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OnePlus 9 smartphone review: Strong OnePlus phone without major progress

An improved Xiaomi Mi 11? The OnePlus 9 offers very good technical features on paper, but is it worth it to make the switch from the OnePlus 8T? And can the cameras of the OnePlus phone live up to the hype surrounding the cooperation with the renowned Swedish manufacturer Hasselblad? Our review of the OnePlus 9 will reveal the answers to this.
OnePlus 9 smartphone review

After Xiaomi introduced the Mi 11 as the cheapest entry into the 2021 flagship series, OnePlus now follows suit with the 9 model. The OnePlus 9 is quite a bit cheaper than its big brother, but it still offers an interesting technical configuration. The following models are available:

OnePlus 9 (128 GB storage/8 GB RAM): 699 Euros (~$822)

OnePlus 9 (256 GB storage/12 GB RAM): 799 Euros (~$940)

The premium smartphone uses a 6.55-inch OLED panel with a native refresh rate of 120 Hz. Like this year's Pro model, the OnePlus 9 makes use of a Hasselblad-branded, rear-facing camera setup as well as a 16 MP front-facing camera integrated into the punch hole.

The OnePlus 9 will be available in Germany starting April 26. Naturally, the question is whether it is worth investing at least 699 Euros (~$822) in the 2021 model. Our review will clarify this.

OnePlus 9 (9 Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G 8 x 1.8 - 2.8 GHz, Cortex-X1 / A78 / A55 (Kryo 680)
Graphics adapter
Memory
12 GB 
Display
6.55 inch 20:9, 2400 x 1080 pixel 402 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, AMOLED, HDR, 120 Hz
Storage
256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash, 256 GB 
, 221 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), Audio Connections: USB Type-C, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: accelerometer, electronic compass, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, sensor core, flicker-detect sensor, front RGB sensor, OTG, Miracast, alert slider
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.2, GSM: B2, 3, 5, 8; WCDMA: B1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 19; LTE-FDD: B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 66; LTE-TDD: B38, 39, 40, 41; 5G NSA: N1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78; 5G SA: N1, 3, 7, 28, 41, 78, Dual SIM, LTE, 5G, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.7 x 160 x 74.2 ( = 0.34 x 6.3 x 2.92 in)
Battery
4500 mAh
Charging
wireless charging, fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Android 11
Camera
Primary Camera: 48 MPix (Sony IMX689, 1/1.43", 1.12 µm, 23 mm equivalent, ƒ/1.8); 50 MP (Sony IMX766, 1/1.56", 14 mm equivalent, ƒ/2.2); 2 MP (monochrome)
Secondary Camera: 16 MPix (Sony IMX471, 1.0 µm, ƒ/2.4)
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: on-screen, Warp Charge 65 power adapter, Warp Charge Type-C to Type-C cable, quick-start guide, information and warranty card, OnePlus Sticker, screen protector (pre-applied), SIM tray ejector, Oxygen 11, 24 Months Warranty, SAR: Body: 1.18 kg/g; head: 1.20 kg/g, fanless
Weight
192 g ( = 6.77 oz / 0.42 pounds), Power Supply: 143 g ( = 5.04 oz / 0.32 pounds)
Price
799 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible contenders in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Drive
Size
Resolution
Best Price
87.2 %
04/2021
OnePlus 9
SD 888 5G, Adreno 660
192 g256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash6.55"2400x1080
87.8 %
10/2020
OnePlus 8T
SD 865, Adreno 650
188 g128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash6.55"2400x1080
87.3 %
02/2021
Xiaomi Mi 11
SD 888 5G, Adreno 660
196 g128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash6.81"3200x1440
89.6 %
02/2021
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14
200 g128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash6.70"2400x1080
84.6 %
10/2020
Google Pixel 5
SD 765G, Adreno 620
151 g128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash6.00"2340x1080
88.6 %
06/2022
OnePlus 9 Pro
SD 888 5G, Adreno 660
197 g256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash6.70"3216x1440

Case - OnePlus 9 with punch hole

OnePlus 9 in Arctic Sky
OnePlus 9 in Arctic Sky
OnePlus 9 in Astral Black
OnePlus 9 in Astral Black

Three different color options are available for the OnePlus 9: Winter Mist, Arctic Sky, and Astral Black. The latter have a matte back made of Gorilla Glass 5 and look quite stylish, in our opinion. Our review sample in Winter Mist is also "matte" in the area of the camera module, while the lower part of the case acts more like a mirror. Due to the matte finish below the glass, fingerprints are naturally much less present in the upper area than in the section belonging to the lower third with its high-gloss look.

The slightly curved glass panel on the back feels comfortable in the hand. Overall, the build quality and feel are at a very high level, although the frame was probably only made of plastic and not metal, which is also quite perceptible. The built-in buttons sit firmly in the frame as well, and the pressure points are pleasantly firm. The OnePlus-typical alert slider is also on board again.

In contrast to the Pro model, the Gorilla Glass on the front is flat. Whether you like that or not is a matter of taste. However, a negative consequence of the flat design are the bezels on the top and bottom of the 6.55-inch display. Although they are relatively thin, they are not as thin as on the Xiaomi Mi 11, for example. This only results in a good screen-to-body ratio of 87.5%.

The case of the OnePlus 9 lacks an official IP certification. However, an inquiry to our provider confirmed that the OnePlus 9 also has the same seals as the OnePlus 9 Pro, which means that (theoretically) not only the Pro model is water-resistant. However, the OnePlus 9 was not officially certified.

OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review

Size comparison

164.3 mm / 6.47 inch 74.6 mm / 2.94 inch 8.06 mm / 0.3173 inch 196 g0.4321 lbs163.2 mm / 6.43 inch 73.6 mm / 2.9 inch 8.7 mm / 0.3425 inch 197 g0.4343 lbs161.5 mm / 6.36 inch 75.6 mm / 2.98 inch 7.8 mm / 0.3071 inch 200 g0.4409 lbs160.7 mm / 6.33 inch 74.1 mm / 2.92 inch 8.4 mm / 0.3307 inch 188 g0.4145 lbs160 mm / 6.3 inch 74.2 mm / 2.92 inch 8.7 mm / 0.3425 inch 192 g0.4233 lbs144.7 mm / 5.7 inch 70.4 mm / 2.77 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 151 g0.3329 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity - OnePlus smartphone with USB 3.1

The OnePlus 9's features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, dual SIM, and USB OTG for fast connection of external accessories. The wireless image transmission of screen content (Miracast) also works without problems in our test. A USB Type-C port that supports the USB 3.1 Gen. 1 standard is available for wired data transfer. The 4,500 mAh battery is also charged via the USB-C port on the case's bottom using Warp Charge 65T.

The internal UFS storage in our review sample has a capacity of 256 GB, but the user only has 221 GB available out of the box. It's not possible to expand the OnePlus 9's storage.

The OnePlus 9's Camera2 API is available at Level 3, and streaming content can be viewed in HD quality thanks to DRM Widevine L1.

Left case side (volume rocker)
Left case side (volume rocker)
Top case side (microphone)
Top case side (microphone)
Bottom case side (speaker, USB port, microphone, SIM slot)
Bottom case side (speaker, USB port, microphone, SIM slot)
Right case side (on/off button, alert slider)
Right case side (on/off button, alert slider)

Software - OnePlus phone with Android 11

The OnePlus 9 comes with Android 11 and the OxygenOS software interface out of the box. In version 11, the in-house UI comes with a new Turbo Boost 3.0 memory optimization feature that is supposed to keep more apps active in the background through RAM compression and virtual RAM, which converts phone storage into RAM.

OnePlus offers a clean and well-optimized operating system with OxygenOS 11. Apart from Google apps, only Netflix is preinstalled as a third-party app. The interface offers many configuration options, but it's lacking a one-hand mode.

During our testing, our OnePlus 9 runs OxygenOS version 11.2.11 with security patches at the level of February 2021.

OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review

Communication and GPS - OnePlus 9 with 5G

With Wi-Fi 6 and multi-user MIMO, the OnePlus 9 offers a very good configuration for the home Wi-Fi network, which ensures high transfer rates in our measurements. In combination with our Netgear Nighthawk AX12 reference router, the OnePlus phone is also quite consistent. However, the average rate for sending data is "only" about 685 Mb/s, which is still good, but the OnePlus 8T performed better in our test.

In terms of communication modules, the OnePlus 9 also uses dual SIM, 5G, and NFC for near-field communication. While the Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8T still relied on a separate 5G modem, the chipset in the 2021 model has integrated the new X60 modem RF system based on a 5-nanometer manufacturing process. This also enables the Bluetooth 5.2 functionality that the OnePlus 9 has.

Besides the 5G standard, the premium smartphone from OnePlus supports access to a total of 22 LTE bands - all LTE frequencies relevant to Germany, including LTE band 20 and band 28, are covered.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Mali-G78 MP14, Exynos 2100 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
747 (650min - 862max) MBit/s +9%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Mali-G78 MP14, Exynos 2100 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
600 (305min - 657max) MBit/s -12%
OnePlus 8T
Adreno 650, SD 865, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
716 (679min - 724max) MBit/s +5%
OnePlus 9
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
685 (654min - 709max) MBit/s
OnePlus 9 Pro
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
680 (649min - 703max) MBit/s -1%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
519 (391min - 604max) MBit/s -24%
Google Pixel 5
Adreno 620, SD 765G, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
483 (479min - 493max) MBit/s -29%
iperf3 receive AX12
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Mali-G78 MP14, Exynos 2100 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
855 (827min - 886max) MBit/s +10%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Mali-G78 MP14, Exynos 2100 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
854 (804min - 879max) MBit/s +10%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
842 (329min - 976max) MBit/s +8%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
799 (635min - 854max) MBit/s +3%
OnePlus 9
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
777 (623min - 829max) MBit/s
OnePlus 8T
Adreno 650, SD 865, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
767 (611min - 837max) MBit/s -1%
Google Pixel 5
Adreno 620, SD 765G, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
625 (521min - 652max) MBit/s -20%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s -52%
04590135180225270315360405450495540585630675720765810Tooltip
OnePlus 9; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø777 (623-829)
OnePlus 9; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø685 (654-709)
GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test indoors
GPS Test indoors

In order to assess the positioning accuracy in practice, we take the OnePlus 9 on a short trip and simultaneously track the route with a Garmin Edge 520 for comparison purposes. There are only 50 meters between the smartphone's GPS module and the navigation device at the end of the approximately 4.5-kilometer test route. Therefore, the deviations are small, and if you look at the detailed view of the GPS log, the OnePlus phone hardly shows any noteworthy inaccuracies in the route.

The OnePlus 9 uses the following main satellite systems for positioning: GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo (E1+E5a). Positioning is fast with an accuracy of 4 meters. Even indoors, the location is determined quite quickly but a bit less accurately.

