The new OnePlus phones not only have the best possible hardware, but they also want to conquer us with that soul that goes beyond the rational. The brand also promises a forward in photography.
Throughout the year, many technological products pass through. Most of them, with their positives and negatives, end up leaving a good taste in the mouth. However, only a few have that special aura that makes you connect with them and go far beyond their specification table, their price, or their market positioning. The new OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, with which we have had the opportunity to spend the last few days.
Key Specification
| OnePlus 9 Pro | OnePlus 9 | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 | Snapdragon 888 |
| Display | 6.55 inch | 6.67 inch |
| Memory | 8 or 12 GB | 8 or 12 GB |
| Camera | 48 MP + 50 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP | 48 MP + 50 MP + 2 MP |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Exmor-RS CMOS Sensor | Exmor-RS CMOS Sensor, UltraPixel BSI image sensor |
Design
| OnePlus 9 Pro | OnePlus 9 | |
| Dimensions | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm | 160 x 74.2 x 8.7 mm (EU/NA) 160 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (IN/CN) |
| Weight | 197 g (6.95 oz) | 192 g (EU/NA) 183 g (IN/CN) (6.46 oz) |
| Screen Size | 6.7 ” (17.02 cm) | 6.55 ” (16.64 cm) |
| Display | 1440 x 3216 pixels | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Colors | Morning Mist, Pine Green, Stellar Black | Astral Black, Arctic Sky, Winter Mist |
One of the keys to this pleasant experience is attention to detail. OnePlus is a brand that has always been known for it. And neither the OnePlus 9 nor the OnePlus 9 Pro are an exception.
The packaging, for example, is quite careful. It is something that many brands tend to leave in the background because, after all, we probably see it only once. However, for the Chinese brand, it is something worth treating well.
The same can also be said about the firmness of the buttons, the super useful switch to mute the phone – something that only Apple and OnePlus mount – or the harmony of the materials that make up the phone. But the thing, obviously, does not stop there: both phones have a design that, in addition to sitting very well in the hand, is quite attractive.
The OnePlus 9, first of all, is characterized by having a completely flat screen and lines quite similar to the OnePlus 8T. However, the texture of some materials, the range of colors selected by OnePlus, the design of the new photographic module and the weight distribution of the product make the feeling more premium than that of the model to which it happens.
The OnePlus 9 Pro, on the other hand, features a curved screen. Mind you: the radius of curvature is smaller than on previous occasions, which is a step in the right direction. It is true that curved screens attracted a lot of public attention for some years, but, with the passage of time, they have been losing weight. In fact, Samsung, who launched them in the first place, has progressively reduced the curvature of its panels with each generation.
Both the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro that I have been testing for the past few days have a mirror finish. In the case of the Pro, in silver; and, in the case of the standard model, in a tone close to mauve. An interesting detail of this finish is that the mirror effect is progressive. That is to say: the lower half is more reflective than the upper half, which tends more towards matte. It is probably difficult to see in the images, but when you hold them, it is striking.
Performance
| OnePlus 9 Pro | OnePlus 9 | |
| Processor | Octa core (2.84 GHz, Single core, Kryo 680 + 2.42 GHz, Tri core, Kryo 680 + 1.8 GHz, Quad core, Kryo 680) | Octa core (2.84 GHz, Single core, Kryo 680 + 2.42 GHz, Tri core, Kryo 680 + 1.8 GHz, Quad core, Kryo 680) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| RAM | 8 or 12 GB | 8 or 12 GB |
| Internal storage | 128 or 256 GB | 128 or 256 GB |
| Storage expansion | No | No |
| OS | Android 11, OxygenOS 11.2.2 | Android 11, OxygenOS 11.2.2 |
One of the characteristics that have always defined OnePlus products is speed. The company usually incorporates the fastest components, but its work does not stop there: OnePlus also greatly refines the software of its products to get that extra performance that other brands leave in the pipeline.
The new OnePlus 9, how could it be otherwise, check in this regard. The combination of the Snapdragon 888 – Qualcomm’s most advanced chipset -, UFS 3.1 memories, up to 12 GB RAM modules, up to 120 Hz displays, and various OnePlus optimizations make everything on this phone super fast and fluid. From scrolling through the most popular applications to the most demanding video games. I think I would not be exaggerating if I said that these are the most fluid Android phones of the moment.
