When comparing the Google Pixel 9 and the OnePlus 12, the key factor to consider is what priorities matter most to you.

Google Pixel 9 vs. OnePlus 12: Design

I tend to use Pixels quite a bit over the course of the year, and these devices stood out thanks to the distinctive camera bar at the back. With the Pixel 9 generation, Google is making wholesale changes to the design; the camera bar is still intact, but it doesn’t blend seamlessly into the mid-frame, and the sides of the phone are now flat.

If anything, the new design makes the Pixel 9 look like the iPhone 15; I’m not a fan of the design tweaks, but I will admit that the Pixel 9 has better build quality than its predecessors. The phone doesn’t have any flex to the chassis, the buttons have good tactility, and it has good durability — something that was a big problem on previous Pixels.

The OnePlus 12, meanwhile, retains the same design language as its predecessors, offering a svelte design with smooth curves and rounded edges. The Flowy Emerald option looks stunning, and it is still the best color variant available. The matte texture at the back is delightful, and although the device is bulkier than the Pixel 9 at 9.2mm (versus 8.5mm), you don’t feel that in regular use. OnePlus rolled out the Glacial White model of the device a few months ago, and that’s another variant to consider if you want an elegant design. 

I also like the camera housing on the OnePlus 12; the individual rings around the cameras and the seamless way the island merges into the mid-frame is pretty cool. Other design niceties include the alert slider, a hardware toggle that lets you switch between ring, vibrate, and silent modes.

While OnePlus clearly got a lot right on the design side of things, the OnePlus 12 misses out on IP68 dust and water resistance — the phone instead gets an IP65 rating, and that just isn’t enough in 2024. Thankfully, the Pixel 9 isn’t limited in this area, and the device gets IP68 ingress protection.