Shortly after CES, OnePlus announced the OnePlus 10 Pro, which will only be available in China from mid-January. Today OnePlus announced A broader release of the device, including pre-orders in the US and Canada today for sales on April 14th.
We’ve had our hands on the device for a week and a full review will come from ZDNet next week. It will be available in North America in Volcanic Black and Emerald Forest with a single 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage option for $899 and CAD1149. We have the North American model Volcanic Black in hand for testing.
Matthew Miller/ZDNet
Priced at $899 in the US, the first flagship competitor that comes to mind is the Google Pixel 6 Pro at the same price. While the history of the band is similar between these two devices, we’ll also provide feedback on why one may be better than the other, depending on what’s most important to you.
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Android smartphone users can also check out the Galaxy S22 Plus with a starting price of $999.99 or even the S22 Ultra for $1,099.99. Samsung phones are very powerful and packed with useful features, but the OnePlus 10 Pro and Google Pixel 6 Pro appeal more to the tech and smartphone enthusiast who enjoys a better Android experience.
Matthew Miller/ZDNet
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Specifications don’t give a full picture of a smartphone’s capabilities, but they are useful for comparison purposes and to give you an indication of what each device offers.
| feature | OnePlus 10 Pro | Google Pixel 6 Pro |
| screen size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Google tensor |
| Dimensions | 163 x 73.9 x 8.55mm | 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm |
| Weight | 201g | 210g |
| R.A.M. | 8GB | 12GB |
| Internal memory | 128GB | 128/256/512GB |
| battery capacity | 5000mAh | 5003mAh |
| reversing cameras | Four: 8MP Tele (3.3x), 48MP Wide Angle, 50MP Ultra Wide Angle | Three: 48MP telephoto (4x), 50MP wide-angle, 12MP ultra-wide-angle |
| front cameras | 32MP | 11.1MP |
| Other | 65W fast charging, best touch, 10-bit color recording | camera software |
Both phones include Gorilla Glass Victus material, have a 120MHz adaptive refresh rate display (the OnePlus 10 Pro adjusts from 1-120Hz while the Pixel 6 Pro is 10-120Hz), wireless charging, IP68 dustproof / Water resistance, wireless powershare capability and 5G.
Why choose the OnePlus 10 Pro?
I spent a couple of weeks with the Google Pixel 6 Pro but returned it because the cell service was terrible, the battery life wasn’t impressive, charging was too slow for me, and the fingerprint sensor was pretty terrible. Google has improved some of these issues with updates, but has had issues with other updates as well, and the inconsistency of managing a new phone with the first Google Tensor processor has shown that the phone isn’t reliable enough to get my job done. Spotty Wi-Fi and cellular performance is a non-starter for my needs.
OnePlus and Samsung have proven to be the best carriers in my testing, and the same is true of the OnePlus 10 Pro. My commuter train trundles along the suburban tracks, and the OnePlus 10 Pro has stayed connected with solid speed and 5G performance throughout my ride.
Matthew Miller/ZDNet
Even though it’s only been a week, I’m also seeing better battery life than I’ve had on a OnePlus phone in quite some time. In addition, the North American model comes with a 65W charger and a USB-C cable in the box, so you can charge it very quickly. The OnePlus 10 Pro also supports 50W wireless charging and wireless power sharing.
There’s a lot to unpack with the OnePlus 10 Pro’s camera thanks to the powerful and capable software. For point-and-shoot results, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is hard to beat. OnePlus focuses on true color support and creativity. The cameras support 10-bit color capture, LOG movie mode, dual view video, extreme 150 degree and fisheye wide angle lens, tilt shift and XPan mode.
Why choose the Google Pixel 6 Pro?
The two main reasons for choosing the Pixel 6 Pro are the camera software and Android updates. Google’s camera control software doesn’t offer as many modes and options as OnePlus, but Google has nailed the software algorithms and AI into its cameras, giving you excellent point-and-shoot results. If that’s all you do with your phone, the Pixel 6 Pro will serve you well.
Full Review: Google Pixel 6 Pro: Yup, still Google’s best smartphone
OnePlus has a decent track record of updates, but Google’s Pixels are very well supported and always seem to get monthly Android security updates first. The Android 12 experience on the Pixel 6 Pro is fantastic, and you can trust Android 13 to work well too.
Which phone do you prefer and what key feature(s) helped you make that decision?