OnePlus has been striving for camera consistency in its smartphones for years, and this year it’s taking a bold step with the OnePlus 9 series. The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro feature new camera sensors co-developed with renowned Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad, promising iconic colour science to OnePlus’s mobile cameras. Hasselblad, known for its medium format cameras that captured the lunar landings during NASA’s Apollo missions, has entered a long-term partnership with OnePlus. While collaborations with camera giants are common in the smartphone industry, aiming to boost product credibility, Sony’s partnership with Zeiss and Huawei’s partnership with Leica have yielded impressive results. Past OnePlus phones, especially the OnePlus 8 Pro, have come close to excelling in camera quality, except for the selfie camera.
OnePlus aims to elevate its cameras to true flagship level, especially with the 9 Pro, targeting Apple and Samsung as direct competitors. But the 9 Pro doesn’t simply rest on its camera prowess; it’s a true flagship, boasting cutting-edge features and specifications. This review will delve into the benefits of the OnePlus-Hasselblad partnership, dissect the hype, and explore whether the OnePlus 9 Pro lives up to its flagship status.
OnePlus 9 Pro Price in India and Variants
The OnePlus 9 Pro is available in two variants in India: 8GB RAM + 128GB storage priced at Rs. 64,999 and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage priced at Rs. 69,999. The review unit provided was the latter in Morning Mist. With the use of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, the OnePlus 9 Pro has cemented itself as a true flagship, directly competing with Samsung’s S series and Apple’s latest iPhones. The OnePlus 8 Pro, while feature-rich, lacked the high price tag of the big boys. OnePlus has been strategically adjusting its pricing over the years, but this latest bump of nearly Rs. 10,000 over the 8 Pro is more noticeable. Factors such as the Hasselblad partnership, material costs, and local taxes likely contributed to this shift. The real question is: are fans willing to pay nearly Rs. 70,000 for a OnePlus phone?
OnePlus 9 Pro Design
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s design, while not revolutionary, remains familiar yet refined. It bears similarities to the OnePlus 8 Pro in shape and dimensions, but with a slight increase in thickness (8.7mm) and reduction in weight (197g). Sporting an aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass on its curved front and rear, it exudes premium quality. However, the Morning Mist color option features a mirror gloss finish, which might be less appealing compared to the matte finishes on the Pine Green or Stellar Black variants.
The OnePlus 9 Pro, with its tall stature, provides comfortable positioning for the volume and power buttons. Tactile feedback is excellent, and the alert slider functions flawlessly. While there’s no headphone jack, the dual-SIM tray, USB Type-C port (USB 3.1 Gen1), and bottom-firing speaker maintain their familiar positions. Moreover, the OnePlus 9 Pro retains the IP68 dust and water resistance rating of its predecessor and boasts an upgraded 50W wireless charging system (up from 30W).
OnePlus has made the bold move to incorporate an LTPO OLED display on the OnePlus 9 Pro. This display tech claims to lower power consumption by up to 50% compared to the previous iteration. It features a 6.7-inch QHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ certification. The refresh rate adjusts dynamically based on the app being utilized. The display also introduces a feature called Hyper Touch, which, when enabled, is said to optimize touch responsiveness for certain games like Call of Duty: Mobile.
The OnePlus 9 Pro retail box includes a 65W charger, Type-C to Type-C data cable, SIM eject tool, stickers, a case, and standard documentation. In a refreshing contrast to Samsung and Apple, who offer sparse inclusions in their flagship boxes, OnePlus provides a fast charger and essential accessories.
OnePlus 9 Pro Specifications and Software
OnePlus leverages Qualcomm’s top-tier processor, the Snapdragon 888. Introduced late in 2020, this chipset, initially found in the global versions of Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series, has since made its mark on the Asus ROG Phone 5. This will be our first full review of the Snapdragon 888, and we’ll compare its performance to the Samsung Exynos 2100, considering both chips share a similar CPU structure. The Snapdragon 888 is built on a 5nm process and incorporates Qualcomm’s integrated X60 5G modem.
