La OnePlus 9 review turned out to be more difficult than expected. In fact, its positioning is not the simplest: on the one hand we have OnePlus 9 Pro, which costs a little more but offers more, on the other hand there are OnePlus 8 and 8T that still behave very well and allow you to save a little something.
So is it worth opting for this OnePlus 9? Let's find out together in this review.
OnePlus 9 review
OnePlus 9 will officially land on the market on April 26 starting from 719 € and in three colors: Winter Mist, Astral Black and Artic Sky. Its main features are as follows:
dimensions: 160 x 74,2 x 8,7 mm
Weight: 192 grams
Display: 6,55″ – 1080×2400 pixel – 120 Hz
CPU: QUalcomm Snapdragon 888
GPU: Adreno 660
RAM: 8 / 12 GB
Memory: 128 / 256 GB
Connectivity: USB-C, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, A-GPS
Network: 5G
Rear camera: 48 + 50 + 2 + 16 MP
Front camera: 16 MP
Battery: 4.500 mAh con Warp Charge 65T
Winning color and display ready for anything
La Winter Mist coloring OnePlus 9 won us over right away. It is not obvious, it is not flashy and it really fits everyone. In short, a touch of originality that helps to stand out but without sacrificing sobriety.
The back is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and boasts a glossy finish with a good oleophobic treatment. This means no fingerprints on the back, mind you, but you definitely won't be spending most of your time cleaning it.
The frame is made of glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate; the frame houses on the right the power button and the small switch to activate and deactivate the ringer, while on the left we find the volume rocker. On the bottom instead we have the SIM slot, the USB-C connector and the speaker, which behaves really well when listening to music and videos.
On the front we find a 6,55 ″ display with Full HD + resolution. It is a Super AMOLED with a refresh rate that can go up to 120 Hz. It “can” because you actually set it. You can opt for both 120 Hz and 60 Hz: the first option guarantees a smoother user experience, the second allows you to save battery.
The software also allows you to calibrate the screen, activate adaptive brightness, enable comfortable hue to adapt color based on ambient light, and much more.
OnePlus 9 also supports the always on display of which you can choose the style. We have opted for Insight, a color bar that shows the use of the smartphone. A little visual aid to understand how much you use the phone and perhaps to decide to take a proper break.
But how does this display behave? Definitely good. The OnePlus 9 screen is bright, with vibrant colors and excellent rendering for all types of content. All this in a fairly compact body but without waterproofing, present instead on OnePlus 9 Pro.
OnePlus 9 review: the top of the hardware
As you may have guessed, OnePlus 9 loses a little bit compared to its older brother when it comes to design and display. On the hardware front, on the other hand, you won't really have to give up anything. The 888 GHz Snapdragon 2,84 processor, coupled with 8/12 GB of RAM and the Adreno 660 GPU, never falters. In the last two weeks we have done everything with it, from the most extreme gaming to the daily management of emails, phone calls and messages: in no case has it ever abandoned us.
Then you have all the space you need for photos, videos, files and applications: with its 128 or 256 GB it is really ready for anything. But be careful: the memory is not expandable.
Connectivity is also excellent. On board OnePlus 9 we find 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and NFC, in addition of course to GPS.
Hidden under the display instead we have the fingerprint reader, always lightning-fast, but you can also opt for unlocking with face recognition.
Discount
OnePlus 9 5G Smartphone Without SIM with Hasselblad Camera, ...
- 48MP, 50MP Ultra Wide-Angle and Monochrome Main Camera - The 50MP ultra-wide camera offers ...
- The World of 8K Video - Hyperlapse for Ultra Wide Angle Videos
- 6,55-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED Display - Offering greater color accuracy and detail
Oxygen OS is a guarantee
The top of the range of the Chinese company presents itself with Android 11 and the Oxygen OS 11.2, which is the OnePlus custom interface. To date it is one of our favorites because it manages to combine the cleaning of the basic version of Android ad a series of features that improve the user experience.
At your disposal you have the game mode, the Zen Mode, the possibility of splitting some applications and that of using gestures to capture screenshots, control music and much more. Add to this the Personalization menu, to change the background, fingerprint animation, colors, font and icons.
It is not without flaws, mind you. We have encountered some occasional bugs but from his OnePlus he has the continuous desire to improve and the will to listen to user feedback. So expect several updates that will further enhance the experience.
OnePlus 9 review: the camera in collaboration with Hasselblad
OnePlus 9 comes with three rear cameras:
- the main one from 48 megapixels with Sony IMX689 f / 1,8 sensor;
- the ultra-wide angle of 50 megapixels f / 2,2;
- the 2 megapixel monochrome f / 2,4.
To weigh, however, is the collaboration with Hasseblad, a collaboration that to date does not involve the hardware of this smartphone but which instead focuses on the software. To testify it is the excellent color rendering, handled excellently as is also the case on OnePlus 9 Pro which, on its side, has a more recent main sensor.
Portraits are also handled well, with a soft blur and a subject that stands out naturally, without the annoying tricks that we usually associate with digital intervention.
Macro mode is also promoted which maintains a good level of detail and realistic colors.
The collaboration with Hasselblad also emerges in the details. We have indeed the orange shutter button and the typical sound of the cameras of the Swedish brand. A little touch of class that adds personality to OnePlus 9.
Let's not forget then Pro mode which allows, first of all, to exploit il focus peaking and therefore to have well highlighted the areas of focus. Know that you don't need to be a real expert: just tap on AF to switch to manual focus (MF), after which you just need to make sure that the subject is outlined by the orange lines. You can then act on all the other parameters, from ISO to white balance. In short, if you want to abandon the standard mode and venture into the world of professionals, you can do it in complete tranquility.
Pro mode also allows you to take advantage of another format, 12-bit RAW instead of the more compressed JPEG.
In everyday use you probably won't happen to use it often but for those who want to play the role of a real photographer the difference will be substantial. In the post-production phase you can in fact act in a more marked way, accessing information that would instead be lost with the JPEG format.
They also satisfy the videos, in 4K and 60 fps, which are stable and detailed. A decisive step forward compared to the previous model.
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The OnePlus 9 Pro photo test: the link with Hasselblad is a winner, but there is still work to be done
Autonomy
The OnePlus 9 battery is the same as the Pro: 4.500 mAh which offer roughly the same results. True, the 9 Pro's LTPO display consumes less but the OnePlus 9's lower resolution balances this absence. What does this mean in practice? C.with average use we never had problems covering the whole day, sometimes arriving even in the middle of the next day. With more intense use and 120 Hz always active you lose something but in general you will still be able to end the day without needing external help.
Once discharged, you can restore energy to your smartphone with its 65W charger that gets you back on track in less than an hour. Wireless and reverse charging are also available if you want to use OnePlus 9 to recharge another device.
OnePlus 9 review: is it worth it?
OnePlus 9 it does not have an easy life but it is still a step forward compared to what the previous models offered. With € 719 you take home a more updated product and above all with a better camera, which can count on all the software solutions made possible by the collaboration with Hasselblad. If you are looking for a super top of the range without spending a fortune, it could really be for you.
PRO
- Design and colors
- Great display
- Top-of-the-range hardware
- Oxygen OS is a guarantee
AGAINST
- Memory Expandable
- It is not waterproof
OnePlus 9 5G Smartphone Without SIM with Hasselblad Camera, ...
- 48MP, 50MP Ultra Wide-Angle and Monochrome Main Camera - The 50MP ultra-wide camera offers ...
- The World of 8K Video - Hyperlapse for Ultra Wide Angle Videos
- 6,55-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED Display - Offering greater color accuracy and detail
