Pixel 4 vs OnePlus 7t: These devices have a lot in common, but also some big differences

When you look at the specs on paper, you may realize that the Pixel 4 vs 7t have a lot of similarities. They both have high refresh rate 90hz displays, similar Snapdragon 855/855+ chips, and Android OS-based operating systems. But what makes these phones especially different are the screen sizes. 

OnePlus 7t screen size vs Pixel 4 screen size

While the Pixel 4 has a 5.7” display, the OnePlus 7t has a 6.55” screen. This means that the Pixel 4 is a better device for one-handed use, while the OnePlus is better for users who primarily intend to use their device for heavy media consumption, browsing, and video streaming.

Battery life: Pixel 4 vs OnePlus 7t

There are also other distinguishing characteristics of the OnePlus 7t vs Pixel 4, one of which is battery life. Since you’ll find a much bigger battery in a refurbished OnePlus 7t—3800mAh vs 2800mAh in the Pixel 4—you should probably buy the OnePlus if you need a phone that can reliably last you all day without needing to recharge. As we said before, a refurbished OnePlus 7t will probably be the better choice for heavy smartphone users.

OnePlus 7t vs Pixel 4: OxygenOS vs pure Android

Although the OnePlus 7t is an Android device, it runs OxygenOS, which is a slightly different variation of Android than you can find on the Pixel 4. And even though OxygenOS is relatively nice to use and isn’t known for having any significant trouble spots, we definitely prefer the “pure” Android experience of the Pixel 4. Since the Pixel 4 is a Google device, you can also expect it to receive software support for a much longer time than the OnePlus 7t—at least until 2022.

Camera performance of the OnePlus 7t vs Pixel 4

When you compare the cameras on the OnePlus 7t vs Pixel 4, you’ll notice that the Google phone has a much “smarter” camera system. What does this mean? You’ll notice that the colours coming from the Pixel 4 images are more “true-to-life” and that nighttime shots look clearer when compared to those coming from the OnePlus 7t. This is a result of Google’s work using machine learning algorithms in their photography software to help enhance different types of scenes. And although other phone manufacturers are also building similar systems, Google and Apple are currently the leaders in this space. The one advantage of the OnePlus 7t is that it has an ultra-wide camera lens which is missing in the Pixel 4, but unless you’re the kind of person that specifically likes taking a lot of wide-angle landscape photos, chances are you’ll probably seldom (if ever) actually use this feature. Therefore, when it comes to a camera comparison of the Pixel 4 vs OnePlus 7t, the refurbished Pixel 4 is our clear favourite.

Some additional gimmicks of the Pixel 4

This isn’t really that game-changing of a feature in our opinion, but the Pixel 4 has a radar array located in the “forehead” of the device which gives it a lightning-fast and secure face unlock system, and this also enables you to use some hand motions to navigate your device (i.e. you can skip songs by simply waving your hand above your phone without needing to actually touch it).

Pixel 4 vs 7t: Overall winner

When it comes to choosing a winner for our Pixel 4 vs 7t comparison, we’d say that it really depends on how you plan to use your device. If you’re a photography enthusiast that spends most of the day by an electric outlet and wants a device that feels fresh and intuitive, buying the refurbished Pixel 4 may be the right choice for you. But if you’re a heavy smartphone user that watches/reads a lot of digital content on mobile and wants the peace of mind of longer battery life, then the refurbished OnePlus 7t will probably be the more appropriate phone for you.