Garmin Edge 520 positioning
Garmin Edge 520 positioning
Garmin Edge 520 positioning
Garmin Edge 520 positioning
Garmin Edge 520 positioning
Garmin Edge 520 positioning
OnePlus 9 positioning
OnePlus 9 positioning
OnePlus 9 positioning
OnePlus 9 positioning
OnePlus 9 positioning
OnePlus 9 positioning

Telephone and call quality - OnePlus 9 with VoLTE

OnePlus 9 smartphone review

The OnePlus 9 has good call quality. However, voices are reproduced a bit quietly and also sound muffled in speaker mode. Video calls via the built-in front-facing camera work smoothly as well. Call quality using the two built-in microphones enables good communication via Skype in our test.

Like its predecessor, the high-end phone supports dual SIM with two physical SIM cards - an eSIM can't be used. However, features like WLAN calling and VoLTE are supported.

Cameras - OnePlus smartphone with triple-camera setup

Portrait photo taken with the front-facing camera in the OnePlus 9
Portrait photo taken with the front-facing camera in the OnePlus 9
Photo taken with the front-facing camera in the OnePlus 9
Photo taken with the front-facing camera in the OnePlus 9

The Chinese manufacturer expects to have taken a big step forward with the camera modules. With the OnePlus 9, the focus is particularly placed on the ultra wide-angle camera, since the new Sony sensor is used here, just like in the Pro model. The 1/1.56-inch IMX766 has a "freeform" lens that is supposed to be able to reduce distortions around the edges to about one percent.

In practice, the ultra wide-angle module delivers very good results, especially considering the MSRP of under 700 Euros (~$823). Photos taken with the 50 MP sensor score points with a good dynamic range and appealing sharpness. Even in the peripheral areas, blurring is only slightly pronounced. However, the 50 MP lens has problems with lighting in the dark, and the noise level increases quickly too. Furthermore, the ultra wide-angle camera can capture macro pictures with solid quality.

The 48 MP main camera in the OnePlus 9 is based on a familiar Sony sensor, the IMX689. The latter already delivers good to very good results in daylight in the OnePlus 8 Pro - the same is true for the 2021 model. However, the OnePlus 9 also shows shortcomings in terms of image sharpness in low-light conditions if not earlier. In addition, the camera's lens as well as the wide-angle lens only use EIS.

The main and wide-angle cameras of the OnePlus 9 can now also record videos in 8K at 30 fps. However, those who want to use a higher frame rate will still have to settle for Ultra HD (up to 60 FPS). A special low-light mode is also available through Nightscape Video 2.0, but only in 1080p at 30 fps. It's possible to switch between the two lenses during an ongoing video recording, but subjects are displayed much cooler with the main camera.

Besides the Night Mode for videos, the OnePlus 9 also has a Tilt Shift mode as well as a Hasselblad Pro mode that features sensor calibration, manual ISO, and exposure time, among other things. In addition, much larger color depth is possible thanks to 12-bit RAW photos.

The 16 MP front-facing camera equipped with the Sony IMX471 takes decent selfies. However, we would prefer the photos to have more sharpness and contrast. We would also like to see a UHD option for video recording.

Wide-angle camera
Wide-angle camera
Main camera
2x zoom
10x zoom (max)
Wide-angle camera
Main camera
Wide-angle camera (Night Mode)
Main camera (Night Mode)
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraLow lightWide angle
click to load images

We subject the OnePlus 9's rear-facing main camera to further tests under controlled lighting conditions. We use the ColorChecker Passport to analyze the color reproduction of the 48 MP lens in comparison to the actual reference colors. We take measurements once under full studio lighting and another time at 1 lux light intensity.

The colors are well reproduced by the premium smartphone, and there are no real weaknesses. However, the Chinese manufacturer advertises its photo quality as having "incredibly authentic colors" - but the ColorChecker's deviations are a bit too high for that. Compared with the reference colors, you can also see the typical smartphone brightening effect.

The image sharpness in our test chart is at a good level. However, the image's peripheral areas aren't entirely sharp.

ColorChecker
17 ∆E
7.3 ∆E
13.2 ∆E
19.1 ∆E
10.4 ∆E
7.4 ∆E
8.3 ∆E
8.6 ∆E
4.7 ∆E
7.6 ∆E
7.6 ∆E
8.8 ∆E
7.3 ∆E
11.4 ∆E
5.7 ∆E
5.4 ∆E
5.6 ∆E
13 ∆E
7.1 ∆E
4.8 ∆E
8.5 ∆E
13.2 ∆E
11.5 ∆E
1.2 ∆E
ColorChecker OnePlus 9: 8.95 ∆E min: 1.2 - max: 19.12 ∆E
ColorChecker
26.9 ∆E
45.4 ∆E
35.6 ∆E
34.5 ∆E
39.8 ∆E
52.8 ∆E
43.8 ∆E
30.9 ∆E
32.4 ∆E
25.7 ∆E
52.5 ∆E
55.8 ∆E
28.7 ∆E
40.5 ∆E
29.3 ∆E
58.4 ∆E
36.4 ∆E
39.5 ∆E
52 ∆E
55.2 ∆E
45.9 ∆E
35.1 ∆E
23 ∆E
13.2 ∆E
ColorChecker OnePlus 9: 38.89 ∆E min: 13.2 - max: 58.41 ∆E

Accessories and warranty - OnePlus 9 with 65-watt power adapter

OnePlus offers optional accessories again this year, but they are not cheap.
OnePlus offers optional accessories again this year, but they are not cheap.

The OnePlus 9 comes with a red USB cable with white connectors (USB-C to USB-C), a 65-watt Warp Charge modular power adapter, a screen protector, and a SIM tray ejector. A silicon bumper case is also on board out of the box.