The Indian variant of the OnePlus 9 Pro supports only two 5G bands (N41, N78) for both SA and NSA modes. While this doesn’t hold much weight in the current state of 5G in India, it’s a factor to consider for future usage.
Beyond its speedy RAM and storage, the OnePlus 9 Pro also features dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, stereo speakers, an in-display fingerprint sensor and diverse satellite navigation systems. OnePlus emphasizes the use of a larger vapor chamber, thicker graphite sheets, and a larger copper coil in the OnePlus 9 Pro, all aiming for better heat management.
OxygenOS continues to be a delight, consistently ranking as one of the best Android skins available. The review unit initially shipped with slightly buggy firmware, but an OTA update addressed most issues. However, further updates are needed to completely resolve minor bugs. For instance, the 9 Pro’s always-on display intermittently dims to near invisibility. There’s also a discrepancy between the camera viewfinder framerate, which remains at 30fps even after selecting 60fps.
This is OxygenOS 11, based on Android 11, and it’s very similar to what we saw on the OnePlus 8T. Aside from exclusive settings for the 9 series like ‘Ultra-high video resolution’ and ‘Hyper Touch’, there isn’t much new.
OnePlus’s extreme gaming mode, previously called Fnatic Mode, has been rebranded as Pro Gaming Mode following the end of its partnership with Fnatic. Despite this, remnants of Fnatic Mode branding, including the hidden wallpapers, persist in the firmware.
OnePlus 9 Pro Performance and Battery Life
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s performance is predictably smooth and powerful, driven by its robust hardware. The display excels, showcasing rich, vibrant colors with excellent legibility in any lighting. Menus and lists scroll with ease, and basic tasks like dismissing apps and multitasking are effortlessly responsive. Video content on this display is a treat, thanks to exceptional brightness and lively colors.
The in-display fingerprint sensor functions accurately, although its placement could be higher, like the 8 Pro’s. The Settings app offers customization options for the OnePlus 9 Pro, including clock faces on the ambient display, fingerprint sensor animations, and edge lighting for incoming alerts. The reduced curvature of the display edges, compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro, helps minimize accidental touches.
The Snapdragon 888 is a powerhouse, effortlessly handling modern apps and games. Benchmark scores were impressive, particularly in AnTuTu, where it outperformed the Exynos 2100 with a score of 6,86,911 points against 5,95,576 points. Games ran remarkably well, with titles like Call of Duty: Mobile, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Riptide GP: Renegade showcasing stunning maxed-out graphics. Most games tested ran at 60fps, with exceptions like Fortnite and Brawl Stars taking advantage of the OnePlus 9 Pro’s high refresh rate.
Short gaming sessions didn’t generate noticeable heat, but extended play beyond 15-20 minutes resulted in heat buildup along the metal frame and glass back. During outdoor camera use on a sunny day, the phone even issued an overheating warning, temporarily prohibiting still photo capture. While heat generation during heavy camera use is common, this instance was particularly severe, reminiscent of the Sony Xperia Z series’s issues.
The Hyper Touch option claims to boost touch responsiveness by up to six times in specific games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, League of Legends, and Brawl Stars. As a casual mobile gamer, I didn’t observe a significant difference with it enabled or disabled. However, your experience may vary.
Audio performance on the OnePlus 9 Pro deserves commendation. The bottom speaker and earpiece work in tandem to produce high-quality stereo sound enhanced with Dolby Atmos. The stereo effect shines in gaming and video playback.
The new ‘Ultra-high video resolution’ display option aims to enhance video clarity within specific apps like Instagram. While videos do appear slightly sharper, the difference is subtle and requires a keen eye to detect.
Compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro, the OnePlus 9 Pro feels more user-friendly. The reduced weight, smaller camera bulge, and gentler display curvature, while seemingly minor, significantly impact usability.
Battery life was highly satisfactory throughout the review period. The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a 4,500mAh battery, similar in capacity to the OnePlus 8 Pro. It also supports 65W fast charging, much like the OnePlus 8T. OnePlus renames it Warp Charge 65T, which, akin to the 8T, charges two smaller battery cells instead of a single large one for quicker charging. This enables a full charge of the OnePlus 9 Pro in approximately half an hour.
