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Updated January 10, 2024·
If camera quality is important to you, the Google Pixel 7a boasts better still photo and overall camera quality compared to the OnePlus 9, making it a better choice for photography enthusiasts, despite its higher price. The Pixel 7a also provides a slightly higher screen resolution and refresh rate, ensuring a more fluid visual experience. On the other hand, the OnePlus 9 offers a larger screen size which might be preferable for media consumption and gaming, but with a lower refresh rate. Both phones have the same battery life, support 5G, and run on Android, but you'll find that the OnePlus 9 is more budget-friendly if cost is a significant factor. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Google Pixel 7a
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
Advantages of the OnePlus 9
- The OnePlus 9 has no clear advantages over the Google Pixel 7a.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
7.0
The Google Pixel 7a has very good overall camera quality, while the OnePlus 9 has good overall camera quality.
The Google Pixel 7a has a very good selfie camera because of its high-resolution photos, effective software experience, and strong performance across various lighting conditions, which includes low light and dynamic range. In contrast, the OnePlus 9's selfie camera is only rated as fair, with generally lower performance in crucial aspects such as resolution, photo software experience, and versatility, which collectively influence the overall quality of self-portraits and other camera functions.
Photo Quality
8.0
6.7
The Google Pixel 7a takes very good photos, while the OnePlus 9 takes only fair photos.
The Google Pixel 7a delivers better selfies than the OnePlus 9 because it has a higher selfie quality, which is likely due to the combination of its camera resolution, software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance. In contrast, the OnePlus 9 shows weaknesses in these areas which is reflected in its fair selfie quality, indicating less capable camera hardware or software processing abilities.
Video Quality
7.3
5.9
The Google Pixel 7a takes good videos, while the OnePlus 9 takes poor videos.
The Google Pixel 7a offers superior video capabilities, with excellent video stabilization and low-light performance, as well as better microphone quality for clearer audio capture. In contrast, the OnePlus 9 provides a fair video experience, lacking in low light performance and stabilization, which may result in less smooth and less detailed videos in various conditions.
Screen Size
The Google Pixel 7a has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the OnePlus 9 is 6.55 inches.
Cost
$499
$399
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Google Pixel 7a has a price of $499 and the OnePlus 9 costs $399.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.9 Hours
6.9 Hours
The Google Pixel 7a has 6.9 hours of battery life. The OnePlus 9 has 6.9 hours of battery life.
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How the Google Pixel 7a and the OnePlus 9 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Google Pixel 7a | OnePlus 9 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$499 | $399 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | OnePlus | ||
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 10, 2023 | March 26, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.55" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 429 | 402 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | TensorG2 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 64 megapixels + OIS | 48 megapixels | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.9 Hours | 6.9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4385 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 7.5 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.98" x 2.87" | 6.29" x 2.92" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.84 oz | 6.77 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | No | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | Yes | |
Color | |||
Color | Sea, Snow, Coral, Charcoal | Astral Black, Arctic Sky, Winter Mist | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Google Pixel 7a
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | May 2023
"The Pixel 7a is the best midrange Android phone — period. The camera doesn’t always nail it, but it’s impressively capable for this class. And even though it’s pricier than last year’s model, it comes with some serious upgrades not often seen in this class, like wireless charging."
OnePlus 9
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
David Lumb | April 2021
"If you’re hunting for the best Android camera phone at this price, and one that doesn’t skimp on specs the OnePlus 9 is worth considering. Courtesy of a partnership with Hasselblad, the cameras offer better color correction, and both regular and ultra-wide photos look great. The OnePlus 9’s battery fully charges in under 30 minutes over a cable, and in 45 minutes using wireless charging. If you hate waiting for hours to charge your phone, you'll love the OnePlus 9."
Get a great deal on the Google Pixel 7a or the OnePlus 9
About Google
Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.
About OnePlus
OnePlus, established in 2013, is a smartphone brand that first became known for providing flagship-like devices, at a fraction of the cost compared to more expensive Android competitors. OnePlus focuses on creating smartphones with powerful hardware at reasonable prices. They also bring hardware features normally not seen in other Android phones sold in the US, such as their ultra-fast “Warp Charge” and the beloved “Alert Slider”.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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