OnePlus 9 review: Competent but lacks fancy bells and whistles of Pro model
The OnePlus 9 Pro (review) is
a solid smartphone packed with all sorts of fancy bells and whistles that you
expect from a premium smartphone. Though competitively priced, some might find
it expensive. For those who do, there is no harm in checking out the Pro
model’s younger sibling, the OnePlus 9. Though it
cuts some corners on premium features, it brings a motley mix of specifications
and features for uncompromised everyday smartphone experience.
Starting with the design, the OnePlus 9 looks
almost identical to the Pro model but is more compact. It has a glass cover on
the front and back, but the metallic chassis of the Pro model is replaced here
by a plastic one. However, the thin and lightweight design and compact form
factor compensate for the slightly inferior build. Another apparent change is
in the rear camera module, which looks less busy than the one present in the
Pro model.
On the front, the OnePlus 9 has a familiar punch-hole display with
thin bezels on sides. It is a slightly smaller 6.55-inch AMOLED panel but of a
flagship grade with a refresh rate of 120Hz. While the display in the Pro model
supports a dynamic refresh rate which variably adjusts the all the way down to
1Hz for extending the on-battery time, the display in the vanilla model
operates at either the standard 60Hz or the enhanced 120Hz. Surprisingly, the
lack of a dynamic refresh rate here does not compromise on battery efficiency
and the OnePlus 9 delivers an on-battery time that is on a par with what you
get in the Pro model. However, even if the absence of a dynamic refresh rate
does not hinder the user experience, the fullHD+ resolution and lack of
value-added display features like motion smoothing do.
Speaking of user experience, the OnePlus 9 ships with the same
Android 11-based OxygenOS 11 operating system that powers the Pro model.
OnePlus deserves praise for keeping the user interface close to stock Android
while integrating value-added features to elevate user experience (customised
colour tones, dark mode, night mode, hidden space area, etc). Complementing the
user experience is a swift performance, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
system-on-chip, paired with up to 12GB RAM (LPDDR5) and 256GB internal storage
(UFS 3.1).
From graphic-intensive games to multimedia editing, there is
nothing that the phone could not handle. Moreover, there is a game space with built-in
Pro Gaming mode (earlier known as Fnatic mode) for enhanced gaming performance.
The OnePlus 9 supports 5G networks, both
standalone and non-standalone, and WiFi 6. Though both could not be tested at
present, these make for a future-ready smartphone which you might not have to
upgrade for connectivity benefits in times to come. The phone also has stereo
speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
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