One of the keys to that good experience, as I said, is the screen. In both phones, we find OLED panels capable of raising their refresh rate to 120 Hz, although the OnePlus 9 Pro is a bit more advanced.
Camera
| OnePlus 9 Pro | OnePlus 9 | |
| Rear | 48 MP + 50 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP | 48 MP + 50 MP + 2 MP |
| Front | 16 MP | 16 MP |
| Video recording | 7680×4320 @ 30 fps 3840×2160 @ 60 fps 1920×1080 @ 240 fps 1280×720 @ 480 fps | 7680×4320 @ 30 fps 3840×2160 @ 60 fps 1920×1080 @ 240 fps 1280×720 @ 480 fps |
OnePlus has put a lot of emphasis on the photography area this year. In the Pro model, the company has decided to opt for a new range of sensors, in addition to resorting to the iconic Hasselblad to refine the color of the images. In the standard model, in addition to all that, it has also dispensed with the macro camera in favor of a better wide-angle.
In general, both the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro are capable of capturing quite good photos, better than those of previous generations. The scenes are better balanced, the colors are much more natural, etc. The step forward is super evident.
Multimedia
| OnePlus 9 Pro | OnePlus 9 | |
| Headphone jack | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| Speakers | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
Battery Life
| OnePlus 9 Pro | OnePlus 9 | |
| No of Cell/Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Quick Charging | Warp, 65W: 100 % in 29 minutes | Warp, 65W: 100 % in 29 minutes |
| User Replaceable | No | No |
Last year, OnePlus put an end to one of its main shortcomings: wireless charging. However, it did so only with the Pro model. Both the OnePlus 8T and the OnePlus 8 were left without this feature that some of their main rivals did offer.
This year, luckily, the story is different. The two OnePlus 9s are compatible with the Qi standard, although the charging speed varies between the two models. The OnePlus 9 supports up to 15 watts of power and the OnePlus 9 Pro raises that figure to 50 watts.
The 50-watt wireless charging system, dubbed Warp Charge 50 Wireless, allows the mobile to be fully charged in less than an hour, which is very useful in some situations. Of course: to charge the mobile at maximum speed it is necessary to use the OnePlus wireless charger – which is sold separately and is priced at 69.95 euros. This one, by the way, has a small fan that cools the device while it is charging. If you are in a quiet room, you will hear it.
The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are also compatible, how could it be otherwise, with the brand’s fastest cable charging system. This manages up to 65 watts of power and allows the battery to be fully charged (from 1% to 100%) in just 29 minutes.
The battery of both models, by the way, has a capacity of 4,500 mAh capacity. In practice, the experience has been satisfactory. No day, even when I’ve been using the phone the most, have I had to turn off power-saving features or find a charger before the day was out.
Connectivity
| iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro | |
| SIM | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM |
| Bluetooth | v5.2 | v5.2 |
| Wifi | Wi-Fi 802.11, a/ac/ax/b/g/n, MIMO | Wi-Fi 802.11, a/ac/ax/b/g/n, MIMO |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, USB On-The-Go | USB Type-C 3.1, USB On-The-Go |
| Sensors | On-screen | On-screen |
Conclusion!
The OnePlus 9 Pro, overall, is an excellent phone. The design is attractive, the screen is really good, it’s super fast. It checks everything you can ask for, including the camera – which, despite being a bit below the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Galaxy S21 Ultra, achieves good results. If to all that you add the RRP –which is less than 1200 USD– and that soul that I have commented throughout the analysis, it is impossible not to recommend its purchase. For me it is – and probably will be – one of the mobiles that I have enjoyed the most in 2021.
With the OnePlus 9, the experience is also super good, but it is true that, due to its price, it competes with mobiles like the Xiaomi Mi 11, which is a pretty tough nut to crack. The choice between one or the other will depend, at the end of the day, on the preferences of the consumer. But what I am clear about is that this OnePlus 9 has everything to be in the battle.
