OnePlus wants to stop half-measures with the mobile photography section. The new OnePlus 9 arrives accompanying the powerful OnePlus 9 Pro, and they do it with a renewed design that stands out especially for having been developed in collaboration with the legendary Hasselblad.
It is not the only outstanding section of a mobile that opts for a design with the same flat screen of the OnePlus 8T, somewhat more compact than that of its older brother, and for a guaranteed power: behind it is the Snapdragon 888.
OnePlus 9 Specifications
| OnePlus 9 | |
|---|---|
| Screen | Fluid AMOLED 120Hz 6.55 inch (flat) FullHD + 2,400 x 1,080, 402 dpi (20:9) sRGB Display P3 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888GPU Adreno 660 |
| RAM | 8 / 12GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 128/256 GB UFS 3.1 |
| Software | Android 11 with OxygenOS |
| Rear Cameras | Main sensor: Sony IMX689, 48MP (1.12 µm), f/1.8 Ultra-wide: Sony IMX766, 50 MP (1/1.56”) f/2.2 Monochrome lens: 2MP Others: Dual LED flash, PDAF + CAF Video: 8K 30, 4K 30/60, Slow Motion 480 fps (HD), 240 fps (FHD), Time Lapse, Video Editor |
| Front Camera | Sony IMX471 16 MP (1 µm), EIS, fixed focus, f/2.4, FullHD video |
| Connectivity | 5G NSA, 4G LTE Cat 20, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC,GPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou / A-GPSUSB-C 3.1 (compatible, cable is 2.0), Dual Nano SIM |
| Security | On-screen fingerprint reader, 2D face unlock |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, noise cancellation support |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh with Warp Charge 65T (65 W)Warp Charge 50 Wireless (15W) Wireless Charging (Europe and North America)65W charger and cable (USB-C to USB-C) included |
| Dimensions and Weight | 160.74 x 74.2 x 8.7 mm192 g |
| Price | 8/128 GB: 709 euros 12/256 GB: 809 euros |
There are obvious changes in the renewed OnePlus flagship, and certainly one of the most notable is in its new SoC, the powerful Snapdragon 888 that in addition to offering remarkable performance guarantees integrates that already 5G connectivity (through the X60 modem) that has become the norm, at least in the high end of this segment.
There are other relevant improvements, such as the improvement in RAM (now consisting of LPDDR5 modules, with better bandwidth and efficiency) and also with the storage system, which will also benefit from faster transfers thanks to the UFS 3.1 standard.
It is clear that where special care has been taken is in the camera system, which in this OnePlus 9 includes a promising triple system that we will talk about later. Hasselblad has been a fundamental part of this project, although for the moment they have only collaborated in the software section.
There are other things that (logically) do not change concerning the OnePlus 8T that was presented in October 2020. For example, its 6.55-inch screen, which maintains the flat design, something highly valued by many users who are not attracted to slightly curved screens.
That screen continues to benefit from the 120 Hz refresh rate, something that already captured users’ hearts and which is undoubtedly good news for users of this renewed terminal.
The battery and support for fast charging at 65 W thanks to Warp Charge 65T technology are also maintained. At the moment OnePlus does not follow the trend of other manufacturers and will continue to include the 65 W charger and charging cable so you do not have to buy it separately.
A design that camouflages the rear module
Although the front is identical to that of the OnePlus 8 and 8T (almost symmetrical and with hardly any chin at the bottom, hole in the upper right corner), yes there is a curious evolution of the rear.
While the OnePlus 8 had an elongated camera module, vertical and located in the central part, the OnePlus 8T moved the module to the left and made it larger. The dark finish of that module differentiated it from the rest of the rear casing, but now OnePlus wanted to camouflage that design a bit to make the rear more uniform.
The new rear module of the OnePlus 9 maintains that position in the high and left part of the back of the mobile, but now it no longer has a dark color but acquires the same tone as the rest of that rear casing.
That design also stands out for the soft curves that join the screen with the back and integrate it, but as we say, making the screen flat and not curved. It is one of the clear differences compared to the OnePlus 9 Pro which is curved and also more advanced in other aspects such as its resolution or its LPTO technology.
It is a large smartphone of 6.55 inches (although the Pro goes even further) and slightly thicker and heavier than its predecessor: in this model, the weight comes to 192 g.
OnePlus highlights the use of a frame made of a carbon fiber polymer and the glossy finish of that back and sides. The One Plus 9 is available in three colors: purple (Winter Mist), blue (Arctic Sky), and black (Astral Black), the latter with a thin matte layer to reduce the impact of fingerprints.
