OnePlus has finally unveiled the OnePlus Nord 2T, its latest mid-range smartphone in the Nord series lineup and the successor to the previous year’s OnePlus Nord 2 in Europe. Similarly, Google revealed its latest A-series mid-range device Pixel 6a at the Google I/O conference last week. Both OnePlus Nord and Pixel a-series devices have been popular among consumers for their well-rounded value for packages.
With OnePlus Nord 2T and Google Pixel 6a launch in India expected later this year, we explore what these smartphones bring to the table compared to the each other, so you can decide which phone to buy when they’re available.
Table of Contents
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Google Pixel 6a: Price in India (expected)
OnePlus Nord 2T price in India is expected to be between Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000. OnePlus Nord 2T global price is EUR 399 (~ Rs 32,700) for the 8GB/128GB model, and EUR 499 (~ Rs 40,900) for the 12GB/256GB variant. There is a chance that OnePlus could launch the device with even lower prices, with the base variant priced around the Rs 30,000 mark.
As for the Google Pixel 6a, it is priced at $449 (~ Rs 35,000) in the US. Previously, the Pixel 4a was priced at Rs 31,999 in India. So going by this, there’s a good chance that the pricing for the Pixel 6a price in India could be between Rs 34,999 and Rs 39,999.
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Google Pixel 6a: Display and Design
When it comes to display specifications, both the OnePlus Nord 2T and Pixel 6a sport AMOLED panels with HDR capabilities. OnePlus Nord 2T sports the same 6.43-inch Full HD Fluid AMOLED display with a 90Hz high refresh rate as the previous year’s OnePlus Nord 2. The display has an approximate 409ppi of pixel density and also features HDR10+ certification for punchy colours. The OnePlus Nord 2T has a glossy finish, with the front and back protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and a plastic frame around the sides.
On the other hand Pixel 6a has a 6.1-inch Full HD screen but lacks any high refresh rate capabilities, as Google has opted for a 60Hz panel. The display also sports HDR certification. In terms of design, Pixel 6a comes with a plastic back with the front protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Unlike the OnePlus Nord 2T, which has a plastic frame, the Pixel 6a’s frame is made of an alloy frame. Pixel 6A also gets IP67 dust and water resistance, and a fingerprint-resistant coating to protect from smudges.
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Pixel 6a: Processor, RAM, and Storage
OnePlus Nord 2T packs a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 processor at the core, which is an upgrade over the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI on the OnePlus Nord 2. OnePlus Nord 2T comes in 8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB variants.
Meanwhile, Google has chosen to go with the Google Tensor processor with a Titan M2 security coprocessor processor on the Pixel 6a. To recall, this is the same in-house processor that Google used on its last year’s flagship Pixel 6 smartphone. Pixel 6a is available in a single 6GB/128 variant as of now.
That said, both MediaTek Dimensity 1300 and Google Tensor processors will offer enough performance to cut through anything you throw at them.
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Pixel 6a: Camera
In terms of optics, the OnePlus Nord 2T gets a triple camera setup including a 50MP optical image stabilisation (OIS) main camera along with an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP depth sensor and a dual-LED flash. There is a 32MP selfie camera at the front housed in a top-left corner punch-hole cutout.
Pixel 6a sports a dual rear camera setup at the back with a dual pixel PDAF 12.2MP main wide-angle lens (OIS) along with a 12MP ultra-wide shooter and a dual-LED flash. Additionally, it gets an 8MP front-facing camera placed in a centre punch-hole cutout for selfies.
That said, Google’s Pixel lineup has always offered a greater camera experience, even in its mid-range A-series lineup. If you’re really prioritising cameras above all else, you may want to keep an eye on the Pixel 6a. Google is also making use of its Tensor SoC to offer features like Magic Eraser, which helps identify and erase unwanted objects in photos, and Real Tone processing for a more accurate representation of skin colour tone.
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Pixel 6a: Battery and Fast Charging
Talking about the raw battery specifications, both the OnePlus Nord 2T and the Pixel 6a have nearly identical battery capacities. OnePlus Nord 2 gets a 4,500mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging. On the other hand Pixel 6a gets a 4,306mA battery capacity with 18W USB Power Delivery 3.0 fast charging, putting the OnePlus Nord 2T at a clear advantage here.
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Pixel 6a: Software
On the software side, both OnePlus Nord 2T and the Pixel 6a run Android 12 out of the box. OnePlus Nord 2T runs on the Oppo-fied OxygenOS 12.1, which does offer a clean and fast software experience.
Meanwhile, Pixel 6a offers a stock Android software experience. One thing where the Pixel 6a clearly shines is its software support. Google is promising up to 5 years of security updates and three generations of Android updates. For comparison, OnePlus only promises up to three years of security updates and two major Android updates with its Nord lineup. Google Pixel phone’s software update policy is one of the best after Samsung, which promises up to four generations of Android updates. Pixel smartphones are also one of the first ones to get the latest Android updates including new in-development Android builds; the same cannot be said about the OnePlus Nord lineup.
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Pixel 6a: Connectivity
Coming to connectivity, both the OnePlus Nord 2T and Pixel 6a get 5G connectivity (5G Sub 6GHz on Pixel). Both the phones also get a dual SIM feature. OnePlus Nord 2T has two physical dual nano-SIM slots. And on the other hand, the Pixel 6a gets one physical nano-SIM slot, and for the second SIM, you have to rely on the built-in eSIM functionality.
OnePlus Nord 2T and Pixel 6a sport Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity along with dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi 6 (6E on Pixel) support. You do get NFC support on both handsets as well. None of them retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, you have to rely on Bluetooth audio to stream wireless audio.
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Pixel 6a: Colour options
The OnePlus Nord 2T comes in two colour options: Gray Shadow and Jade Fog. The Google Pixel 6a is available in three colour variants: Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage.
OnePlus Nord 2T vs Pixel 6a: Verdict
Given that we don’t yet know the official Indian pricing for OnePlus Nord 2T and Pixel 6a, it is a bit hard to draw a firm comparison between these smartphones. But drawing from the previous knowledge, a handful of things are clear. If you want the best camera experience and long-term software support in this segment, it is better to go with the Pixel 6a. But if you’re willing to compromise on the cameras and long-term software support, both phones will offer exceptional performance and a well-rounded cohesive package.
OnePlus Nord 2T, Google Pixel 6a India launch date
As mentioned earlier, OnePlus Nord 2T was launched in Europe on May 19th at its global event. The Indian launch date and the handset price still remain under the wraps. But it is expected to officially debut in India in the next couple of months.
Similarly, Google unveiled Pixel 6a at the recently held Google I/O conference on May 11th. Unlike OnePlus, Google has gone ahead and announced on its official Google India Twitter account that Pixel 6a will be available in India later this year.
