OnePlus 9 Pro vs. OnePlus 9RT 5G: A Deep Dive into OnePlus's 2021 Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus 9RT 5G offers the better value. It delivers identical Snapdragon 888 performance and 65W charging in a package that's often available at a lower price. The 9 Pro's superior display brightness is only a significant advantage for those frequently using their phones outdoors in direct sunlight.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus 9 Pro | OnePlus 9RT 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 23 | 2021, October 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 30 | Available. Released 2021, October 19 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) | 162.2 x 74.6 x 8.3 mm (6.39 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 197 g (6.95 oz) | 198.5 g (7.02 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~397 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.62 inches, 106.3 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | 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) | 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 | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless | 65W wired, 100% in 29 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black | Hacker Black, Nano Silver, Blue |
| Models | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 | MT2110, MT2111 |
| Price | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 | About 590 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 86h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) | - |
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Wireless charging support
- Potentially more advanced camera system
- Higher price point
- May be harder to find new
OnePlus 9RT 5G
- Identical Snapdragon 888 performance
- 65W fast charging
- Potentially lower price
- No wireless charging
- Display likely less bright
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a display capable of reaching 859 nits of peak brightness, a figure the 9RT’s display specifications do not explicitly state. This difference is noticeable in direct sunlight, where the 9 Pro maintains better visibility. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the 9 Pro’s higher peak brightness and potentially wider color gamut provide a more immersive viewing experience for content consumption. The absence of detailed display specs for the 9RT suggests a focus on cost optimization in this area.
Camera Comparison
Both devices share a 'Photo / Video' camera focus, but specific sensor details are missing. The 9 Pro, as the higher-tier model, likely features a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and more advanced image processing. The absence of sensor size information for either device makes a direct comparison difficult. However, the 9 Pro’s positioning suggests a greater emphasis on image quality and versatility, potentially including features like improved optical image stabilization (OIS) and more refined computational photography algorithms. The 9RT likely prioritizes speed and efficiency in its camera system.
Performance
Both the OnePlus 9 Pro and 9RT 5G are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). This means identical raw processing power for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. However, thermal management, which isn't detailed in the provided data, could differentiate real-world sustained performance. The 9RT’s focus on performance suggests potential optimizations in this area, but without further data, it’s difficult to quantify.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 9 Pro has an endurance rating of 86 hours, indicating solid battery life. Both phones share the same 65W wired charging capability, achieving a 100% charge in just 29 minutes. The 9 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging (43 minutes to full) and 5W reverse wireless charging, features not explicitly mentioned for the 9RT. While the 9RT’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the shared 65W charging suggests a similar focus on minimizing downtime. The 9 Pro’s wireless charging capabilities provide added convenience for users who prefer cable-free charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize a brighter, more vibrant display for outdoor use and appreciate the slightly more refined overall package. Buy the OnePlus 9RT 5G if you want the same core performance and blazing-fast charging at a potentially lower cost, making it ideal for gamers and power users who demand responsiveness.