Cameras aimed at capturing our attention with the help of Hasselblad
The OnePlus 9 has a three-camera system whose module is more modest than that of the past OnePlus 8T, not only because it uses one less sensor, but also because the module is somewhat less wide and maintains the color of the rear.
In that module, however, there is a clear sign that there is a prominent change: the renowned Hasselblad brand appears to make it clear that this legendary manufacturer has collaborated in the development of this new camera system.
It does not do so in the hardware at the moment, however: the sensors are from Sony, and Hasselblad supports in the software section – in the future, it may also do so in the work with the sensors – especially in the color adjustment, with tones that OnePlus says are now more natural and richer.
Special work has been done on sensor calibration, computational photography, and a revamped Pro mode. Among other things, the on-screen shutter button is orange, not white, and when taking a photo the captured sound mimics that of Hasselblad cameras in the camera app. This mode allows more options for post-production (there is an interesting feature called ‘Focus Peek’ to control focus, for example), and the process is analogous to that offered on the exclusive Hasselblad cameras.
This Pro mode allows you to adjust ISO, exposure time, white balance, focus, and other options but also gives you access to 12-bit RAW shots for even richer colors and higher dynamic range.
The camera system consists of the 48 Mpixel main sensor, the Sony IMX689, which as we mentioned has to support 12-bit RAW shooting, which allows 64 times more color information to be collected than with 10-bit sensors.
This sensor also favors taking night shots and videos and gives rise to include photographic modes such as the so-called ‘Tilt Shift’ that allows us to add a miniature effect to our photos. Some may remember it from its use in movies like ‘The Social Network’ or in series like ‘Sherlock’.
That main sensor is accompanied by the 50 Mpixel ultra-wide-angle sensor, the Sony IMX766 that stands out for its large size (1/1.56 inches) and that makes use of a lens designed to reduce distortion in the corners to 1% compared to the 10-20% that according to OnePlus introduce other sensors of this type in other mobiles. There is no specific macro sensor, but this ultra-wide-angle lens can perform that function without apparent problems.
There is a third monochrome sensor that supports these two sensors but is also remarkable as a protagonist for black and white shots. The big difference therefore between the OnePlus 9 Pro and this OnePlus 9 in the camera department is that the former also has a dedicated 8 Mpixel telephoto lens.
The OnePlus 9 is capable of capturing 8K video at 30 fps, and recording modes such as hyperlapse, an improved night mode for the wide-angle, new stabilization systems, and portrait mode video, an option previously only offered on the Pro variant, are included.
The 16 Mpixel front camera makes use of a Sony IMX471 sensor, and its software has also been taken care of with the idea of applying advanced algorithms to improve skin tone. The new HDR system allows this camera to also perform well in high-contrast scenes such as the usual backlighting.
The OnePlus 9 wants to be an entertainment all-rounder
Although there are obvious changes in the internal hardware and, as we shall see, in the photographic section, OnePlus also takes advantage of the heritage of the past when it touches. This is the case of OxygenOS 11, its famed customization layer that brings a remarkable interface to the base proposed by Android 11.
This system integrates technologies such as Turbo Boost 3.0 for memory optimization (up to 25% more applications in the background), and surely the Snapdragon 888 and improvements in RAM and storage help to ensure that the fluidity that OnePlus terminals boast remains a constant in these phones.
There is also a focus on the world of gaming: that SoC and its Adreno 660 GPU are crucial, but so is the 120 Hz refresh rate (the software is responsible for adjusting it) and the stereo sound system that supports Dolby Atmos. In mobile gaming, we will enjoy lower latency in touch response.
The OnePlus 9 features a haptic engine and a five-layer cooling system called Cool Play designed to improve heat dissipation in intense gaming sessions. This system makes use of a vapor chamber (slightly larger than that of the 8T) and layers of graphite and copper to keep temperatures at bay and ensure maximum fluidity in the gaming experience.
As we mentioned earlier, we can still enjoy the Warp Charge fast charging technology that allows charging the terminal from 1 to 100% in just 29 minutes. In Europe and North America, we will also enjoy 15W wireless charging via the Qi standard.
Price and availability of the OnePlus 9
The new OnePlus 9 will be available for pre-order from today at 16:30 in the official OnePlus store. From April 26 the OnePlus 9 will be available from both the official OnePlus store.
The prices of the new OnePlus 9 are as follows:
- OnePlus 9 (8+128 GB): available in blue and black, €709.
- OnePlus 9 (12+256 GB): available in purple and black, €809.
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