Realme X9 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balance of performance, fast charging, and affordability, the Realme X9 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. While the OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a marginally more powerful Snapdragon 888 and wireless charging, the X9 Pro delivers comparable real-world speed at a potentially lower cost, with equally rapid 65W wired charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme X9 Pro | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 72.5 x 8 mm (6.30 x 2.85 x 0.31 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.49 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128/256/512GB, 3/8/12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm Auxiliary lens | 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 |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 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 |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Unspecified | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired 5W reverse wired | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue; other colours | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | - | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | - | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
Realme X9 Pro
- Excellent value for money
- Fast 65W wired charging
- Efficient Snapdragon 870 performance
- Lacks wireless charging
- Limited camera details available
OnePlus 9 Pro
- More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Brighter display (859 nits)
- Higher price point
- Potential for thermal throttling
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display reaches a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, offering excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the Realme X9 Pro’s display specifications aren’t explicitly provided, Realme typically employs high-quality AMOLED panels. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display technology is likely to be more advanced, potentially including LTPO for variable refresh rates, contributing to better power efficiency. However, for typical usage, the difference in visual experience will be subtle for most users.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are described as having capable photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Realme X9 Pro. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system is well-regarded, but its success relies heavily on image processing. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture details for the X9 Pro, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s Hasselblad partnership suggests a focus on color accuracy and dynamic range. It’s reasonable to assume the OnePlus 9 Pro has a more sophisticated camera system overall, but the X9 Pro could still deliver excellent results in good lighting conditions.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Realme X9 Pro utilizes the Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), while the OnePlus 9 Pro features the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). The 888, with its Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, theoretically offers higher peak performance. However, the 870’s Kryo 585 cores, while clocked slightly lower, are incredibly efficient. The 5nm process of the 888 *should* offer better efficiency, but the 888 is known to run hotter, potentially leading to throttling under sustained load. Both devices benefit from ample RAM, though specific configurations aren’t detailed, and both likely utilize LPDDR5 for fast memory access.
Battery Life
Both devices share a 65W wired charging capability, with the OnePlus 9 Pro achieving a full charge in 29 minutes. The OnePlus 9 Pro also adds 50W wireless charging (43 minutes to full) and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent in the Realme X9 Pro, which offers only 5W reverse *wired* charging. Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s wireless charging is a significant convenience factor, but the X9 Pro’s faster wired charging mitigates some of the difference.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme X9 Pro if you need a powerful, responsive phone for daily tasks and gaming without breaking the bank. Its Snapdragon 870 provides excellent performance, and the 65W charging is incredibly convenient. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize wireless charging, a slightly brighter display (859 nits), and are willing to pay a premium for the Snapdragon 888’s theoretical performance edge, even if it's often offset by thermal throttling.