In 2021, nothing seems to be harder than keeping a new smartphone under wraps. Leaks happen all the time, and the OnePlus 9 series of phones were subject to just about as many leaks as we’ve ever seen.
After all the slips, the company has finally made the OnePlus 9 series of smartphones official on OnePlus.com and based on the camera alone, it’s hard to keep our excitement in check. Add in the high-end processor and other specs, and you end up with a phone that really is worth a second (and maybe even third) look.
The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro Have Incredible Cameras
There’s no shortage of quality smartphones on the market. Samsung has been killing it lately with its Galaxy S21 line of phones, and now OnePlus is making us stand up and take notice with the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro. Specifically, the partnership with Hasselblad has us drooling over the new phones.
Both the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro feature incredible cameras, though the Pro’s is slightly more powerful. Starting with the OnePlus 9, you’ll get a 48MP Sony IMX689 sensor, the new Sony IMX766 50MP ultrawide-angle, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. On the 9 Pro, you’ll get an upgraded 48MP Sony IMX789 sensor and an 8MP 3.3x telephoto lens (along with the other lenses from the OnePlus 9).
That Hasselblad partnership comes into play with the software. There’s a Hasselblad Pro Mode that gives you professional-level controls over things like the shutter speed, ISO levels, histograms, and exposure length. Both phones also feature the ability to shoot in 12-bit RAW formats.
There are all kinds of other stuff packed into these cameras, including a Super Macro mode, UltraShot HDR, Portrait mode, pet face detection, Super Stable video, and the ability to capture video at 8K resolution at 30fps and 4K at up to 120fps.
Great Cameras Aren’t Enough
Of course, there’s more to a phone than the cameras, and the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro have plenty of other features. First, there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset and 8 or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, depending on the configuration. There are also 128 or 256GB UFS 3.1 storage options.
The OnePlus 9 has a flat 6.55-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. For the base model, this is a majestic screen. Under that screen sits an under-display optical fingerprint sensor for easy unlocking.
The Pro upgrades the screen to a curved 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED. It also comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, so the extra money is going towards a higher resolution, a larger display, and a curved design.
Both phones have a 4,500mAh battery. The more affordable OnePlus 9 comes with Qi wireless charging at 15W speeds. The 9 Pro, however, comes with the rumored 50W Warp Wireless charging speeds. Both devices get 65W wired Warp Charging via USB-C.
When and Where Will the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro Launch?
Both the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are available globally. The OnePlus 9 sells for $729 for the 8GB RAM, 128GB storage configuration, and $829 for the 12/256GB configuration. If you opt for the OnePlus 9 Pro, you’re looking at $969 for the 8/128GB configuration and $1069 for the 12/256GB option.
The OnePlus 9 is available in Winter Mist, Arctic Sky, and Astral Black as for colors. The 9 Pro comes in Morning Mist, Stellar Black, and Pine Green. All the devices and colors are available from OnePlus.com.