OnePlus has taken the wraps off its 2021 flagships: the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. The Pro iteration is the most expensive smartphone from the company yet, and the standard OnePlus 9 also starts at a higher price point than its predecessors (albeit cheaper than the OnePlus 8T). Not only that, but OnePlus has introduced a third device to the series this year, with the more wallet-friendly OnePlus 9R intended for budget-conscious consumers in China and India. All three have their pros and cons, so which is the right OnePlus for you? Here’s a quick look at the OnePlus 9 vs 9 Pro vs 9R!
Our verdict: OnePlus 9 Pro review | OnePlus 9 review
OnePlus 9 vs 9R vs 9 Pro
Specs
| OnePlus 9 | OnePlus 9R | OnePlus 9 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.55-inch flat AMOLED 20:9 aspect ratio 2,400 x 1,080 at 402ppi 120Hz refresh rate (static) |
6.55-inch flat AMOLED 20:9 aspect ratio 2,400 x 1,080 at 402ppi 120Hz refresh rate (static) |
6.7-inch curved LTPO AMOLED 20.1:9 aspect ratio 3,216 x 1,440 at 525ppi 120Hz refresh rate (adaptive) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 8 or 12GB | 8 or 12GB | 8 or 12GB |
| Storage | 128 or 256GB No external storage |
128 or 256GB No external storage |
128 or 256GB No external storage |
| Power | 4,500mAh battery Warp Charge 65T 65W charger in box 15W Qi-compatible wireless charging (Wireless only in NA/Europe) |
4,500mAh battery Warp Charge 65T 65W charger in box 15W Qi-compatible wireless charging (Wireless only in NA/Europe) |
4,500mAh battery Warp Charge 65T 65W charger in box Warp Charge 50 Wireless 10V/6.5A, 20V/3.25A Output: 50W (with prop. charging stand) |
| Connectivity | 5G support Wi-Fi 6 support NFC support Bluetooth 5.2 |
5G support Wi-Fi 6 support NFC support Bluetooth 5.1 |
5G support Wi-Fi 6 support 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax NFC support Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Cameras | Rear: 1) 48MP main (Sony IMX689) 1/1.43-inch sensor 1.12μm/46MP or 2.24μm/12MP ƒ/1.8, EIS 2) 50MP ultra-wide (Sony IMX766) 1/1.56-inch sensor ƒ/2.2 3) 2MP monochrome Front: - 16MP single (Sony IMX471) 1.0μm with EIS ƒ/2.4, fixed focus |
Rear: 1) 48MP main (Sony IMX586) .8μm/48MP or 1.6μm/12MP ƒ/1.7, OIS and EIS 2) 16MP ultra-wide ƒ/2.2 123-degree field-of-view 3) 5MP macro 4) 2MP monochrome Front: 16MP single (Sony IMX471) 1.0μm with EIS ƒ/2.4, fixed focus |
Rear: 1) 48MP main (Sony IMX789) 1/1.43-inch sensor 1.12μm/46MP or 2.24μm/12MP ƒ/1.8, EIS, OIS 2) 50MP ultra-wide (Sony IMX766) 1/1.56-inch sensor ƒ/2.2 3) 8MP telephoto 1.0μm, ƒ/2.4 4) 2MP monochrome Front: - 16MP single (Sony IMX471) 1.0μm with EIS ƒ/2.4, fixed focus |
| Software | Android 11 Oxygen OS 11 |
Android 11 Oxygen OS 11 |
Android 11 Oxygen OS 11 |
| Dimensions and weight | NA/Europe: 160 x 74.2 x 8.7mm 192g India/China: 160 x 73.9 x 8.1mm 183g |
161 x 74.1 x 8.4mm 189g |
Global: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7mm 197g |
| Colors | Winter Mist, Arctic Sky, Astral Black |
Carbon Black, Lake Blue | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
Design
The OnePlus 9 series devices come with a similar design language, with the real differences mostly in the hardware.
The OnePlus 9 Pro definitely looks the part of the premium offering that it is. Two curved glass panels seamlessly flow into a thin metal frame, and the new colorways like Morning Mist, in particular, are fantastic. Globally, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the only member of the OnePlus 9 family with an official IP68 rating. However, if you buy the regular OnePlus 9 from T-Mobile in the US it’s also certified for water and dust resistance.
OnePlus 9 series buyer’s guide: What you need to know
The overall design language will be familiar to OnePlus fans, with staples like the alert slider, punch-hole selfie camera, and stereo speakers on all three phones. The camera module is a new design element and falls more in line with what we’re seeing across the smartphone world right now.
