The OnePlus brand has been known to fall short in one category with its models: the camera. In order to fix this issue, they started a three year long collaboration with legendary photography company Hasselblad. This applies to the OnePlus 9 Smartphone, that promises to finally break the chain and represent the beginning of an era where the cameras will no longer be the weak spot.
| Size | 160 x 74.2 x 8.7 mm |
| Weight | 192 grams |
| Software | Oxygen OS 11 / Android 11 |
| Battery | 4,500mAh, 65W Warp Charge, 15W Qi wireless |
| RAM | 8/12 GB LPDDR5 |
| Display | 6.55-inch OLED 2400×1080 (20:9), 120Hz |
| Cameras | 48MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, 2MP monochrome, 16MP selfie |
| Storage | 128/256GB UFS3.1 |
OnePlus 9: Design
The first thing we noticed about the OnePlus 9 is that it is very similar to its predecessor, the OnePlus 8T. The only aspect that obviously differs is the camera block. Other than this it has the same glass-fronted 6.55-inch display and glass back, the same lock button, and the signature OnePlus ring/vibrate/silent toggle on the right side and volume rocker button on the left. They are easy to reach when you use the phone normally. On the bottom, we can find the same USB-C port, with the speaker to the right, as well as a second speaker out of the earpiece.
There is another aspect that differentiates the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 8T, and that is the material of the frame. Instead of metal, it is plastic, which is not too great. Other than this, the protection against dust and water is IP68-rated if you get it from a carrier like T-Mobile. The overall quality is not so bad, even though it is an affordable flagship. It has an AMOLED display, it is flat, without curved edges, it has a glass back, but it sounds slightly hollow.
OnePlus 9: Performance
Overall, the OnePlus 9 has the same top-tier specifications, RAM, and storage options like the OnePlus 9 Pro. The only difference is an updated chipset. To put it as simply as possible, it is fast, runs games and loads apps without a single issue. With a Geekbench 5 multi-core average score of 3654, it is simple to tell that it outperforms many Android models on the market. A slightly annoying issue is that you can not expand the storage, meaning you will have to do with either the 128GB or 256GB version, and eventually rely on cloud storage if you run out. Because it runs on Android 11, it presents the usual clean interface and helpful menu features. While it is able to work on 5G, it does not support mmWave – only mid and sub-6 bands.
OnePlus 9: Battery
The 4,500mAh battery is indeed good enough to last you a whole day, but there are definitely other phones out there that are just as good, with a bigger battery. Even so, the OnePlus 9 does have one advantage when it comes to the battery: its charging speed. The Warp Charge 65T charger that comes in the box will fuel your phone up to 100% in just under half an hour. Not to mention there is also 15W Qi wireless charging available.
Rear camera
Last but not least, what we all have been waiting for: the camera. The OnePlus 9 has a triple rear camera setup, but you will most likely only end up using two of them. The 48MP main camera and 50MP ultra-wide camera are the stars of the show, while the 2MP monochrome sensor helps with photography in low-light conditions, and even with black-and-white photos, if you set the correct filter.
As we mentioned in the beginning, OnePlus started a three-year long collaboration with the noted camera brand Hasselblad, the OnePlus 9 model being the first result. Even though it might take a while until the Hasselblad’s lenses will be a part of the OnePlus models, in this case the contribution can be found in the area of color calibration.
When compared with the photo quality of the iPhone 12 Pro, which is still the high-water mark for phone photography in 2021, it is true that the color reproduction is slightly less precise. Even so, the OnePlus 9 does take better photos than its predecessors. Their color range is more true to life, more detail is shown in surface textures and shadows. This is thanks to the 48MP main camera and 50MP ultra-wide one. The latter comes with an extra surprise: a specialty macro mode that captures up-close photos incredibly well, even better than those shot on phones that come with designated macro lenses. In addition, there is also a freeforming lens, which claims to correct barrel distortion.
Front camera
The front-facing camera is a 16MP one that shoots admirable photos. The color is good, the details are sharp, and the portrait selfies are actually spectacular, especially when you consider the fact that on the front there is only one camera.
What you can have tons of fun with is the Pro Mode. It has been customized to resemble a Hasselblad camera as close as possible. From the screens with the yellow shutter button, to the shutter sound that simulates the sound of a real camera. Aside from the cosmetics, the Pro Mode also offers more controls, allowing you to manually adjust factors like ISO, white balance, shutter speed, focus, and more. Even though it might take a little while to adjust every single thing, you can save images in the 12-bit raw format for optimum quality and editing flexibility.
Overall, the OnePlus 9 delivers top specifications at an affordable price, makes for a great photography experience and does not waste your time with charging. On the downside, when you want to take zoomed photos and videos, the quality will definitely be affected, the storage is not too great, or the battery is not big enough for you. Still, it is up to you to decide, and when you do, you can find the OnePlus 9 on AliExpress.
