Even then, there’s value to be seen from devices launched in 2021, especially when those devices are flagships such as the Google Pixel 6 Pro and the OnePlus 9 Pro?

While the OnePlus 9 Pro has undoubtedly been marred in controversy ever since its Android 12 update, it’s still a good device with a lot to give.

In this deep dive, we analyze the real differences between both the Google Pixel 6 Pro, the OnePlus 9 Pro, and find out which is better for you.

About this review: This comparison was written after testing a Google Pixel 6 Pro sent to me by Google Ireland and a OnePlus 9 Pro sent to me by OnePlus U.K.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro and the OnePlus 9 Pro are both extremely different phones in their designs.

While OnePlus has slowly moved towards a more “mainstream” design in recent years, the same certainly cannot be said for Google.

The OnePlus 9 Pro display corners are also much more rounded, while the Google Pixel 6 Pro’s corners are more subtle.

As for the front-facing camera location, the punch hole on the OnePlus 9 Pro is on the left, whereas on the Pixel, it’s in the middle of the notification bar.

The camera design is where both of these devices really differ, and the Google Pixel 6 Pro’s camera bar has a few advantages.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is a much more compelling buy for its camera.

Google Tensor is the company’s first custom mobile chipset, and it’s made specifically for the Google Pixel 6 Pro. The difference between Tensor and any other Qualcomm chip is that Tensor is made for the software, and the software is made for Tensor.

Having said that, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a smooth and powerful smartphone, regardless of what Google tries to tell you.

The Google Pixel line of devices has something unique about it when it comes to software, and that’s Google’s custom spin on Android.

As for voice dictation, it’s a feature powered by Google Tensor and allows you to type with your voice much, much faster than conventional voice recognition software.

If you’re a power user, you’ll almost certainly want to pick up the OnePlus 9 Pro over the Google Pixel 6 Pro.

Overall, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is a disappointing buy if what you're looking for is raw performance.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro’s impressive single-core score is extremely short-lived in pretty much any long-term benchmark.

Having said all of that, phones are more than just benchmarks, and the Google Pixel 6 Pro feels just as smooth (if not smoother) as the OnePlus 9 Pro in normal day-to-day usage.

While the Google Pixel 6 Pro is capable of playing some games at a reasonably high graphical fidelity, it’s no match for the Adreno GPU in the Snapdragon 888.

Both of the charts above were recorded in our reviews of the OnePlus 9 Pro and the Google Pixel 6 Pro, and there’s a clear winner here.

The battery life of the Google Pixel 6 Pro was disappointing, though the same can be said for the OnePlus 9 Pro, too.

That same usage could easily net me six to seven hours of usage on the Google Pixel 5, and the OnePlus 9 Pro isn’t really that much better.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro has a pair of dual stereo speakers, with the top speaker in the earpiece being quieter than the bottom-firing speaker.

To make things even worse, Google hampered the Pixel 6 Pro’s signal strength for many with the introduction of the December 2021 update, to the point that the company had to pull the update!

The Google Pixel 6 Pro and the OnePlus 9 Pro are two very different devices for two very different types of people.

The chipset pushes past most of what Google Tensor is capable of when it comes to gaming and raw computational power, leaving little to be said for whatever Google has on offer currently

However, if what you’re looking for is a smartphone that’s capable of it all, with quick updates and long-term software support, then the Google Pixel 6 Pro is more likely to be up your alley

Previously, I would have said that you will likely not come across problems introduced by software updates such as the ill-fated OxygenOS 12 update, but the Google Pixel 6 Pro’s rough start since its launch has prevented me from being able to make that quip

With the promise of a unified OS coming to the OnePlus 9 Pro in its next major update, it’s unclear if we’ll have another OxygenOS 12-style situation when that rolls out

It does everything that I want, and as someone who loves to take photos and listen to music on my smartphone, the Android 12 experience on the Google Pixel 6 Pro will still likely remain my favorite whenever I move to another device

As it is right now, the Google Pixel 6 Pro remains a niche device for techies and Android fans, and the same can be said for OnePlus as well

There are some great deals for the Google Pixel 6 Pro and the OnePlus 9 Pro, so honestly, it may come down to whichever you can find cheapest

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