A few weeks ago, when OnePlus launched its 2019 OnePlus 7 series, smartphone enthusiasts were excited to see two premium phones in different price brackets, offering flagship smartphone experience. While the OnePlus 7 Pro takes the flagship smartphone game to a different territory, the regular OnePlus 7 carries on with the tried-and-tested formula OnePlus has stuck to for years - high-end specs at a more affordable price. And though we haven't reviewed it yet, the OnePlus 7 seems to be the smart choice for budget-conscious buyers, at least on paper.

While we assumed that it would be a while before the OnePlus 7 can be challenged, Xiaomi has launched its Redmi K20 series in China. Termed "Flagship Killer 2.0", it is evident that Xiaomi is taking a dig at OnePlus with the same formula - high-end specs without burning a hole in the wallet. The Redmi K20 Pro has features that can make the OnePlus 7 buyer reconsider her choice. And since this phone is coming to India, many of you will wonder whether you should get the OnePlus 7 or go for the "more-bang-for-your-buck" Redmi K20 Pro. Let's talk about it

Do note that the comparison is strictly based on features. We are yet to review any of these phones.

Design and Build: Both look extremely premium

In 2019, if you are looking for a smartphone that carries the word "flagship" in its promo material, you could be well assured that the glass-metal combo design is obvious along with gradient colours. The Redmi K20 Pro is a very fine example of that, especially with its ravishing gradient colours. The Redmi K20 Pro also gets a 6.3-inch fullscreen notch-less display with slim bezels and a narrow chin. To accommodate the front camera, there's a conventional pop-up mechanism similar to the one in the OnePlus 7 Pro. You will also find a USB-C port and, wait for it - the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The OnePlus 7, on the other hand, is devoid of the 3.5mm headphone jack. It also has a conventional 6.4-inch notched display similar to the one we saw on the OnePlus 6T. That said, the OnePlus 7 uses a classier look that may appeal to more people. There's no gradient design here but OnePlus has crafted the phone in a way to reflect light beautifully when held at several angles. Even the display, despite having a notch, has slim bezels. It has a sort of simplicity and that simplicity is very appealing.

Both the phones use Full HD+ AMOLED screens and both come with optical in-display fingerprint sensor. Since the OnePlus 7 uses most components from the OnePlus 7 Pro, the optical fingerprint sensor should be quite fast. Additionally, with the camera sitting in a notch, the Face Unlock system on the OnePlus 7 will be extremely quick.

Specifications: Top-notch flagship killers

Both the Redmi K20 Pro and OnePlus 7 are supposed to affordable flagship phones. Hence, in terms of specifications, you can't find more appealing Android phones than these.

Let's start with the OnePlus 7. Keeping up with the tradition of using best components, the OnePlus 7 relies on a Snapdragon 855 chipset and can be equipped with either 6GB or 8GB RAM. Like the OnePlus 7 Pro, it also comes with faster UFS 3.1 storage in either 128GB or 256GB. Everyone's favourite Oxygen OS based on Android 9 Pie is here with a minimalist approach to a customised Android experience. And to keep the phone alive, there's a 3700mAh battery that comes with support for the 20W Fast Charge system, earlier known as Dash Charging.

The Redmi K20 Pro isn't much different either. Powered by the same Snapdragon 855 chipset, it can be ordered with either 6GB or 8GB RAM. For storage, there's a choice of either 64GB, 128GB or 256GB. Since it's a Xiaomi phone, it will come with MIUI 10 based on Android 9 Pie. To power up the phone, there's a 4000mAh battery that can be filled with 27W fast charging system.

While both offer top-notch specifications, both appeal to different kinds of users. The Redmi K20 Pro will appeal to those who value affordability without giving up on flagship-grade specifications. MIUI has always been favourable for those who prefer extensive customization options. The Game Turbo 2.0 is an addition to help gamers with unique tools, including a Night Vision mode.

The OnePlus 7 with its Oxygen OS, in comparison, is meant for those who prefer a simple and organized approach to a mobile operating system. And when you consider the faster UFS 3.1 storage, the OnePlus 7 will theoretically have an advantage over the Redmi K20 Pro in terms of raw performance. Gamers will also find the Fnatic mode quite useful during extensive sessions.

Cameras: 48-megapixel is for everyone

The 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 camera sensor is being used widely this year and these two phones aren't exempt from that trend. However, the implementation is different here.

The OnePlus 7 Pro has a dual camera unit, with the primary one being the 48-megapixel camera and the secondary 5-megapixel unit being a depth sensor. This setup can't do wide-angle photos as well as optical zoom photos. However, if the primary camera performance is anything close to that of the OnePlus 7 Pro, it should make most users happy.

The Redmi K20 Pro has a triple camera setup similar to the OnePlus 7 Pro. The 48-megapixel camera is the primary one with F1.8 lens while the 13-megapixel camera is used for ultra-wide photos. The third camera is an 8-megapixel telephoto camera. This setup promises versatility and until we check it out for ourselves, we don't know how well it performs.

Both these phones have a 16-megapixel selfie camera with fixed focus and no flash.

Price: Xiaomi has an advantage but OnePlus can justify

This is the reason why Xiaomi has been promoting the Redmi K20 Pro as a flagship killer. If the prices in China are anything to go by, then starting at Rs 25,000, the Redmi K20 Pro will have a price benefit of Rs 8,000 over the base version of the OnePlus 7, which costs Rs 32,999. In fact, the top-end variant of the Redmi K20 Pro with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage still costs approximately Rs 30,000, which is lower than the OnePlus 7 Pro's base variant.

That said, OnePlus phones are known to live long and sustain the performance over the course of its time. OnePlus has been gaining accolades over the years for its polished overall user experience that even outdoes some other Android flagship phones. Hence, even at Rs 32,999, the OnePlus 7 will be a bargain for those who crave for iPhone-like user experience in the Android universe.