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 tough competition at this price range, though, and leading the charge is the Google Pixel 6. How do they compare? Here’s the OnePlus 10T vs Google Pixel 6!

We’ll be looking at how the two stack up in this showdown, but be sure also 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 more premium OnePlus 10 Pro at first glance, but the corner cuts to keep its price low become apparent when you hold the phone. The 10T lacks its flagship counterpart’s premium finish, 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 didn’t include this particular phone in its partnership with the camera brand. Nevertheless, like the 10 Pro, the OnePlus 10T has a distinct look that makes it easy to identify. It’s not particularly flashy or fancy, particularly where the build quality is concerned.

Speaking of easy to identify, Google has its own take on the camera bump. The black bar across the back of the phone makes it stand out in a 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.

Things are practically identical when you turn to the front. Both come with centrally-placed punch-hole selfie cameras. Both displays have a Full HD+ resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio. The OnePlus 10T gets the leg up with its 6.7-inch AMOLED display coming with a 120Hz refresh rate, compared to the 90Hz refresh rate of the 6.4-inch OLED screen of the Pixel 6.

OnePlus isn’t holding back when it comes to power. The OnePlus 10T packs the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, that’s faster and more efficient than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. OnePlus also adds vapor chamber cooling to the 10T to mitigate the overheating complaints we heard from owners of phones with the older chip.

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

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

The Pixel 6 is also not the fastest when it comes to charging. Its 21W fast charging and hour plus of charging time feel extremely slow compared to the 20 minutes it takes to charge the OnePlus 10T’s 4,800mAh battery. The phone’s 150W charging (125W when charged via sockets in the US) is its most significant advantage over any competition. OnePlus also includes a 160W charger in the box, whereas you’ll need to buy one for your Pixel phone.

What the Pixel 6 lacks in power, it more than makes up for with extra features, though. On the other hand, the lack of the “Pro” suffix for the OnePlus 10T is intentional, with OnePlus foregoing some high-end features to keep the phone affordable. This includes wireless charging and an IP rating (IP54 rated only in the US), while you get an IP68 rating for immersion in water with the Pixel 6.

Any lead the OnePlus 10T has because of its processing package disappears if you’re even remotely interested in photography. “Inconsistent-to-terrible cameras” is how we described it in our review, not something you want to hear with a flagship. The lack of the Hasselblad partnership shows, with the ultrawide and macro cameras particularly disappointing.

OnePlus tends to bring camera improvements with software updates, which the 10T desperately needs. Don’t forget to check out our full review to find out more.

Not disappointing, though, is the Pixel 6’s camera setup. You’ll have to turn to the Pixel 6 Pro to get a telephoto lens, but the Pixel 6’s 50MP primary shooter and 12MP ultrawide are excellent. Google’s phones consistently feature on our best camera phones list, and despite being priced at under $600, the Pixel 6 continues that streak.

The Pixel 6 has 8GB of RAM and two storage configurations, starting at $599. The equivalent configuration for the OnePlus 10T is priced at $649. However, while $100 will get you double the storage with the Pixel 6, the same upcharge gets you double the storage and RAM with the 10T.

As far as colorways go, the OnePlus 10T comes in a good-looking Jade Green, with Moonstone Black available for those who prefer a more muted option. The Pixel 6 comes in Stormy Black, Sorta Seafoam, and Kinda Coral, with dual tones available across the board.

The choice between two affordable flagships is usually a toss-up. For the most part, you see similar features, hardware, and sometimes, even the design. The OnePlus 10T and Google Pixel 6 couldn’t be more unlike each other, making a choice much more straightforward.

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

Where the phone falls short is, unfortunately, everywhere else. The build quality isn’t as premium as the Pixel 6, and the Google phone also comes with wireless charging and an IP rating.

The Pixel 6 might not be nearly as powerful as the OnePlus 10T, but it has the latter soundly beat in the camera department. The Pixel 6’s cameras are among the best, especially in this price range. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 10T’s camera performance is disappointing, particularly after the solid run that OnePlus has enjoyed with its previous flagships.

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