The most notable addition is faster wireless charging. OnePlus introduces its Warp Charge 50 wireless charger capable of charging the 9 Pro wirelessly at 50W. In my testing, the phone achieved a full charge in approximately 45 minutes. The 9 Pro also supports reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge other Qi-compatible devices using your phone.
Even with extensive usage, the OnePlus 9 Pro consistently provided a full day of battery life, exceeding expectations for most users. In our HD video loop test, the OnePlus 9 Pro ran for just under 16 hours.
OnePlus 9 Pro Cameras
Prior to diving into camera performance, let’s examine the OnePlus-Hasselblad partnership to understand its scope. Hasselblad branding adorns everything, from packaging to the back of the phone. OnePlus’s marketing suggests that the OnePlus 9 series features Hasselblad sensors or lenses, but this isn’t the case. In reality, Hasselblad’s involvement is limited to tuning the color processing algorithms for JPEG photos shot in Auto or Pro mode.
The color difference is most noticeable in photos of people, where skin tones appear warmer and more natural. The difference is amplified when shooting portraits in artificial lighting. For landscapes or other subjects, the difference is less pronounced.
Hasselblad’s influence extends to the camera shutter button, which now features an orange dot, a nod to Hasselblad cameras. However, this appears to be the extent of the partnership’s benefit in the 9 series. Future OnePlus smartphones may see a deeper integration of Hasselblad’s expertise, but this is still conjecture.
The OnePlus 9 Pro is equipped with brand-new rear sensors custom-developed with Sony. The main camera boasts a 48-megapixel Sony IMX789 sensor with features like dual native ISO, a 2×2 on-chip lens for faster focus, and DOL-HDR for enhanced dynamic range in backlit shots, encompassing both stills and video. It can also capture 12-bit RAW files instead of 10-bit, offering increased color information. However, editing RAW files requires a third-party app like Adobe Lightroom, as the default gallery app lacks support.
Next up is a new ultra-wide camera, featuring a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor and a freeform lens to reduce barrel distortion (fish-eye effect) at the hardware level. This lens incorporates autofocus and serves as a macro photography option too. The telephoto camera uses an optically stabilized 8-megapixel sensor with 3.3X optical zoom and 30X digital zoom. A new Tilt-Shift shooting mode simulates the miniaturising effect of a tilt-shift lens.
Unfortunately, the selfie camera remains unchanged from the OnePlus 8 series, utilizing the Sony IMX471 sensor, which is long overdue for an upgrade. The OnePlus 9 Pro also features a fourth monochrome camera (2-megapixels), exclusively used when selecting the black-and-white filter in the camera app.
Let’s begin with the ultra-wide camera, which captures excellent details and colors during daytime. Distortion on objects is minimally visible, especially around the frame edges. Exposures and colors were noticeably better compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro’s ultra-wide camera. Objects closer to the frame edges showed improved detail compared to the ultra-wide cameras on the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
The camera app automatically switches to the ultra-wide camera when your subject is sufficiently close for macro photography. Thanks to this lens and sensor combination, macro shots are incredibly detailed. Even in low light, the ultra-wide camera produced impressive detail, natural colors, and minimal distortion.
The new sensor in the OnePlus 9 Pro’s primary camera delivers enhanced details compared to the 8 Pro, reaching a level of quality comparable to current-gen flagship phones from Apple and Samsung. Close-ups exhibit outstanding sharpness, and colors display pleasing saturation. Portrait mode performs admirably, although the level of background defocus is not adjustable before or after capturing the shot. The new Tilt-Shift shooting mode is a fun addition that can result in unique photos.
The OnePlus 9 Pro captures impressive low-light photos as well. The phone automatically reduces shutter speed, eliminating the need to manually switch to Nightscape mode for optimal exposure. However, further refinement is needed, as textures can appear grainy when photos are magnified to their full extent.