In addition, OnePlus also offers optional accessories this year. These include bumper cases with carbon and sandstone finishes, a 3D tempered glass screen protector, and a Warp Charge 50 wireless charger. The prices for these start at about 25 Euros (~$29).

The Chinese manufacturer offers its smartphone with a 24-month warranty.

Input devices and handling - OnePlus smartphone with 120 Hz

Placement of the fingerprint sensor in the OnePlus 9 compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro
Placement of the fingerprint sensor in the OnePlus 9 compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro

OnePlus has installed a new vibration motor in its high-end phone that provides nice haptic feedback. As a result, typing on the OnePlus 9 is very pleasant. However, the vibrations are much less powerful than in the Pro model.

However, not only does operation benefit from the good vibration motor but also from the high refresh rate of 120 Hz as well as the sampling rate of 360 Hz. This means that the capacitive multi-touchscreen is monitored for taps up to 360 times per second (e.g. in games). The OnePlus 9 can be operated with corresponding accuracy.

The optical fingerprint sensor underneath the display of the OnePlus 9 responds quickly and usually detects fingers precisely. However, its placement is very low and, therefore, a bit uncomfortable. Users who want to use facial data to unlock the display can do so via the front-facing camera. However, using your face for biometric identification is not very secure due to the 2D technology.

OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review
OnePlus 9 smartphone review

Display - OnePlus 9 with 1080p OLED panel

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

While OnePlus uses WQHD+ for the resolution of its flagship smartphones, the smaller model still has to make do with 1080p. Whether every user needs the 3216x1440 pixels remains to be seen, but digital content isn't displayed as sharply on the OnePlus 9 as it is on the Pro model. The refresh rate of 120 Hz is at flagship level, but the premium phone doesn't have an adaptive refresh rate, which means that either 120 Hz or the "normal" 60 Hz can be used. The switch is performed automatically (depending on the app) to save battery power.

The 6.55-inch AMOLED display achieves a high brightness of 758 cd/m² with a homogeneous brightness distribution in our measurements. We also check brightness with an evenly distributed ratio of dark to bright areas (APL50) in the test. Here, we can also determine a high brightness of 914 cd/m², which should be sufficient for HDR content. However, the Xiaomi Mi 11 offers over 200 cd/m² more in this discipline. And compared with the predecessor, things are rather stagnant here as well.

The OnePlus 9 uses pulse width modulation (PWM) at a high frequency of 324 Hz for brightness control.

740
cd/m²
735
cd/m²
730
cd/m²
733
cd/m²
731
cd/m²
732
cd/m²
758
cd/m²
745
cd/m²
743
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 758 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 738.6 cd/m² Minimum: 2.71 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 96 %
Center on Battery: 731 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 0.59 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 0.9 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
98.9% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.243
OnePlus 9
AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.55
OnePlus 8T
AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.55
Xiaomi Mi 11
LED DotDisplay, 3200x1440, 6.81
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2400x1080, 6.70
Google Pixel 5
OLED, 2340x1080, 6.00
OnePlus 9 Pro
AMOLED, 3216x1440, 6.70
Screen
-24%
-50%
-75%
-37%
-34%
Brightness middle
731
743
2%
840
15%
814
11%
635
-13%
733
0%
Brightness
739
734
-1%
845
14%
814
10%
636
-14%
746
1%
Brightness Distribution
96
91
-5%
98
2%
97
1%
97
1%
97
1%
Black Level *
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
0.59
0.89
-51%
1.2
-103%
2
-239%
0.8
-36%
0.95
-61%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
1.3
1.69
-30%
2.7
-108%
3.6
-177%
2.2
-69%
2.01
-55%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
0.9
1.4
-56%
2
-122%
1.4
-56%
1.7
-89%
1.7
-89%
Gamma
2.243 98%
2.199 100%
2.26 97%
2.12 104%
2.23 99%
2.21 100%
CCT
6573 99%
6423 101%
6492 100%
6568 99%
6492 100%
6591 99%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 323.6 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 323.6 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 323.6 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

As in the 8T, OnePlus uses an AMOLED display in which individual pixels can be completely turned off, resulting in "absolute" blacks. This means that contrast theoretically tends to infinity and that buyers shouldn't have any concerns in this regard. In our tests with the CalMAN software and a spectrophotometer, we found that the display of the OnePlus smartphone is very well calibrated, and it delivers very low color deviations (in the Natural profile).

Color accuracy (target color space: sRGB, profile: Natural)
Color accuracy (target color space: sRGB, profile: Natural)
Color space (target color space: AdobeRGB, profile: Natural)
Color space (target color space: AdobeRGB, profile: Natural)
Color space (target color space: P3, profile: Natural)
Color space (target color space: P3, profile: Natural)
Color space (target color space: sRGB, profile: Natural)
Color space (target color space: sRGB, profile: Natural)
Grayscales (target color space: sRGB, profile: Natural)
Grayscales (target color space: sRGB, profile: Natural)
Saturation (target color space: sRGB, profile: Natural)
Saturation (target color space: sRGB, profile: Natural)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 3 ms rise
↘ 3 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 13 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
20 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 11 ms rise
↘ 9 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 27 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Daylight doesn't pose any issues for the OnePlus 9. The premium smartphone is optimally equipped for everyday outdoor use. In direct sunlight and with the accompanying reflections on the glass surface, however, differences compared to current flagship panels that reach well over 1000 nits are noticeable.

Viewing angles are very good thanks to the built-in OLED technology. Even at very flat viewing angles, content on the screen is displayed vividly and with accurate colors.

