Asus Zenfone 7 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

The Asus Zenfone 7 Pro and OnePlus 9 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The Zenfone 7 Pro, released in 2020, offered a unique flip camera and a focus on raw performance, while the OnePlus 9 Pro, launched in 2021, prioritized a refined camera system co-developed with Hasselblad and faster charging speeds. This comparison examines which phone holds up better today, considering their core specifications and real-world implications.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a more modern camera experience, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice. However, the Zenfone 7 Pro’s excellent endurance rating and still-capable Snapdragon 865+ make it a compelling option for those seeking long battery life and value.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus Zenfone 7 Pro OnePlus 9 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/150 Mbps, 5G 3.6 Gbps DLHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN
Launch
Announced2020, August 26. Released 2020, September 012021, March 23
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, March 30
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions165.1 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm (6.5 x 3.04 x 0.38 in)163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight230 g (8.11 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED , 90Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (HBM)LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12, ZenUIAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome)
Single-16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 113˚, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)HDR
Single-16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
TripleMotorized flip-up main camera module-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, 60% in 34 min, 100% in 93 min Reverse wired65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAurora Black, Pastel WhiteMorning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black
ModelsZS671KS, ASUS_I002DDLE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127
PriceAbout 670 EUR€ 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00
Tests
Battery lifeEndurance rating 99h Endurance rating 86h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -26.6 LUFS (Good) -24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 602934 (v8) GeekBench: 3302 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Asus Zenfone 7 Pro

  • Exceptional battery endurance (99h)
  • Compact and ergonomic design
  • Flip camera offers unique versatility

  • Older Snapdragon 865+ chipset
  • Slower charging speeds (30W wired)
  • Less advanced camera system

OnePlus 9 Pro

  • Faster Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Significantly faster charging (65W wired, 50W wireless)
  • More refined camera system with Hasselblad collaboration

  • Shorter battery life (86h)
  • Larger and heavier design
  • Potentially more thermal throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching 859 nits compared to the Zenfone 7 Pro’s 741 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both displays have an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, the OnePlus 9 Pro likely benefits from a more advanced panel technology, potentially LTPO, offering variable refresh rates for improved efficiency, though this isn't explicitly stated in the provided data. The Zenfone 7 Pro’s display, while still excellent, will appear less vibrant in comparison.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the OnePlus 9 Pro benefits from its collaboration with Hasselblad. While the provided data doesn’t detail sensor sizes or specific camera features, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s later release likely incorporates more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensors for improved low-light performance. The Zenfone 7 Pro’s flip camera mechanism is a unique feature, but doesn’t inherently guarantee superior image quality. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system is geared towards a more natural color profile, while the Zenfone 7 Pro’s processing style is unknown without further data.

Performance

The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) represents a generational leap over the Zenfone 7 Pro’s Snapdragon 865+ (7nm+). The 5nm process node allows for greater transistor density and improved thermal efficiency, potentially leading to sustained performance under heavy loads. The Cortex-X1 prime core in the 888 also offers a performance advantage over the 865+'s Cortex-A77. However, the Zenfone 7 Pro’s cooling solution and efficient chipset still deliver a smooth experience for most tasks. The 888's architecture is more modern, offering benefits in AI processing and 5G connectivity.

Battery Life

The Zenfone 7 Pro’s endurance rating of 99 hours significantly surpasses the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 86 hours. This suggests the Zenfone 7 Pro offers considerably longer battery life on a single charge. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro compensates with dramatically faster charging: 65W wired (100% in 29 minutes), 50W wireless (100% in 43 minutes), and 5W reverse wireless. The Zenfone 7 Pro’s 30W wired charging (100% in 93 minutes) is considerably slower. The trade-off is clear: the Zenfone 7 Pro prioritizes longevity, while the OnePlus 9 Pro prioritizes convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus Zenfone 7 Pro if you need exceptional battery life and a compact form factor, and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. It’s ideal for users who prioritize longevity and don’t require the latest camera innovations. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prefer a more polished camera system, significantly faster charging (both wired and wireless), and a brighter, more vibrant display. This phone suits users who demand the latest features and are willing to charge more frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the OnePlus 9 Pro experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to run warmer than its predecessors. While the OnePlus 9 Pro incorporates cooling solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings may lead to some throttling, reducing sustained performance. The Zenfone 7 Pro’s Snapdragon 865+ is generally more thermally efficient, potentially offering more consistent performance over extended periods.
❓ How does the flip camera mechanism on the Zenfone 7 Pro affect the durability of the phone?
The flip camera mechanism introduces a potential point of failure. While Asus claims the mechanism is robust, repeated use over several years could lead to wear and tear. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s traditional camera bump avoids this concern, offering a more conventional and potentially more durable design.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the OnePlus 9 Pro significantly faster in real-world use than other wireless chargers?
Yes, 50W wireless charging is considerably faster than the typical 15W or 25W wireless charging found on many other smartphones. It allows for a full charge in approximately 43 minutes, making it a convenient alternative to wired charging, especially for users who frequently top up their battery.