The telephoto camera on the OnePlus 9 Pro shares specifications with the 8 Pro, except for a longer focal length. This means you get 3.3X optical zoom instead of 3X. At this focal length, the 9 Pro captures good detail, although colors appear slightly muted under sunlight compared to the 8 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and even the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Images taken at 10X zoom remain usable, but beyond that, detail and colors become significantly compromised.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra remains the zoom king, producing far superior photos at 30X compared to what the OnePlus 9 Pro can achieve. In low light, the 9 Pro utilizes the telephoto camera for stills instead of relying solely on digital zoom from the main camera. Autofocus is somewhat slow, but the final image quality can be very impressive depending on the lighting.
Compared to the new rear sensors, the selfie camera is a disappointment. Skin tones appear warmer than on the OnePlus 8 Pro, which is a positive, but faces lack the natural look of an iPhone’s. Colors of other objects, like clothing, are often overly saturated. Selfies taken in low light show grainy textures with poorly defined detail. Nightscape is not available with the front camera, and videos are still limited to 1080p. The selfie camera was a major concern on the OnePlus 8 Pro, and it remains unaddressed.
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s video capabilities have benefitted significantly from its powerful processor. You can now capture 8K 30fps stabilized videos or up to 4K 120fps. Surprisingly, there’s no 1080p 120fps option. During testing, I observed that the 9 Pro could only shoot a single five-minute 8K clip before encountering overheating issues and halting recording during subsequent clips. This overheating issue also occurred at 4K 120fps, but lower frame rates at 4K and below did not trigger any alerts. Initially experienced outdoors during the day, this issue presented itself indoors on a few occasions as well. The phone cooled down after a few minutes, but this could pose a problem if you intend to do extensive video work.
Video quality was excellent in both daytime and nighttime shooting. Stabilization functions well at 4K, offering smooth footage with no jitter or shake even in low light. At 4K 30fps, you can switch between the main and ultra-wide cameras, but the telephoto lens is not available (any zoom will be digital). However, at 1080p, pressing the 3.3X button switches to the telephoto camera. When shooting at 8K or 4K 60fps and above, video clips are limited to five minutes. There’s a Nightscape mode for video, which improves exposure in very dark situations but introduces noise. Automatic HDR in videos is enabled when shooting backlit subjects at 1080p or 4K 30fps, thanks to the DOL-HDR feature of the main sensor.
Verdict
OnePlus already had a solid foundation upon which to build the OnePlus 9 Pro. The OnePlus 8 Pro is widely regarded as the company’s best phone to date, and the 9 Pro serves as an evolutionary advancement. The new 5G SoC, faster wired charging, and enhanced cameras are all expected upgrades, and the 9 Pro delivers exceptionally. Brand-new features include 50W wireless charging and a more power-efficient OLED display. These improvements solidify the OnePlus 9 Pro as another stellar OnePlus flagship, worthy of its Pro designation.
While the Hasselblad partnership is often mentioned, the rear cameras’ excellence can be attributed more to the hardware than the partnership itself. Skin tones have shown improvements compared to the 8 Pro, but features like 12-bit RAW, DOL-HDR, and distortion-free ultra-wide photos stem from the hardware. The selfie camera is the weakest link in an otherwise commendable camera setup.
Despite its strengths, the OnePlus 9 Pro isn’t without its flaws. Several software bugs need addressing, overheating occurs during heavy camera usage, and a more advanced telephoto implementation like a periscope lens would have been appropriate considering the price.
Speaking of price, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s pricing comes as a surprise, with the 12GB variant priced at Rs. 69,999. This Rs. 10,000 price jump over the 8 Pro might be difficult for some fans to accept, but, in comparison to Samsung and Apple’s flagship pricing, it remains relatively affordable. If you don’t require features like 8K recording and 50W wireless charging, the OnePlus 8 Pro still offers excellent value, especially if you can find it on sale for less than its launch price.
There’s also the OnePlus 9 to consider, starting at Rs. 49,999, which could be the more popular model of the two. And what does OnePlus have in store for us with the OnePlus 9R? The answer to this question, and many others, will be revealed soon.