 

Performance - OnePlus 9 with the Snapdragon 888

The latest high-end chipset from Qualcomm that is installed in the OnePlus 9 is based on the new Kryo 680 CPU unit. It integrates a fast "Prime Core" that is based on the ARM Cortex-X1 architecture and runs at up to 2.84 GHz, three fast Cortex A78-based performance cores (2.42 GHz), and four ARM Cortex-A55 cores with a maximum clock rate of 1.8 GHz. Besides the CPU unit, the chipset has a Qualcomm Adreno 660 as the GPU as well as a Hexagon 780 computing unit and Qualcomm Sensing Hub for AI applications.

The Snapdragon 888 also reveals its great performance potential in the OnePlus 9 in our benchmark package. In contrast to the Xiaomi Mi 11, where the benchmarks sometimes crashed due to overheating protection, the tests run without problems on the OnePlus phone. However, the Chinese manufacturer only allows its premium phone to run at 60 Hz in GFX Bench as well - despite selecting 120 Hz in the settings menu. And benchmarks such as the UL Procyon AI Inference test result in comparatively low scores too.

However, the OnePlus 9 runs very smoothly and almost without lags in everyday use. The system performance is first-rate, and the application loading times are very fast. This is also due to the fast read and write speeds of the UFS storage. However, these are relatively low for the 3.1 standard considering that the Snapdragon 888 should (theoretically) support the full bandwidth.

Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
1124 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
889 Points -21%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
1136 Points +1%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
1100 Points -2%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
598 Points -47%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
1129 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (976 - 1198, n=27)
1118 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (119 - 2138, n=211, last 2 years)
900 Points -20%
Multi-Core (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
3653 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
3164 Points -13%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
3784 Points +4%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
3364 Points -8%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
1635 Points -55%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
3666 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (3204 - 3810, n=27)
3571 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (473 - 6681, n=211, last 2 years)
2944 Points -19%
Vulkan Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
3894 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
3494 Points -10%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
4279 Points +10%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
6259 Points +61%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
923 Points -76%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
4544 Points +17%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (3894 - 6176, n=26)
4711 Points +21%
Average of class Smartphone
  (79 - 9992, n=89, last 2 years)
4117 Points +6%
OpenCL Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
4566 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
3214 Points -30%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
4674 Points +2%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
7514 Points +65%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
4604 Points +1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (3100 - 4786, n=26)
4617 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (434 - 10711, n=81, last 2 years)
3917 Points -14%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
11823 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
10990 Points -7%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
14586 Points +23%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
15718 Points +33%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
10007 Points -15%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
12703 Points +7%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (11823 - 18942, n=7)
14555 Points +23%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +28%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
10438 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
9202 Points -12%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
12876 Points +23%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
12255 Points +17%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
8954 Points -14%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
10740 Points +3%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (10231 - 15027, n=10)
12376 Points +19%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points +4%
3DMark
Wild Life Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
5786 Points
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
5599 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
5668 Points -2%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
1015 Points -82%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
5736 Points -1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (3958 - 5942, n=26)
5674 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (395 - 9839, n=130, last 2 years)
2548 Points -56%
Wild Life Unlimited Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
5751 Points
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
5678 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
6010 Points +5%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
1022 Points -82%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
5737 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (3959 - 5925, n=26)
5617 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (394 - 20068, n=193, last 2 years)
6048 Points +5%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
61 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
60 fps -2%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
120 fps +97%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
119 fps +95%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
45 fps -26%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
60 fps -2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (60 - 143, n=20)
102.5 fps +68%
Average of class Smartphone
  (22 - 165, n=177, last 2 years)
83.6 fps +37%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
275 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
207 fps -25%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
268 fps -3%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
242 fps -12%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
48 fps -83%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
258 fps -6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (173 - 294, n=20)
247 fps -10%
Average of class Smartphone
  (19 - 791, n=177, last 2 years)
243 fps -12%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
60 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
60 fps 0%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
91 fps +52%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
119 fps +98%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
30 fps -50%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
60 fps 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (55 - 121, n=20)
93.9 fps +57%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.8 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
71.3 fps +19%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
101 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
127 fps +26%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
158 fps +56%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
161 fps +59%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
31 fps -69%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
151 fps +50%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (101 - 180, n=20)
141.7 fps +40%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9.2 - 363, n=178, last 2 years)
137.9 fps +37%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
57 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
60 fps +5%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
59 fps +4%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
103 fps +81%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
21 fps -63%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
57 fps 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (36 - 105, n=20)
71.5 fps +25%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.7 - 158, n=178, last 2 years)
60.2 fps +6%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
96 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
88 fps -8%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
111 fps +16%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
107 fps +11%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
22 fps -77%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
69 fps -28%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (69 - 126, n=20)
98.9 fps +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.2 - 279, n=178, last 2 years)
97 fps +1%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
48 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
46 fps -4%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
33 fps -31%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
56 fps +17%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
13 fps -73%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
36 fps -25%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (26 - 61, n=20)
47.2 fps -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (5 - 117, n=178, last 2 years)
42.9 fps -11%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
42 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
53 fps +26%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
67 fps +60%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
62 fps +48%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
12 fps -71%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
59 fps +40%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (42 - 74, n=20)
60.6 fps +44%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.9 - 166, n=178, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +40%
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
58 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
47 fps -19%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
41 fps -29%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
64 fps +10%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
13 fps -78%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
55 fps -5%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (32 - 73, n=26)
55.7 fps -4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.6 - 123, n=218, last 2 years)
43.3 fps -25%
1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
57 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
55 fps -4%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
79 fps +39%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
64 fps +12%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
13 fps -77%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
63 fps +11%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (46 - 87, n=27)
70.4 fps +24%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.3 - 229, n=218, last 2 years)
62.9 fps +10%
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
41 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
30 fps -27%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
25 fps -39%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
44 fps +7%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
8.8 fps -79%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
42 fps +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (25 - 51, n=26)
38.5 fps -6%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.8 - 105, n=218, last 2 years)
32.2 fps -21%
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
28 fps
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
20 fps -29%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
29 fps +4%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
27 fps -4%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
5.3 fps -81%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
28 fps 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (19 - 32, n=26)
27.5 fps -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (0.85 - 94, n=218, last 2 years)
25 fps -11%
AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
713309 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
576457 Points -19%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
700592 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
617805 Points -13%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
288970 Points -59%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
718779 Points +1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (569595 - 740847, n=12)
677749 Points -5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
101336 Points -86%
AImark - Score v2.x (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
Points
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
209984 Points
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
226728 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (171404 - 264766, n=15)
243759 Points
Average of class Smartphone
  (1043 - 139804, n=54, last 2 years)
20600 Points
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
6537 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
6083 Points -7%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
6361 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
6144 Points -6%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
3290 Points -50%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
6959 Points +6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (5839 - 6985, n=20)
6495 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points -13%
System (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
11627 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
10029 Points -14%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
10377 Points -11%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
10492 Points -10%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
5960 Points -49%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
11774 Points +1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (9119 - 11774, n=20)
10766 Points -7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points -17%
Memory (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
7526 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
7899 Points +5%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
8789 Points +17%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
6246 Points -17%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
5381 Points -29%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
9044 Points +20%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (5352 - 9044, n=20)
7316 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points -17%
Graphics (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
12938 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
11790 Points -9%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
12732 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
14636 Points +13%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
2560 Points -80%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
13463 Points +4%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (9399 - 15739, n=20)
13676 Points +6%
Average of class Smartphone
  (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +7%
Web (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
1627 Points
OnePlus 8T
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Adreno 650, 8192
1466 Points -10%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
1434 Points -12%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Samsung Exynos 2100 5G, Mali-G78 MP14, 8192
1486 Points -9%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
1428 Points -12%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
1633 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (1434 - 1983, n=20)
1683 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points -9%
UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI (sort by value)
OnePlus 9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 12288
9372 Points
Xiaomi Mi 11
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
16688 Points +78%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
  (9372 - 32288, n=6)
21194 Points +126%
Average of class Smartphone
  (207 - 84787, n=143, last 2 years)
22131 Points +136%
Jetstream 2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=167, last 2 years)
104 Points +70%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (61.3 - 125.1, n=13)
96.1 Points +57%
Xiaomi Mi 11 (Chrome 88)
83.2 Points +36%
OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86)
69.4 Points +13%
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Chrome 88.0.4324.152)
66.3 Points +8%
OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 46)
63.2 Points +3%
OnePlus 9 (MS Edge)
61.3 Points
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
50.8 Points -17%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (77 - 223, n=19)
168.8 Points +42%
Xiaomi Mi 11 (Chrome 88)
137.9 Points +16%
OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 46)
124.5 Points +4%
OnePlus 9 (MS Edge)
119.2 Points
OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86)
118.7 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Chrome 88.0.4324.152)
117.8 Points -1%
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
88.9 Points -25%
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 104.3, n=2, last 2 years)
85.2 Points -29%
Speedometer 2.0 - Result
Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=151, last 2 years)
104.7 runs/min +91%
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Chrome 88.0.4324.152)
85.8 runs/min +57%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (46.9 - 121, n=12)
84.1 runs/min +54%
OnePlus 8T (Chome 86)
71.3 runs/min +30%
Xiaomi Mi 11 (Chrome 88)
62.8 runs/min +15%
OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 46)
56 runs/min +2%
OnePlus 9 (MS Edge)
54.7 runs/min
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
49.2 runs/min -10%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (103 - 182, n=18)
143.1 Points +20%
Average of class Smartphone (37 - 304, n=118, last 2 years)
130.7 Points +10%
Xiaomi Mi 11 (Chrome 88)
124 Points +4%
OnePlus 9 (MS Edge)
119 Points
OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86)
108 Points -9%
OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 4689)
103 Points -13%
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Chrome 88.0.4324.152)
102 Points -14%
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
77 Points -35%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (23491 - 47543, n=20)
35591 Points +49%
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33355 Points +40%
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Chrome 88.0.4324.152)
28247 Points +18%
Xiaomi Mi 11 (Chrome 88)
27539 Points +16%
OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 46)
26829 Points +13%
OnePlus 9 (Chrome89)
23843 Points
OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86)
19915 Points -16%
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
18629 Points -22%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
2470 ms * -46%
OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86)
1860 ms * -10%
OnePlus 9 Pro (Microsoft Edge 46)
1808 ms * -7%
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Chrome 88.0.4324.152)
1744 ms * -3%
Xiaomi Mi 11 (Chrome 88)
1722 ms * -2%
OnePlus 9 (Chrome89)
1692 ms *
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1658 ms * +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (891 - 1841, n=20)
1319 ms * +22%

