OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a: Which phone will be the best budget buy?

Bargain hunters should be looking forward to a OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a face-off. Figuring out how these two device compare could go a long way toward deciding which phone gives you the best value at the start of 2025.

We already know what the Pixel 8a has to offer. Google released its midrange phone last spring, and the Pixel 8a quickly established itself as the best camera phone for less than $500. Because of its Tensor G3 chipset, the Pixel 8a also provides the same AI-powered features on most Pixel flagships. (The exception: The Pixel 9 models that run on a newer Tensor G4 system-on-chip.)

The OnePlus 13R should be on hand soon enough. OnePlus has an event scheduled for January 7 to mark the global launch of the OnePlus 13, and the phone maker has already confirmed that the 13R will appear alongside its flagship counterpart. Like the OnePlus 12R before it, the 13R will be a scaled-back version of OnePlus' flagship phone. While OnePlus sacrifices a few features for the sake of a lower price, performance and battery life usually aren't among those trade-offs.

The OnePlus 13R figures to upend the best cheap phone rankings, but can it unseat the Pixel 8a? Our OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a comparison considers how these phones will match up based on Pixel 8a testing and the information we have so far on the OnePlus 13R.

OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a specs

OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a price

The Pixel 8a sets the standard for midrange phones with a $499 starting price, which is $300 cheaper than Google's least expensive flagship phone. We've seen deals drop the Pixel 8a's price to as low as $299, depending on the retailer.

Last year's OnePlus 12R matched the Pixel 8a's price, at least in the U.S. where OnePlus offered a 128GB version of the phone. In other parts of the world, only a 256GB model was available, with a starting price of $599/£649.

That's relevant to the Pixel 8a because it's unclear if OnePlus is going to include a 128GB model for this year's phone. Right now, the leaked specs we've seen for the OnePlus 13R have only confirmed a 256GB version. If that is the case, it's likely that the OnePlus 13R will cost more than the Pixel 8a.

OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a design and display

In a world of cookie-cutter designs for midrange phones, OnePlus and Google offer two of the more unique looks for their respective devices. The Pixel 8a has Google's distinctive camera bar spanning the length of the phone's back, with a matte back and aluminum frame adding to a very pleasing design. From images shared by OnePlus, the OnePlus 13R retains the OnePlus 12R's look, with a circular camera array on the back of the phone.

OnePlus is planning some design changes, though, including a thinner phone with this year's model. We're expecting the OnePlus 13R to be 8mm thin, which would make it thinner than the Pixel 8a and presumably easier to slip into a pocket. OnePlus is also turning to Gorilla Glass 7, a material that figures to match the durability of the Gorilla Glass used on flagship phones from two years ago. It's unclear if the OnePlus 13R will match the Pixel 8a's IP67 water resistance rating; last year's OnePlus midrange phone came with an IP64 rating, so you couldn't dunk it in water.

With OnePlus expected to feature the same 6.78-inch panel used on the OnePlus 12R, the 13R will offer more screen space than the Pixel 8a's 6.1-inch display. Both phones support a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling.

You get more color options with the Pixel 8a, which is available in Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Bay (blue) and Aloe (green). The OnePlus 13R is set to come in Nebula Noir (black) and Astral Trail (silver).

OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a cameras

Cameras are Google's strong suit, and the Pixel 8a doesn't disappoint in this area, even with its lower price tag. Google equips the phone with a 64MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide lens, with outstanding photo processing software doing much of the heavy lifting. The result are some truly stellar photos with high dynamic range and strong performance in low-light settings. The Pixel 8a has beaten back plenty of low-cost rivals in our 200-photo face-offs, including Samsung's Galaxy A35 and the Nothing Phone 2a.

OnePlus will look to better those results with the help of three rear cameras, with all three expected to feature 50MP sensors. Besides the main and ultrawide shooters, there's a third lens slated for the OnePlus 13R. On last year's phone, it was a dedicated macro camera, but the high megapixel rating rumored for this year's model suggests OnePlus may be adding a dedicated lens for portrait shots.

OnePlus flagships have benefitted in recent years from a partnership with lens specialist Hasselblad. Unfortunately, that partnership doesn't extend to the R series, so the OnePlus 13R faces an uphill battle when it takes on the Pixel 8a cameras.

OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a performance

While OnePlus turns to the latest Qualcomm silicon for its flagships, the R series makes do with an older system-on-chip. But it's not that old. The OnePlus 12R used a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which was only one generation behind the Snapdragon chipset powering last year's best Android phones. If the OnePlus 13R follows suit, that means a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset could power the new device. And that silicon produces results in graphics testing that beats out even Apple's A18 Pro system-on-chip.

The Pixel 8a wouldn't stand much of a chance against a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered rival in performance testing. The Tensor G3 has many strengths — mostly centered around its neural engine — but fast-performance isn't one of them. While the Tensor G3 can handle everyday tasks with ease, it hasn't kept pace with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in tests like GeekBench, which measures CPU performance, or graphics benchmarks like the 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited test. We'd expect the OnePlus 13R to out-muscle the Pixel 8a as a result.

OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a battery life and charging

Battery life also figures to tilt heavily toward the OnePlus 13R, assuming history repeats itself. The OnePlus 12R was the third longest-lasting phone we tested last year, holding out for more than 18 hours on our battery test. With the 13R set to get a bigger battery — 6,000 mAh vs. 5,500 mAh — and running on a more efficient chipset, we'd assume the new phone will earn a place on our best phone battery life list once we get a chance to test it out.

Battery life has been improving on Pixel phones recently, the Pixel 8a included. But Google's phone doesn't come anywhere near the 18-hour mark in our test — its 11 hour and 21 minute result on our battery test is better than average phone's, at least. But barring a massive fall-off in the OnePlus 13R's performance, we'd expect a big gap in battery life to continue once the new OnePlus phone arrives.

OnePlus also equips its phones with fast-charging speeds, with the OnePlus 13R expected to offer 80W wired charing speeds. That compares to 18W on the Pixel 8a. However, OnePlus typically omits wireless charging from the R series devices, something the Pixel 8a does support.

OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a software and special features

Apart from its camera performance, the Pixel 8a's calling card is all the AI features supported by its Tensor G3 chipset. Highlights include photo editing tools like Magic Eraser for seamlessly removing objects and people from photos, Best Take for making sure everyone's smiling an looking at the camera in group shots and Audio Magic Eraser for removing distracting sounds from video footage. You'll also find translation tools, Circle to Search capabilities and an excellent Call Assist feature where the phone's on-board assistant can answer calls and tell you what the person is calling about.

OnePlus' AI efforts have been more modest, though there's hints that may be changing with this year's phones. We've heard that an AI Notes feature is coming with the OnePlus 13R, where your notes will be cleaned up and formatted without your intervention.

We're eager to see what kind of software support OnePlus provides the OnePlus 13R, as midrange phones typically get smaller windows for software and security updates. To that end, the OnePlus 12R offered users three years of support. Google is putting pressure on other midrange phone makers, though, with a support policy that provides seven years of software and security updates. That matches what you get with flagship phones from Google and Samsung.

OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a outlook

There's a reason the Pixel 8a ranks so highly among midrange phones. Its camera performance and AI features measure up well against phones that cost hundreds of dollars more while lapping the competition in its price range. But the R Series phones from OnePlus have their own strengths, especially when it comes to overall performance and battery life.

We'll see if those areas alone are enough for the OnePlus 13R to keep pace with the Pixel 8a and whether the new OnePlus phone has any surprises in store that can push it past Google's handset. The OnePlus 13R vs. Google Pixel 8a showdown is definitely one to watch.

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