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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, Manufacturer

OnePlus 12 vs Google Pixel 7a

When it comes to choosing between the OnePlus 12 and the Google Pixel 7a, the flagship OnePlus 12 is the better buy for most people. In contrast, the Pixel 7a’s 18W charging feels painfully slow, taking over two hours to fully charge. If you're serious about performance, the OnePlus 12's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a powerhouse compared to the Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7a, making it ideal for gaming and multitasking.

📱 Display: 6.82" vs 6.1"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 90 Hz🔋 Battery: 5400 mAh vs 4385 mAh

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OnePlus 12

OnePlus 12

4.6
(78)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 750
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Google Pixel 7a

Google Pixel 7a

4.5
(1,343)Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:3 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates (until May 2028)
Processor:Google Tensor G2 (5nm) + Titan M2 security coprocessor
Graphics:Mali-G710 MP7
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Key spec differences

Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.

Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
OnePlus 12
6.82" (measured diagonally from corner to corner)Winner
Google Pixel 7a
6.1"
Refresh Rate
OnePlus 12
1–120Hz (Dynamic)Winner
Google Pixel 7a
90Hz (Smooth Display)
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
OnePlus 12
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
Google Pixel 7a
Google Tensor G2 (5nm) + Titan M2 security coprocessor
RAMKey
OnePlus 12
12GB / 16GB LPDDR5XWinner
Google Pixel 7a
8GB LPDDR5
Storage
OnePlus 12
256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0)Winner
Google Pixel 7a
128GB UFS 3.1 (Non-expandable)
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
OnePlus 12
50MP Wide (Sony LYT-808, f/1.6, 23mm equiv), PDAF, OIS
Google Pixel 7a
64MP Quad PD Quad Bayer, f/1.89, 1/1.73", OIS, Super Res Zoom up to 8x
Ultra-Wide Camera
OnePlus 12
48MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX581, f/2.2, 114° FOV)
Google Pixel 7a
13MP, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV, Dual Pixel PDAF
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
OnePlus 12
5,400 mAh (Dual-cell 2,700 mAh, non-removable)Winner
Google Pixel 7a
4,385mAh (Typical)
Wireless Charging
OnePlus 12
50W AIRVOOC; 10W Reverse Wireless Charging
Google Pixel 7a
7.5W Qi Wireless Charging
Design2 specs
Weight
OnePlus 12
7.76 oz (220 g)
Google Pixel 7a
6.83 oz (193.5 g)Winner
Dimensions
OnePlus 12
6.47" x 2.98" x 0.36" (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15 mm)
Google Pixel 7a
6.00 x 2.87 x 0.35 in (152.0 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
OnePlus 12
5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.4; NFC; IR Blaster
Google Pixel 7a
5G (Sub-6/mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
+

Full specs, pros, and cons

Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.

Comparison: OnePlus 12 vs Google Pixel 7a

OnePlus 12

OnePlus 12

4.6(78)Amazon
Google Pixel 7a

Google Pixel 7a

4.5(1,343)Best Buy
OnePlus 12

OnePlus 12

Rating:4.6(78)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of Android OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 750
RAM:12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X
Storage:256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Display Size:6.82" (measured diagonally from corner to corner)
Screen Type:LTPO AMOLED ProXDR Display
Resolution:3168 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 510 ppi
Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Dynamic)
Peak Brightness:4,500 nits (Peak) / 1,600 nits (HBM)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (Sony LYT-808, f/1.6, 23mm equiv), PDAF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Ultra-Wide (Sony IMX581, f/2.2, 114° FOV)
Telephoto Camera:64MP Periscope Telephoto (OmniVision OV64B, 3x optical, f/2.6); OIS
Optical Zoom:3x Optical Zoom; 6x In-Sensor Zoom
Digital Zoom:Up to 120x Ultra Res Zoom
Video Recording:8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Front Camera:32MP Front (Sony IMX615, f/2.4, 21mm equiv)
Battery:5,400 mAh (Dual-cell 2,700 mAh, non-removable)
Wired Charging:80W SUPERVOOC (US 110V limitation); 100W in 220V regions; Charger included
Wireless Charging:50W AIRVOOC; 10W Reverse Wireless Charging
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.4; NFC; IR Blaster
USB:USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
Durability:IP65 (Dust tight; Water jet resistant - not submersion proof); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front)
Dimensions:6.47" x 2.98" x 0.36" (164.3 x 75.8 x 9.15 mm)
Weight:7.76 oz (220 g)
Biometrics:Optical In-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock
Extras:Hasselblad Camera for Mobile; Alert Slider; Aqua Touch; Trinity Engine

