We contrasted Google’s Pixel 9a and the OnePlus 13T The Pixel 9a is still costly enough to be classified as a cheap flagship phone, similar to the OnePlus 13T, even though Google calls it a “mid-range” phone. But in a number of respects, the 13T was able to surpass the Pixel 9a. Although it is not a direct replica, OnePlus has now formally declared the OnePlus 13s (Review) as the 13T’s worldwide counterpart. Upgrades and downgrades are among the modifications. Does it, therefore, provide a better deal than the Pixel 9a? Continue reading to learn more.

Google Pixel 9a vs OnePlus 13s: Display & Design

The Pixel 9a is priced by Google, however in order to save money, it has a plastic rear panel. Although it has an aluminum frame, the glass and metal design of the OnePlus 13s make it far more expensive. On its small phone, the latter obviously delivers a higher-end build quality.

The LTPO technology, which allows for a flexible 1-120Hz refresh rate, gives the OnePlus 13s an advantage even in the display space. However, the Pixel 9a is not affected by the 60Hz refresh rate like the iPhone 16e is. Recall that the Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch pOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, FHD+ resolution, and a maximum brightness of 2700 nits. In contrast, the OnePlus 13s boasts a 6.32-inch LPTO AMOLED screen with a maximum brightness of 1600 nits, a refresh rate of 1-120 Hz, and a 1.5K resolution.

Performance

The OnePlus 13s, like the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13T, is powered by Qualcomm’s most recent and advanced Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. It has been observed that this chipset performs noticeably better than Google’s Tensor G4 chipset. On an Android phone, the Snapdragon processor is the greatest processor for gaming.

On the other hand, the Google Tensor focuses on artificial intelligence. The Tensor G4 may be adequate for everyday operations because not everyone plays mobile games, but the OnePlus 13s’ 3nm Snapdragon 3nm chip also uses a lot of power. Thus, performance is not being sacrificed for battery life. Having said that, the OnePlus small flagship surpasses the Pixel in one additional area.

Battery and Charging

In contrast to the massive 6,260mAh cell seen in the 13T, the OnePlus 13s boasts a smaller 5,850mAh battery capacity. But it still surpasses the enormous Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in size. The 13s’s 5,100mAh battery comfortably outperforms the Pixel 9a’s, despite its lighter and slimmer design. With its 23W wired fast charging compared to the OnePlus’ 80W charging speed, the Pixel is once again left behind when it comes to charging speeds. But Google’s Pixel 9a, which enables 7.5W wireless charging, is a small secret weapon.

Pricing

The 8GB + 128GB base model of the Pixel 9a was released by Google for 499 USD, while the 8GB + 256GB model was listed for 599 USD. Only the 256GB model of the Pixel 9a, which costs 49,999 INR, is available in the Indian market. The OnePlus 13s was recently released by OnePlus, with a starting price of 54,999 INR for the 256GB model. However, it is now available for 49,999 INR because of bank discounts.