OnePlus 9 Pro vs Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Value

The OnePlus 9 Pro and Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G represent different approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The OnePlus 9 Pro, with its Snapdragon 888, aims for raw power and a premium feature set. The Reno5 Pro 5G, powered by the Dimensity 1000+, focuses on delivering a strong experience at a potentially more accessible price point. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the OnePlus 9 Pro emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge, and while both phones offer 65W charging, the OnePlus 9 Pro adds 50W wireless charging. However, the Reno5 Pro 5G remains a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing a smooth experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G 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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 3, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 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
 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN
Launch
Announced2020, December 102021, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, January 05Available. Released 2021, March 30
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.7 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm (6.29 x 2.88 x 0.30 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
Weight173 g (6.10 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HDR), 1100 nits (peak)LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-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 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens48 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS, HDR8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm16 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 YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, 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
Charging65W wired 5W reverse wired65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4350 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsAstral Blue, Starry Black, Starry Dream, Star Wish RedMorning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black
ModelsPDSM00, PDST00, CPH2201LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127
PriceAbout 410 EUR€ 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 86h
Camera- Photo / Video
Loudspeaker- -24.1 LUFS (Very good)

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G

  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 888
  • Brighter and potentially more advanced display
  • Versatile charging options (wired, wireless, reverse wireless)

  • Potentially higher price point
  • Snapdragon 888 can generate more heat under sustained load

OnePlus 9 Pro

  • Fast 65W wired charging
  • Sleek design and build quality
  • Potentially more affordable price

  • Less powerful chipset compared to Snapdragon 888
  • Limited charging options (no wireless charging)

Display Comparison

The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 859 nits. While the Reno5 Pro 5G’s display specs aren’t provided, OnePlus’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. Both likely utilize high refresh rate panels, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s display technology is likely more advanced, potentially including LTPO for variable refresh rate and improved efficiency. This benefits users who spend significant time outdoors or consume HDR content.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised as having strong photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Reno5 Pro 5G. The OnePlus 9 Pro, benefiting from Hasselblad’s color calibration, likely delivers more accurate and pleasing color reproduction. The Snapdragon 888’s image signal processor (ISP) also offers advanced features like 8K video recording and improved low-light performance. Without specific sensor details for the Reno5 Pro 5G, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s partnership with Hasselblad and superior ISP give it an edge.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) offers a significant architectural advantage over the Reno5 Pro 5G’s Dimensity 1000+ (7nm). The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core provides a substantial boost in single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and UI navigation. While both are octa-core CPUs, the Snapdragon 888’s newer Cortex-A78 cores are more efficient and powerful than the Reno5 Pro’s A77 cores. This translates to better sustained performance and potentially less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The 5nm process node of the Snapdragon 888 also contributes to improved power efficiency.

Battery Life

Both phones share an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro offers significantly more versatile charging options: 65W wired (fully charging in 29 minutes), 50W wireless (43 minutes), and 5W reverse wireless. The Reno5 Pro 5G is limited to 65W wired and 5W reverse wired. This charging flexibility is a major advantage for OnePlus, catering to different user preferences and scenarios.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G if you need a capable 5G phone with fast charging and a sleek design, and are willing to trade some raw processing power for a potentially lower price. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize top-tier performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and value the added convenience of wireless charging and a brighter display.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the OnePlus 9 Pro experience significant throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate heat under sustained load, potentially leading to some throttling. However, OnePlus employs advanced cooling solutions to mitigate this, and the 9 Pro generally performs well even during extended gaming. The Dimensity 1000+ in the Reno5 Pro 5G may throttle less, but also offers lower peak performance to begin with.
❓ How does the 65W charging on both phones compare in real-world usage?
Both phones achieve a full charge remarkably quickly with 65W wired charging. The OnePlus 9 Pro takes 29 minutes, while the Reno5 Pro 5G’s time isn’t specified but is likely similar. The key difference is the OnePlus 9 Pro adds 50W wireless charging, offering a convenient alternative for topping up the battery without cables.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G a dealbreaker?
For users who frequently utilize wireless charging, the absence of this feature on the Reno5 Pro 5G is a significant drawback. However, if you primarily rely on wired charging, it may not be a major concern. The Reno5 Pro 5G’s fast wired charging still provides a quick and efficient way to replenish the battery.