OnePlus 9 Pro vs Honor V40 5G: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The OnePlus 9 Pro and Honor V40 5G represent compelling options in the flagship Android space, but cater to slightly different priorities. The OnePlus 9 Pro, leveraging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888, aims for all-around excellence, while the Honor V40 5G, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+, focuses on delivering a premium experience with rapid charging capabilities. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the OnePlus 9 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset provides a performance edge, and while battery life is comparable, the 9 Pro’s refined software and camera system offer a more polished experience. However, the Honor V40 5G’s faster wired charging is a significant advantage for those prioritizing speed.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor V40 5G OnePlus 9 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 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, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN
Launch
Announced2021, January 222021, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, January 22Available. Released 2021, March 30
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.1 x 74.3 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.93 x 0.31 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
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~440 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 110.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120Hz, 800 nits (peak)LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 4.0, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser 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
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)-
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@1920fps, HDR, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) Color spectrum sensor-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 50W wireless, 50% in 35 min 5W reverse wired65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Rose Gold, Titanium SilverMorning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black
ModelsYOK-AN10LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127
PriceAbout 460 EUR€ 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 86h
Camera- Photo / Video
Loudspeaker- -24.1 LUFS (Very good)

Honor V40 5G

  • Faster overall performance with Snapdragon 888
  • Potentially superior camera system with Hasselblad partnership
  • Refined software experience
  • Higher peak display brightness

  • Slower wireless charging compared to Honor V40 5G
  • Charging speed is still very good, but not class-leading

OnePlus 9 Pro

  • Incredibly fast 66W wired charging
  • Faster 50W wireless charging
  • Competitive performance with Dimensity 1000+
  • Potentially lower price point

  • Dimensity 1000+ is less powerful than Snapdragon 888
  • Camera system details are limited

Display Comparison

While both phones feature high-quality displays, the OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, suggesting a more visible screen in direct sunlight. The Honor V40 5G’s display specifications are not provided, but Honor typically employs OLED panels with vibrant colors. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display technology is likely to be more advanced, potentially including LTPO for variable refresh rates, contributing to improved power efficiency. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both devices, reflecting current flagship design trends.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are marketed with strong camera capabilities, but details are limited. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system, developed in partnership with Hasselblad, likely emphasizes color accuracy and dynamic range. The Honor V40 5G’s camera specifications are not detailed enough to make a direct comparison, but it’s reasonable to assume it features a multi-lens setup. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s image processing algorithms are likely more refined, offering better low-light performance and more advanced features like computational photography. The absence of specific sensor size information for the Honor V40 5G makes a definitive assessment difficult, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s focus on image quality suggests a larger, more capable sensor.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) demonstrably outperforms the Honor V40 5G’s Dimensity 1000+ (7nm) in raw processing power. The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.84 GHz, provides a significant boost in single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and smooth multitasking. The Dimensity 1000+’s Cortex-A77 cores, while capable, are less efficient. Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs, but the architectural advantages of the Snapdragon 888 translate to a more fluid user experience, particularly in demanding applications and games. The OnePlus 9 Pro is also likely to benefit from better GPU performance, enhancing gaming visuals.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 86 hours, indicating similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Honor V40 5G). However, the charging speeds are where they diverge significantly. The Honor V40 5G’s 66W wired charging can reach 60% in 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes, while the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W wired charging takes 29 minutes to reach 100%. The Honor V40 5G also offers 50W wireless charging (50% in 35 minutes), significantly faster than the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 50W wireless charging (100% in 43 minutes). This makes the Honor V40 5G the clear winner for users who prioritize charging speed.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor V40 5G if you prioritize incredibly fast charging – its 66W wired and 50W wireless capabilities are class-leading. This phone is ideal for users who frequently top up their battery and want to minimize downtime. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you value consistent performance, a more versatile camera system, and a smoother software experience. It’s the better choice for power users, mobile gamers, and photography enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 1000+ in the Honor V40 5G struggle with sustained gaming performance compared to the Snapdragon 888?
Yes, the Snapdragon 888’s more efficient 5nm process and superior thermal management generally result in less throttling during extended gaming sessions. While the Dimensity 1000+ is a capable chip, it’s likely to experience more performance drops over time due to heat buildup, especially in graphically demanding titles.
❓ How does the 50W wireless charging on the Honor V40 5G compare to other wireless charging solutions in terms of heat generation?
While 50W wireless charging is fast, it does generate more heat than slower wireless charging standards. Honor likely incorporates thermal management technologies to mitigate this, but expect the phone to warm up noticeably during wireless charging. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s 50W wireless charging will also generate heat, but the difference in charging time may be less significant than the difference in wired charging speeds.
❓ Is the camera on the OnePlus 9 Pro significantly better for video recording than the Honor V40 5G?
Based on OnePlus’s track record and the Hasselblad partnership, the OnePlus 9 Pro is likely to offer superior video recording capabilities. Expect better stabilization, dynamic range, and color accuracy. The Snapdragon 888’s image signal processor also provides advanced video processing features.