✓ Pros:

  • Excellent value proposition with top-tier specs at a competitive price
  • Massive 5,400mAh battery paired with very fast 80W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • High-quality Hasselblad camera system with a versatile 3x periscope zoom
  • Extremely bright QHD+ LTPO display (4,500 nits peak)
  • Includes useful enthusiast features like an IR blaster and the Alert Slider

✗ Cons:

  • IP65 rating is inferior to the industry-standard IP68 (not rated for submersion)
  • Curved screen edges can be prone to accidental touches despite rejection algorithms
  • US wired charging is capped at 80W (vs 100W global) due to voltage differences
  • OxygenOS has moved visually closer to ColorOS, which may deter purists
  • Large and heavy device (220g) can be cumbersome

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Google Pixel 7a

Google Pixel 7a

Rating:4.5(1,343)Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:3 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates (until May 2028)
Processor:Google Tensor G2 (5nm) + Titan M2 security coprocessor
Graphics:Mali-G710 MP7
RAM:8GB LPDDR5
Storage:128GB UFS 3.1 (Non-expandable)
Display Size:6.1"
Screen Type:OLED, 90Hz, HDR
Resolution:2400 x 1080 (FHD+) at 429 ppi
Refresh Rate:90Hz (Smooth Display)
Peak Brightness:1,000 nits (High Brightness Mode)
Main Camera:64MP Quad PD Quad Bayer, f/1.89, 1/1.73", OIS, Super Res Zoom up to 8x
Ultra-Wide Camera:13MP, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV, Dual Pixel PDAF
Telephoto Camera:No (Not supported) — Relies on Super Res Zoom
Optical Zoom:No (Not supported)
Digital Zoom:Up to 8x (Super Res Zoom)
Video Recording:4K @ 30/60fps; 1080p @ 30/60fps
Front Camera:13MP, f/2.2, 95-degree Ultrawide FOV, 4K @ 30fps
Battery:4,385mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging:18W Fast Charging (Charger NOT included)
Wireless Charging:7.5W Qi Wireless Charging
Connectivity:5G (Sub-6/mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
USB:USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2
Durability:IP67 (Dust/Water Resistant up to 1m for 30 min); Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (Front)
Dimensions:6.00 x 2.87 x 0.35 in (152.0 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm)
Weight:6.83 oz (193.5 g)
Biometrics:Optical under-display fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
Extras:Stereo speakers, Now Playing, Call Screen, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, VPN by Google One

✓ Pros:

  • Class-leading still photography with 64MP sensor and Google computational magic
  • Tensor G2 chip brings flagship-level AI features (Voice Typing, Magic Eraser) to mid-range
  • 90Hz OLED display is a significant upgrade over previous A-series 60Hz panels
  • Includes wireless charging (7.5W), a rarity in this price segment
  • Compact, ergonomic size with IP67 water/dust resistance

✗ Cons:

  • Charging is slow (18W wired / 7.5W wireless) compared to competitors
  • Optical fingerprint sensor can be slower/less reliable than ultrasonic ones
  • Battery life is average; Tensor G2 can run warm under load
  • Large bezels relative to screen size compared to the Pixel 8a or Galaxy S23 FE
  • Only one storage option (128GB) with no microSD expansion

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Which one is better?

Grab the Pixel 7a if you want something lighter and more compact at 6.83oz.

Who should buy each?

Choose the OnePlus 12 if: you need all-day battery life, want lightning-fast charging, or require top-tier performance for gaming. (6.82" display, 120 Hz refresh)
Choose the Google Pixel 7a if: you prefer a more compact device, value exceptional photography capabilities, or want a more budget-friendly option. (6.1" display, 90 Hz refresh)

Conclusion

OnePlus 12 and Google Pixel 7a are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.

Frequently Asked Questions

+Which has better value?

OnePlus 12 excels if you value excellent value proposition with top-tier specs at a competitive price. Google Pixel 7a is better if you prioritize class-leading still photography with 64mp sensor and google computational magic. Pick based on your budget and daily use.

+Is this an independent review?

Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.

+Do newer models exist?

Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.

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