Putting a barrage of leaks to rest, OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro are now official. Yes, this year, OnePlus changed its strategy and for the first time introduced two new phones simultaneously. While the OnePlus 7 Pro is the new poster boy, the OnePlus 7 is a competitively priced option under Rs 40,000, even when it misses out on some of the standout features that the company introduced for the first time.
The OnePlus 7 price in India put it in the same price bracket as the Google’s new Pixel 3a which really makes things interesting. Let’s stack the two phones together and compare them.
OnePlus 7 Vs Google Pixel 3A: Design and Display
The new OnePlus and Google phones are aesthetically polls apart. If you are deciding between the two, you must first be sure about your size preference. The 3A is a compact phone, while the 7 is significantly beefier.
The new 7 carries forward the design of OnePlus 6T, and the Pixel 3a XL doesn’t bring in any revolutionary design changes to the expected Pixel design language.
The OnePlus 7 (review) has all glass and metal built with a premium finish and extremely narrow bezels. It features a teardrop notch on the front and the back panel has graceful curves that ensure a comfortable grip.
The Google Pixel 3a doesn’t feature a notch, has reasonably thick bezels and is made of plastic. Nevertheless, the Google signature two-tone design is distinct and helps the phone stand out in a good way. Irrespective of the choice of materials, the Pixel 3a XL doesn’t feel cheap at all!
While the OnePlus 7 has an in-display fingerprint sensor, on the Google Pixel 3a you will find a reliable rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. While Google has reintroduced the 3.5mm headphone jack, OnePlus continues to look away.
Both phones don’t feature any IP certification but both brands claim that their new phones are splash proof. The OnPlus 7 is further protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and ships with a TPU case bundled within the box.
ALSO READ: Asus Zenfone 6 Review
OnePlus 7 Vs Google Pixel 3A: Hardware
In terms of pure hardware, the OnePlus 7 is a powerhouse in comparison to the Google Pixel 3a. The former is driven by one of the best in business- Snapdragon 855 SoC, the later rocks a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 which isn’t quite as powerful. Moreover, the OnePlus 7 comes with up to 10GB of RAM and 256GB storage while the Pixel 3a is only offered in standard 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. 
While the Pixel 3a can perform most tasks with ease and handle casual gaming, it can’t match the smooth and fast experience that OnePlus 7 offers. At the same time, if you are a light user, the performance shouldn’t be a limitation on either of the two.
OnePlus 7 Vs Google Pixel 3A: Software and Updates
This is where being a Google phone the Pixel 3a has a slight advantage. The phone comes running on pure Android with Google’s Pixel only features like Active Edge, Now Playing, Google Maps AR navigation, Call to Screen and few others. A feature like digital wellbeing helps you limit your smartphone usage.
It ships without any bloatware and will be first in the line to get android version upgrade for the next three years.
OnePlus Oxygen OS is one of the best iterations of Google’s Android software. It is close to stock android but with a number of custom features it manages to create a distinctive identity for itself.
Over the years, the OnePlus has been timely rolling out security patches and software updates for its phones. However, it can’t really match Google’s update timeline. The Pixel phone does have a software advantage, but the Oxygen OS is one of the best-designed custom skins and is richer in terms of utilities and customization options.
OnePlus 7 Vs Google Pixel 3A: Camera
It is another area where these two have taken a distinctive approach. On paper, the OnePlus 7 camera specs make a really impressive read. The dual setup at the back includes a 48MP Sony IMX Sensor coupled with an 8MP telephoto lens. Both these cameras are optically stabilized. Up front, there’s a 16MP selfie camera. The OnePlus 7 camera is competent enough and captures good pictures in most conditions, it falls behind the Pixel 3a camera, and by a margin.
The Google Pixel 3a’s 12.2-megapixel solo rear camera might not sound as impressive as the OnePlus 7, but it delivers the best photos in its class, especially in tricky lighting. Barring the visual-core chip, it is almost the same camera that Google has packed in its current flagship phones.
ALSO READ: OnePlus 7 Pro Review
OnePlus 7 Vs Google Pixel 3A: Battery, and Sound
Both phones pack 3,700mAh batteries but OnePlus with its 20W Warp fast charging has an advantage. One thing that’s common in between the two phones is that neither of them supports wireless charging.
As for audio, there’s not much to choose from as both phones come with Stereo speakers. Having said that, the presence of a 3.5mm audio jack on Pixel 3a is likely to appeal to a lot of audiophiles.
Comparing OnePlus 7 versus Google’s Pixel 3a: Which One Should You Buy?
Both phones have features that could sway your decision in their favor. With OnePlus 7, there’s a better design with really narrow bezels around the bigger AMOLED screen. Overall performance including gaming, in-display fingerprint sensor, and warp charger are few other features that could tempt you to opt for OnePlus 7.
Where the Pixel 3a clearly standout is photography and pure Android experience. Android enthusiasts who want to be the first in the queue to use and test new Android features would surely prefer the Google Pixel 3a.
Points in favor of OnePlus 7
- Bigger display
- Premium glass feel
- Faster charging
- Better performance
- In-display fingerprint
- Dual SIM support
Points in favor of Google Pixel 3a
- Better cameras
- 3.5mm audio jack
- Clean software
- Guaranteed fast updates