I prefer a more minimalistic approach, but this new look is unavoidable with the camera hardware these phones now pack. OnePlus has done a good job with it though. The camera bump doesn’t protrude too much and blends nicely with the back of the phone.
Features
The OnePlus 9 and 9R come with the same Full HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The 9 Pro bumps the resolution up to Quad HD with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. The Pro edition’s display is also curved, while the lower-end models feature flat screens. The bezels on the OnePlus 9 and 9R also aren’t nearly as thin as what you get with the Pro.
When it comes to performance, the 9 and the 9 Pro are powered by the Snapdragon 888 processor, while the 9R has the premium mid-range processor of choice, the Snapdragon 870, under the hood. You can choose between 8 or 12GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage with all three though. The Snapdragon 870 is an impressive SoC, but if you’re after the best you can get right now, the higher-end options are the way to go.
Keeping all three phones powered is a sizeable 4,500mAh battery. You also get ultra-fast charging with each to some degree. Warp Charge 65T with the 9 and 9 Pro will let you fully charge the phone in just 29 minutes, with the 9R’s fast charging requiring an extra 10 minutes.
All three OnePlus 9 series phones support fast charging to varying degrees.
The higher-end models also feature wireless charging, but there’s a difference here too. The standard OnePlus 9 can take advantage of 15W wireless charging, while you’ll get super-fast wireless charging with the 9 Pro if you buy the new 50W wireless charger from OnePlus.
OnePlus flagships have historically struggled in the camera department, but it’s a compromise that we can’t ignore anymore at the current price point. The fantastic news is that OnePlus seems to have finally gotten its act together, at least with the 9 Pro.
The OnePlus 9 Pro has a new, high-quality 48MP Sony lens joined by an excellent 50MP wide-angle shooter and a decent 8MP telephoto unit. A 2MP depth sensor helps with portrait mode. The key to OnePlus’ massive improvement is Hasselblad’s software tweaks, which provide highly color-accurate photos. The camera isn’t perfect (no smartphone camera is), but it seems OnePlus finally has a winner on its hands.
See also: The best camera phones you can get
The OnePlus 9’s camera setup isn’t nearly as impressive. It makes sense though, considering the price difference between the two. There’s no telephoto lens here, and even though the primary lens has the same specs, it’s older hardware. You still get Hasselblad’s software to handle the final touches, so you can expect to get excellent color accuracy and great-looking shots here as well.
Unfortunately, the poorest of the lot is the OnePlus 9R. The 9R comes with the same camera hardware found with the OnePlus 8T, and we weren’t particularly impressed with it back then. The 9R also doesn’t have the advantage of a Hasselblad software boost, so it’ll be interesting to see whether the 9R’s camera performance is better than the 8T. Stay tuned for more analysis on this soon.
Price
- OnePlus 9: $729/£629/€699/Rs. 49,999
- OnePlus 9 Pro: $969/£829/€899/Rs. 64,999
- OnePlus 9R: Rs. 39,999
The OnePlus 9 Pro is the company’s most expensive flagship yet but is still a touch less expensive than its Samsung Galaxy S21 series counterparts. The OnePlus 9 falls in the middle of the pack, while the China and India-exclusive 9R is the cheapest of the lot.
OnePlus 9 vs OnePlus 9R vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Which is right for you?
If budget isn’t a concern, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the obvious choice. You get a high-end look and feel, a better display, more battery charging features, super-fast wireless charging, dust and water resistance as standard, and a fantastic camera. However, you’re paying for what you get, so be ready to splurge.
Also read: OnePlus 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 — which should you buy?
The OnePlus 9 is a solid alternative if you’re hoping to save a decent chunk of money. You get the same processing package and ultra-fast charging, and Hasselblad’s software enhancements help address a few concerns about the comparatively inferior camera setup. OnePlus has also included wireless charging to the standard model, but you miss out on other true flagship features. Nevertheless, the price difference might be reason enough to make this the go-to choice.
The OnePlus 9R is a mixed bag. If you were holding out on getting the 8T, the 9R is the phone for you. It improves on last year’s affordable flagship in plenty of ways, and at least for now, is cheaper as well. Budgetary-constraints aside, there’s no other reason to recommend the 9R over its higher-end siblings though. The 9R is the cheapest of the lot, but that’s the only thing going for it. Even then, the standard 9 seems to offer more bang for your buck.
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