iPhone 12 Pro vs OnePlus 9RT 5G: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The iPhone 12 Pro, while now a generation old, remains a potent contender thanks to Apple’s software support and optimized hardware. The OnePlus 9RT 5G, however, offers a compelling alternative with a focus on raw performance and incredibly fast charging, all at a potentially lower price point. This comparison dissects the core differences to help you decide which flagship best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem prioritizing long-term software support and a refined user experience, the iPhone 12 Pro remains a strong choice. However, the OnePlus 9RT 5G delivers comparable performance with significantly faster charging for a more competitive price, making it the winner for value-conscious Android enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 12 Pro OnePlus 9RT 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A23411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A23411, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2406CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, October 132021, October 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, October 23Available. Released 2021, October 19
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.29 in)162.2 x 74.6 x 8.3 mm (6.39 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)198.5 g (7.02 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)-
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield glassCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~397 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.62 inches, 106.3 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetApple A14 Bionic (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUApple GPU (4-core graphics)Adreno 660
OSiOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 NVMeUFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56”, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro)
Single-16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Triple12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)-
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBLightning, USB 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support-
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update65W wired, 100% in 29 min
TypeLi-Ion 2815 mAh (10.78 Wh)Li-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilver, Graphite, Gold, Pacific BlueHacker Black, Nano Silver, Blue
ModelsA2407, A2341, A2406, A2408, iPhone13,3MT2110, MT2111
Price$ 277.86 / C$ 419.75 / £ 250.00 / € 299.99About 590 EUR
SAR EU0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)-
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM$ 725.05-
256GB 6GB RAM$ 575.00-
512GB 6GB RAM$ 799.50-
RENEWED$ 499.00-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 81h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.2 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 596244 (v8) GeekBench: 4056 (v5.1) GFXBench: 58fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

  • Superior software support and ecosystem integration
  • Excellent video recording capabilities
  • Optimized chip performance and efficiency

  • Slower charging speeds compared to OnePlus 9RT
  • Higher price point
  • Less customization options (iOS)

OnePlus 9RT 5G

  • Blazing-fast 65W charging
  • Competitive performance with Snapdragon 888
  • More affordable price

  • Android software updates may be less frequent
  • Camera performance may not match iPhone in all scenarios
  • Less brand recognition and prestige

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent displays, though direct comparisons are limited by available data. The iPhone 12 Pro boasts an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. While the OnePlus 9RT 5G’s display specifications aren’t provided, OnePlus historically uses high-quality AMOLED panels. The iPhone’s advantage likely lies in its color accuracy and potentially higher peak brightness, though without specific nits data for the 9RT, it’s difficult to quantify. The iPhone’s display benefits from Apple’s calibration, ensuring consistent viewing angles and color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are marketed as having strong camera capabilities, but specifics are limited. The iPhone 12 Pro’s camera system is known for its computational photography prowess and excellent video recording. The OnePlus 9RT 5G’s camera details are not provided, but OnePlus typically focuses on delivering vibrant, social media-ready images. Without sensor size or aperture information for the 9RT, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance relative to the iPhone. The iPhone’s video capabilities are a significant advantage, offering ProRes recording and cinematic mode, features absent on the OnePlus.

Performance

The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The iPhone 12 Pro’s Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) utilizes a hexa-core architecture with Firestorm and Icestorm cores, optimized for both peak performance and efficiency. The OnePlus 9RT 5G counters with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), an octa-core processor. While the Snapdragon 888 has more cores, the A14 Bionic’s architecture and software integration give it an edge in single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and smooth scrolling. Both utilize 5nm fabrication, but Apple’s chip design often leads to superior thermal management, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The 6GB of RAM in both devices is adequate, but Apple’s memory management is generally more efficient.

Battery Life

The iPhone 12 Pro has an endurance rating of 81 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the OnePlus 9RT 5G’s charging speed is a game-changer. While the iPhone offers 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2 – requiring iOS 17.4 for Qi2) and 50% charge in 30 minutes with wired PD2.0, the 9RT boasts 65W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 29 minutes. This drastically reduces downtime and is a significant advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups. The iPhone’s longer endurance rating suggests better efficiency, but the 9RT’s charging speed mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro if you need seamless integration with other Apple devices, prioritize a mature and polished software experience with guaranteed updates, and value the prestige of the Apple brand. Buy the OnePlus 9RT 5G if you prefer the flexibility of Android, demand blazing-fast charging speeds, and want flagship-level performance without the premium iPhone price tag.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the OnePlus 9RT 5G suffer from overheating issues during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than some other chipsets. However, OnePlus typically implements effective cooling solutions. While some throttling may occur during extended, graphically intensive gaming, it's unlikely to be a major issue for most users. The iPhone 12 Pro’s A14 Bionic generally exhibits better thermal management, potentially offering more consistent performance over longer periods.
❓ How does the iPhone 12 Pro's MagSafe charging compare to the OnePlus 9RT 5G's wired charging in terms of convenience?
MagSafe offers the convenience of wireless charging without needing to plug in a cable, but it's significantly slower than the OnePlus 9RT 5G's 65W wired charging. While MagSafe is useful for occasional top-ups, the 9RT’s wired charging provides a full charge in under 30 minutes, making it far more practical for quickly replenishing the battery.
❓ Will the iPhone 12 Pro continue to receive software updates for many years to come?
Apple is renowned for its long-term software support. The iPhone 12 Pro will continue to receive major iOS updates and security patches for several years, likely extending its usable lifespan significantly. OnePlus typically provides fewer years of software support compared to Apple, which is a key consideration for users prioritizing longevity.