OnePlus 10T vs Google Pixel 6: Which should you buy?

After skipping a core T-series phone in 2021, OnePlus returns to its regular fall release schedule with the OnePlus 10T. It’s an affordable flagship with all the necessary upgrades you’d expect from a 2022 release. There’s stiff competition at this price point, however, and at the top is the Google Pixel 6. How do they stack up? Here’s the OnePlus 10T vs Google Pixel 6!

We’ll look at how the two stack up in this showdown, but also be sure to check out our in-depth thoughts and final verdicts in our OnePlus 10T review and Google Pixel 6 review.

OnePlus 10T vs Google Pixel 6

The OnePlus 10T might look like the higher-end OnePlus 10 Pro at first glance, but the corner cuts to keep the price down become apparent when you hold the phone. The 10T lacks the premium finishes of its flagship counterpart, with OnePlus opting for a plastic frame, a glossy finish that makes it a fingerprint magnet, and only Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back. It also lacks any Hasselblad branding, as OnePlus hasn’t included this particular phone in its partnership with the camera brand. Still, like the 10 Pro, the OnePlus 10T has a distinctive look that makes it easy to identify. It’s not particularly flashy or fancy, especially when it comes to build quality.

Speaking of easy to identify, Google has its own version of the camera bump. The black bar on the back of the phone makes it stand out from the crowd and allowed Google to bring back the two-tone look we loved on older Pixels. The Pixel 6 also has a more premium build than the OnePlus 10T, with Gorilla Glass Victus and Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and back offering better drop protection.

If you turn to the front, it’s practically identical. Both come with centrally placed punch-hole selfie cameras. Both displays have a Full HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The OnePlus 10T ups the ante with its 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate compared to the 90Hz refresh rate of the Pixel 6’s 6.4-inch OLED screen.

OnePlus doesn’t hold back when it comes to performance. The OnePlus 10T includes the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, which is faster and more efficient than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. OnePlus is also adding vapor chamber cooling to the 10T to mitigate the overheating complaints we’ve heard from owners of phones with the older chip.

The high-end processing package is expanded with 8, 12 (India only) or 16 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage. Combined with the display’s 120Hz refresh rate, everything on the OnePlus 10T feels lightning fast.

On the other hand, the Pixel 6 is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor chip and supported by 8GB of RAM. The upper-mid-range processor is solid and offers some custom machine learning for Pixel-exclusive features, but falls short of Qualcomm’s flagship options in terms of raw performance. The phone doesn’t feel slow or sluggish, but it’s definitely not the fastest and the GPU is lacking for things like 3D gaming compared to Qualcomm’s silicon. We also encountered some modem issues during our long-term testing of the phone.

The Pixel 6 isn’t the fastest when it comes to charging either. The 21W fast charge and multi-hour charge time feels extremely slow compared to the 20 minutes it takes to charge the OnePlus 10T’s 4,800mAh battery. The phone’s 150W charging power (125W when charging from wall outlets in the US) is its main advantage over all its competitors. OnePlus also includes a 160W charger in the box, while you’ll need to buy one for your Pixel phone.

What the Pixel 6 lacks in performance, however, it more than makes up for in extra features. On the other hand, the absence of the “Pro” suffix for the OnePlus 10T is intentional, as OnePlus forgoes some high-end features to keep the phone affordable. That includes wireless charging and an IP rating (IP54 in the US only), while the Pixel 6 gets you an IP68 rating for water immersion.

Any edge the OnePlus 10T has due to its processing package vanishes if you’re even remotely interested in photography. “Inconsistent to terrible cameras” is what we described in our review, which is something you don’t want to hear on a flagship. The lack of the Hasselblad partnership is evident, with the ultrawide and macro cameras being particularly disappointing.

OnePlus tends to bring camera improvements with software updates, which the 10T badly needs. Don’t forget to read our full review to learn more.

Not disappointing, however, is the Pixel 6’s camera setup. You’ll have to look to the Pixel 6 Pro for a telephoto lens, but the Pixel 6’s 50MP primary shooter and 12MP ultrawide shooter are excellent. Google’s phones consistently feature on our list of the best camera phones, and while the Pixel 6 is priced under $600, it continues that streak.

The Pixel 6 has 8GB of RAM and two storage configurations, starting at $599. The equivalent configuration for the OnePlus 10T costs $649. While $100 gets you double the storage with the Pixel 6, you get twice the storage and RAM for the same price tag with the 10T.

In terms of color variants, the OnePlus 10T comes in a nice looking Jade Green, while Moonstone Black is available for those who prefer a more muted option. The Pixel 6 comes in Stormy Black, Sorta Seafoam, and Kinda Coral, with two shades available across the board.

Choosing between two affordable flagships is usually a toss up. For the most part, you’ll see similar features, hardware, and sometimes even the design. The OnePlus 10T and Google Pixel 6 couldn’t be more different, making the choice that much easier.

The OnePlus 10T is all about performance. You get the latest processing package, as much RAM as you want without too much premium in price, and a display with a higher refresh rate. And of course, there’s lightning-fast charging too. It’s by far the most impressive feature of the OnePlus 10T, and probably its biggest selling point. It’s the perfect phone for gamers and power users looking for an affordable alternative to more expensive gaming phones.

Unfortunately, where the phone falls short is everywhere else. Build quality isn’t as premium as the Pixel 6, and the Google phone also has wireless charging and an IP rating.

The Pixel 6 might not be nearly as powerful as the OnePlus 10T, but it clearly beat the latter in the camera department. The Pixel 6’s cameras are some of the best, especially at this price point. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 10T’s camera performance is disappointing, especially after the solid run OnePlus has had with its previous flagships.

If you want speed, the OnePlus 10T has you covered in spades. For everything else, the Pixel 6 is the better choice.