* ... smaller is better

OnePlus 9OnePlus 8TXiaomi Mi 11Samsung Galaxy S21+Google Pixel 5OnePlus 9 ProAverage 256 GB UFS 3.1 FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-25%
11%
23%
-49%
10%
28%
13%
Sequential Read 256KB
1872
1659
-11%
1615
-14%
1623
-13%
851
-55%
1995
7%
1768 ?(1004 - 2037, n=86)
-6%
1468 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
-22%
Sequential Write 256KB
739
728
-1%
754
2%
1037
40%
190
-74%
769
4%
1136 ?(452 - 1873, n=86)
54%
1078 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
46%
Random Read 4KB
225.4
132.6
-41%
278.5
24%
309.6
37%
138.9
-38%
258.7
15%
281 ?(173.5 - 543, n=86)
25%
242 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
7%
Random Write 4KB
221.4
121.4
-45%
289.3
31%
283.3
28%
155.9
-30%
254.3
15%
311 ?(197.5 - 499, n=87)
40%
266 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
20%

Games - OnePlus 9 only hits 60 fps

We take a closer look at the OnePlus 9's gaming performance with our partner GameBench using demanding game titles from the Play Store. For this purpose, the Chinese manufacturer provides a new Pro Gaming Mode that pauses notifications and adjusts the SoC's performance to the respective game. However, this mode is still called Fnatic Mode (at least in the current software version).

The PUBG Mobile shooter, where the Ultra HD setting can be selected, is rendered smoothly at 40 fps even at maximum details. However, the OLED panel's full 120 Hz is neither available at high nor low graphics settings. The high-end phone manages a maximum of 60 fps here. The CPU-intensive racing game Asphalt 9 Legends isn't able to exceed the 60 fps limit, either. Our measurements don't show any visible frame-rate drops.

Asphalt 9 Legends
Asphalt 9 Legends
PUBG Mobile
PUBG Mobile
051015202530354045505560Tooltip
OnePlus 9; Asphalt 9: Legends: Ø59.3 (41-61)
OnePlus 9; PUBG Mobile; Smooth: Ø59.9 (54-61)
OnePlus 9; PUBG Mobile; Balanced: Ø59.9 (56-61)
OnePlus 9; PUBG Mobile; HD: Ø59.8 (57-61)
OnePlus 9; PUBG Mobile; Ultra HD: Ø39.9 (38-41)

Emissions - OnePlus smartphone with high heat development

Temperature

The high heat development of the Snapdragon 888 is handled better by the proprietary Cool Play cooling system, which is supposed to ensure heat dissipation even during intensive gaming by means of a vapor chamber and layers of graphite and copper. We experienced the problem of the system overheating under prolonged load with the Xiaomi Mi 11. That doesn't happen with the high-end phone from OnePlus. Nevertheless, the OnePlus 9 also gets quite hot under prolonged load. We measure a maximum value of almost 46 °C (~115 °F). In idle usage, however, the temperature increase is completely within limits and doesn't cause any problems.

The premium phone from OnePlus also completes the GFXBench battery test without issues in the demanding Manhattan test (OpenGL ES 3.1). The Wild Life stability stress test runs smoothly as well, but it's surprisingly inconsistent. The OnePlus 9 throttles by nearly 50% here, but the case's heat is kept within limits.

3DMark - Wild Life Stress Test Stability
Google Pixel 5
Adreno 620, SD 765G, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
94.7 % +69%
Xiaomi Mi 11
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
90.2 (5064min - 5613max) % +60%
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Mali-G78 MP14, Exynos 2100 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
65.8 (3805min - 5781max) % +17%
OnePlus 9 Pro
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
60.3 (3461min - 5740max) % +7%
OnePlus 9
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
56.2 (3203min - 5696max) %
Max. Load
 44.9 °C
113 F
44.2 °C
112 F
41 °C
106 F
 
 45.3 °C
114 F
44 °C
111 F
41.3 °C
106 F
 
 45.6 °C
114 F
44.2 °C
112 F
41.3 °C
106 F
 
Maximum: 45.6 °C = 114 F
Average: 43.5 °C = 110 F
37.5 °C
100 F
39.6 °C
103 F
39.3 °C
103 F
36.5 °C
98 F
39.8 °C
104 F
41.5 °C
107 F
37 °C
99 F
40 °C
104 F
40.6 °C
105 F
Maximum: 41.5 °C = 107 F
Average: 39.1 °C = 102 F
Power Supply (max.)  41.3 °C = 106 F | Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 43.5 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.6 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 41.5 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.8 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

Speaker test
Speaker test

The OnePlus 9 uses two speakers, one of which is located in the auricle area and the other on the case's bottom edge. The Dolby Atmos certified system gets sufficiently loud at 83 d(B), but this still isn't very loud. We like the sound experience, even if the low sound ranges are reproduced a bit too thinly. In addition, the super high tones clearly take a nosedive.

The premium phone doesn't offer an audio jack, and OnePlus doesn't include an adapter for the USB port. Bluetooth can be used for wireless media playback, and the audio codecs SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC are supported. The LHDC codec still can't be used with the OnePlus 9.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs204346.22536.838.43136.8284030.630.2503435.5632931.78025.523.110029.322.412523.927.116014.237.420011.344.525011.752.23159.755.44009.357.550011.860.463013.760.780017.364.7100016.271.4125011.172.4160010.373.2200010.470.6250011.672.8315012.674.7400013.973.5500015.265.1630015.663.7800016.369.71000016.571.11250016.460.71600017.153SPL68.865.971.426.483N22.219.226.50.853.5median 14.2median 63.7median 49median 13.6median 68.3Delta5.212.622.512.814.82634.528.328.623.329.224.328.833.936.422.527.722.525.923.925.617.23719.948.916.548.613.350.917.656.82055.919.66623.268.613.270.712.672.412.674.91473.512.776.512.777.513.278.613.774.613.773.913.974.113.473.31474.614.768.815.763.227.386.80.967.5median 14median 70.72.88.6hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseOnePlus 9Xiaomi Mi 11
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
OnePlus 9 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 68.3% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 68.3% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 68.3% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (117.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 85% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 95% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Xiaomi Mi 11 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 10% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 30% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery life - OnePlus 9 with dual-cell battery

