OnePlus 9 vs 9 Pro vs 9R: Which is right for you?
Recognition: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
OnePlus has put an end to its flagships by 2021: the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. The Pro-iteration is the company’s most expensive smartphone to date, and the standard OnePlus 9 also starts at a higher price than its predecessors (albeit cheaper than the OnePlus 8T). In addition, OnePlus added a third device to the series this year. The more wallet-friendly OnePlus 9R is for budget-conscious consumers in China and India. All three have their advantages and disadvantages. 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 rating
OnePlus 9 vs 9R vs 9 Pro
Technical specifications
| OnePlus 9 | OnePlus 9R | OnePlus 9 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| display | 6.55 inch flat AMOLED Aspect ratio 20: 9 2,400 x 1,080 at 402 ppi 120Hz refresh rate (static) | 6.55 inch flat AMOLED Aspect ratio 20: 9 2,400 x 1,080 at 402 ppi 120Hz refresh rate (static) | 6.7 inch curved LTPO AMOLED Aspect ratio 20.1: 9 3.216 x 1.440 at 525 ppi 120Hz refresh rate (adaptive) |
| processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| R.A.M. | 8 or 12 GB | 8 or 12 GB | 8 or 12 GB |
| camp | 128 or 256 GB No external storage | 128 or 256 GB No external storage | 128 or 256 GB No external storage |
| power | 4,500mAh battery Warp Charge 65T 15W Qi compatible wireless charging | 4,500mAh battery Warp Charge 65T 15W Qi compatible wireless charging | 4,500mAh battery Warp Charge 65T Warp Charge 50 Wireless |
| 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 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac / ax NFC support Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Cameras | Back: 1) 48MP main (Sony IMX689) 1 / 1.43 inch sensor 1.12 µm / 46 MP or 2.24 µm / 12 MP ƒ / 1.8, EIS 2) 50 MP ultra wide (Sony IMX766) 3) 2MP monochrome Front: | Back: 1) 48MP main (Sony IMX586) 0.8 µm / 48 MP or 1.6 µm / 12 MP ƒ / 1.7, OIS and EIS 2) 16 MP ultra wide 3) 5MP macro 4) 2MP monochrome Front: | Back: 1) 48MP main (Sony IMX789) 1 / 1.43 inch sensor 1.12 µm / 46 MP or 2.24 µm / 12 MP ƒ / 1.8, EIS, OIS 2) 50 MP ultra wide (Sony IMX766) 3) 8MP Tele 4) 2MP monochrome Front: |
| 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 8.7 mm 192 g India / China: | 161 x 74.1 x 8.4 mm 189 g | Global: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm 197 g |
| Colours | Winter fog, arctic sky, astral black | Soot, sea blue | Morning mist, forest green, star black |
design
Recognition: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
The OnePlus 9 series devices share a similar design language, with the actual differences mainly being in the hardware.
The OnePlus 9 Pro definitely looks like it’s part of the premium offering. Two curved panes of glass flow seamlessly into a thin metal frame, and the new colors, such as Morning Mist in particular, are fantastic. Worldwide, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the only member of the OnePlus 9 family with an official IP68 degree of protection. However, if you buy the regular OnePlus 9 from T-Mobile in the US, it’s also certified for water and dust resistance.
Buying guide for the OnePlus 9 series: What you need to know
The entire design language is familiar to OnePlus fans, with staples like the alarm regulator, punch-hole selfie camera, and stereo speakers on all three phones. The camera module is a new design element and is more in line with what we are currently seeing in the smartphone world.
I prefer a more minimalist approach, but this new look is inevitable with the camera hardware these phones now include. OnePlus did a great job. The camera bump doesn’t stick out too much and fits nicely into the back of the phone.
characteristics
Recognition: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
The OnePlus 9 and 9R have the same Full HD + display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The 9 Pro increases the resolution to Quad HD with an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz. The display of the Pro Edition is also curved, while the lower models have flat screens. The bezels on the OnePlus 9 and 9R aren’t nearly as thin as those of the Pro, either.
When it comes to performance, the 9 and 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. For all three, however, you can choose between 8 or 12 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of storage. The Snapdragon 870 is an impressive SoC, but if you’re looking for the best you can get right now, the high-end options are the way to go.
Recognition: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
Powering all three phones is a sizable 4,500 mAh battery. You also get ultra-fast recharge with each to some degree. With Warp Charge 65T with 9 and 9 Pro, you can fully charge the phone in just 29 minutes. Quickly charging the 9R requires an additional 10 minutes.
All three phones in the OnePlus 9 series support fast charging to varying degrees.
The high-end models also have wireless charging, but there is a difference here too. The standard OnePlus 9 can take advantage of 15W wireless charging, while the 9 Pro gives you super-fast wireless charging when you buy the new 50W wireless charger from OnePlus.
OnePlus flagships have had problems in the camera department in the past, but it’s a compromise that we can’t ignore at current price. The fantastic news is that OnePlus has finally teamed up with at least the 9 Pro.
Recognition: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
The OnePlus 9 Pro has a new high-quality 48-megapixel Sony lens, an excellent 50-megapixel wide-angle shooter, and a decent 8-megapixel telephoto unit. A 2MP depth sensor helps in portrait mode. The key to the massive improvement of OnePlus are the software optimizations from Hasselblad, which deliver highly color-accurate photos. The camera isn’t perfect (no smartphone camera), but it seems that OnePlus finally has a winner in its hands.
See also: The best camera phones you can get
The OnePlus 9’s camera setup is nowhere near as impressive. However, given the price difference between the two, this makes sense. There’s no telephoto lens here, and while the primary lens has the same specs, it’s older hardware. You still get Hasselblad software to do the finishing touches, so you can expect great color accuracy and great-looking shots here too.
Unfortunately, the OnePlus 9R is the poorest. The 9R comes with the same camera hardware as the OnePlus 8T, and we weren’t particularly impressed with it at the time. The 9R doesn’t have the benefit of a Hasselblad software boost either. So it will be interesting to see if the 9R’s camera performance is better than that of the 8T. You will find further analyzes on this shortly.
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 to date, but it’s still a bit cheaper than its counterparts to the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. The OnePlus 9 is in the middle of the package, while the China and India exclusive 9R is the cheapest.
OnePlus 9 vs OnePlus 9R vs OnePlus 9 Pro: which one is right for you?
Recognition: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
If the budget is not an issue, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the obvious choice. You get a high quality appearance, better display, more battery charging capabilities, super-fast wireless charging, dust and water resistance as standard, and a fantastic camera. However, you pay for what you get. So be ready to pamper yourself.
Also read: OnePlus 9 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 – Which Should You Buy?
The OnePlus 9 is a solid alternative if you’re looking to save a fair bit of money. You get the same processing package and ultra-fast charging, and Hasselblad’s software improvements help allay some concerns about the comparatively inferior camera setup. OnePlus also built in wireless charging from the standard model, but you’re missing out on other real flagship features. Even so, the price difference could be reason enough to make this your first choice.
The OnePlus 9R is a mixed bag. If you’ve chosen the 8T, the 9R is the phone for you. It improves on last year’s affordable flagship in many ways, and is cheaper for the time being, too. Aside from budget constraints, there’s no other reason to choose the 9R over its high-end siblings. The 9R is the cheapest of them all, but that’s the only thing that goes for it. Even then, the Standard 9 seems to be more bang for your buck.
