As the year winds down to a close, there are a lot of devices that have captured the buzz and imagination of people. The OnePlus 3T and Google Pixel are two such devices that are now clearly the phones of the year as far as the android world is concerned. So, is there really a comparison between the two? Let’s see
Let’s begin with the OnePlus 3T, this phone which is essentially an upgrade to the hugely successful OnePlus 3 that was ruling the roost after it’s release. The device has everything going for it. The processor is the Top end SD 821 that only the Pixel has. It has been clocked higher than the Pixel and has 6 GB of RAM to play with. You can guess that the phone is blazing fast. People have been generously calling it the fastest android experience that have had. The battery has been improved to run longer with the really quick Dash charge complimenting it. In practical use, it translates into a lot of convenience. A battery that runs along and charges in a jiffy. The cameras saw upgrades as well. The back camera got a sapphire lens guard and the front camera was bumped up to 16 MP. All in all a very good deal when you throw in the light and useful Oxygen OS that stays close to stock with nifty value added customization.
Let’s talk about the Pixel phone(s) now.The Pixel combines hardware and software made by Google, including all your favorite Google apps, to bring you a fast, seamless, and easy-to-use experience. With smooth surfaces and easy-to-grip curved edges. Unlimited storage for all your photos and videos. The highest rated smartphone camera. Ever. With a best-ever 89 DxOMark Mobile score, Pixel’s camera lets you take brilliant photos in low light, bright light or any light. A brilliant AMOLED screen, with true blacks and 16.77 million colors. Get up to 7 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. Unlock your phone quickly, and swipe down on the fingerprint sensor for quick access to all your notifications. But beyond all these feature level awesomeness, the Pixel bakes in Google’s AI based assistant into the entire android experience and lifts it to a new level. Since the Nexus series is now defunct, it stands that the Pixels will have the latest and greatest android versions at any given point of time. Google has also signaled clearly that they are not playing in the VFM zone at all and have priced the Pixels at a premium. They are taking on the iPhone head on and looks like they have done a bumper job of it.
Now coming to the main point behind all this discussion, is there a comparison? You may say that they have the same processor, are in the same segment that is populated with devices that perform like well oiled race cars and hence we should compare them head on. But hey, all is not what it seems.
Yes they have the same processor and perform similarly and boast of good and impressive cameras. But then look below the surface, OnePlus has always been trying to dismantle the costly flagship with their VFM offerings. They have done a brilliant job over time and the OnePlus 3T is the crowd puller this year. Having said that, it would be gross injustice to the brilliant OnePlus 3T to take it and pit it against the Pixel. Why? They are as different as day and night in the fact that one device is stretching your buck to the maximum to deliver performance and the other is here to dethrone the sitting king, or try to dethrone that is. Would you compare a Porsche with a fighter jet? No! So don’t compare these two. Just know that these two are clearly the best there are now and be confident in that. Are there other phones that are there with them? Yes, but none quite like them. They symbolize what the Android paradigm stands for – together, but different. So both are brilliant but it would be totally a bad idea to compare one with the other!
