storage option and 12GB of RAM, if you’re prepared to spend a little more.

What the Pixel 5 lacks in brute performance, it makes up for in features. Google includes wireless charging, an IP68 rating, and the Google Titan M security chip that you won’t find in OnePlus’ latest offering. However, OnePlus is debuting its blazingly fast 65W wired charging solution with the 8T. Both offer 5G networking support, but there’s a mmWave option for Pixel 5 customers in the US. The Pixel 5 comes out ahead on high-end extras.

The two handsets take different approaches to photography too. Google’s main camera is a familiar 12.2MP sensor, paired up with a new 16MP wide-angle lens, and an 8MP selfie camera. Google offers some of the best-in-class photography software and post-processing, including Night Sight portraits, Super Res Zoom, and improved HDR+ capabilities. The Pixel 5 is an exceptionally hard handset to best when it comes to photography.

OnePlus’ 8T offers a higher resolution 48MP main sensor, paired up with a 16MP wide-angle lens that offers a wider field of view than Google’s equivalent. OnePlus also has included low-resolution macro and monochrome cameras for some more stylish photos. Although, previous iterations have felt more like gimmicks with undercooked image quality. The 8T has the more flexible camera package out of the two, but Google’s software continues to lead the industry. We’ll reserve final judgment on image quality until we conduct a camera shootout.