Energy consumption

The 4,500 mAh dual-cell battery (2x 2,250 mAh) in the OnePlus smartphone can be fully recharged in a good 30 minutes with the included 60-watt Warp Charge power adapter. The European version available in Germany also supports Qi wireless charging at up to 15 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.9 / 1.7 / 2.7 Watt
Load midlight 5.4 / 11.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
OnePlus 9
4500 mAh
OnePlus 8T
4500 mAh
Xiaomi Mi 11
4600 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S21+
4800 mAh
Google Pixel 5
4080 mAh
OnePlus 9 Pro
4500 mAh
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
11%
-16%
18%
51%
-20%
7%
16%
Idle Minimum *
0.9
1.1
-22%
1.57
-74%
0.74
18%
0.69
23%
1.6
-78%
1.066 ?(0.46 - 1.8, n=23)
-18%
0.894 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
1%
Idle Average *
1.7
1.5
12%
1.92
-13%
1.27
25%
0.82
52%
2
-18%
1.58 ?(0.74 - 2.6, n=23)
7%
1.452 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
15%
Idle Maximum *
2.7
1.7
37%
1.94
28%
1.33
51%
0.85
69%
2.4
11%
1.733 ?(0.78 - 3.1, n=23)
36%
1.632 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
40%
Load Average *
5.4
4.6
15%
6.32
-17%
6.32
-17%
2.73
49%
6.2
-15%
5.46 ?(3.87 - 6.7, n=23)
-1%
5.55 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-3%
Load Maximum *
11.1
9.4
15%
11.65
-5%
9.61
13%
4.4
60%
11
1%
9.79 ?(5.89 - 11.7, n=23)
12%
8.23 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
26%

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

In our Wi-Fi test with an adjusted display brightness of 150 cd/m², the OnePlus 9 lasted a good 14 hours at 120 Hz, which should be enough for a whole day even with heavy use. The battery of the 6.55-inch OLED panel lasted another hour during our continuous video playback with the Wi-Fi module disabled. The battery life of well under 3 hours under full load is a bit disappointing.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
27h 03min
WiFi Websurfing
14h 14min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
15h 28min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 48min
OnePlus 9
4500 mAh
OnePlus 8T
4500 mAh
Xiaomi Mi 11
4600 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S21+
4800 mAh
Google Pixel 5
4080 mAh
OnePlus 9 Pro
4500 mAh
Battery Runtime
14%
-9%
20%
47%
38%
Reader / Idle
1623
1539
-5%
1144
-30%
1780
10%
2245
38%
2113
30%
H.264
928
1103
19%
971
5%
1174
27%
1466
58%
1076
16%
WiFi v1.3
854
1023
20%
527
-38%
651
-24%
808
-5%
1002
17%
Load
168
203
21%
214
27%
282
68%
333
98%
316
88%

Pros

+ 120 Hz OLED panel
+ stereo speakers
+ fast wireless charging
+ performance
+ USB 3.1
+ fast storage
+ good cameras ...

Cons

- ... with weaknesses in terms of zoom and without OIS
- placement of the fingerprint scanner
- no 3.5 mm audio jack, SD card support
- games only up to 60 fps
- WLAN could be faster
- plastic frame

Verdict on the OnePlus 9 - Premium phone with deducted style points

In review: OnePlus 9. Test device provided by OnePlus Germany.
In review: OnePlus 9. Test device provided by OnePlus Germany.

The OnePlus 9 is a very nice smartphone that convinces with a great OLED display, good battery life, and very smooth performance. However, in our opinion, the premium smartphone lacks a bit of progress within the model series.

Compared with the OnePlus 8T, the entry into the 2021 series now costs 100 Euros (~$118) more, which would certainly be justified by the improved wireless charging and rear-facing cameras. However, the OnePlus 9 still doesn't have an IP rating, and we notice more than just improvements in direct comparison with the predecessor. We find the placement of the fingerprint scanner to be awkward, the frame feels like plastic, and the cameras only have digital image stabilization. In terms of zoom capabilities, the 2021 model still requires compromises due to the lack of a dedicated lens with an equivalently long focal length.

The OnePlus 9 is a great smartphone. However, the OnePlus 8T and its pricing show the successor in a worse light than it should be. Perhaps OnePlus would be better advised to gradually depart from the six-month model update strategy.

Overall, the OnePlus 9 offers a strong package. If you're looking for a premium smartphone, there's no getting around the OnePlus 9 at the moment. Especially in direct comparison with the Xiaomi Mi 11, the recommended retail price of the OnePlus 9 series is still quite attractive this year.

Price and availability

The OnePlus 9 is currently available on Amazon in the version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage for $729.99. Alternatively, you can also purchase the device directly from OnePlus on their website.

OnePlus 9 - 08/31/2022 v7
Marcus Herbrich

Chassis
87%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 92%
Pointing Device
96%
Connectivity
52 / 70 → 75%
Weight
89%
Battery
90%
Display
93%
Games Performance
54 / 64 → 85%
Application Performance
83 / 86 → 97%
Temperature
87%
Noise
100%
Audio
72 / 90 → 80%
Camera
77%
Average
81%
87%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > OnePlus 9 smartphone review: Strong OnePlus phone without major progress
Marcus Herbrich, 2021-04- 3 (Update: 2021-04- 3)