The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) and Oppo R9 Plus were popular mid-range contenders back in their day. Both offered compelling features, but catered to slightly different audiences. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Oppo R9 Plus edges out the A9 (2016) thanks to its significantly faster charging and slightly more efficient CPU. While the A9 boasts a larger display and impressive battery endurance, the R9 Plus's charging speed and overall performance make it the more practical choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO & TD-SCDMA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, December. Released 2016, January | 2016, March. Released 2016, March |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 161.7 x 80.9 x 7.4 mm (6.37 x 3.19 x 0.29 in) | 163.1 x 80.8 x 7.4 mm (6.42 x 3.18 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~75.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~75.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 510 | Adreno 510 |
| OS | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) | Android 5.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6 (Marshmallow), ColorOS 3 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF, OIS | 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8", PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE | 4.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 20W wired, 75% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4120 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pearl White, Midnight Black, Champagne Gold, Pink | Gold |
| Models | SM-A900F, SM-A9000 | X9079 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.33 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.18 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 103h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.817 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 65dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1529Basemark X: 15290 | - |
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
- Large 6.0-inch display
- Exceptional battery life (103h endurance)
- Triple-lens rear camera for versatility
- Super AMOLED display
- Slow charging (18W)
- Slightly less responsive performance compared to R9 Plus
- Older software
Oppo R9 Plus
- Faster charging (20W, 75% in 30 min)
- Slightly smoother performance
- Excellent front-facing camera for selfies
- Compact and comfortable to hold
- Smaller battery capacity compared to A9
- Less versatile rear camera setup
- Older software
Display Comparison
Both phones feature Super AMOLED displays, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The A9 (2016) has a larger 6.0-inch display compared to the R9 Plus's 5.5-inch screen. The A9's contrast ratio is listed as 'Infinite' (likely a marketing term), while the sunlight readability is rated at 3.817, suggesting decent visibility outdoors. The R9 Plus's display is also very good, though slightly smaller.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a mixed bag. The A9 (2016) features a triple-lens rear camera setup (13MP + 5MP + 8MP), offering versatility with wide-angle and depth sensing capabilities. The R9 Plus boasts a 16MP main camera and a 13MP front-facing camera, known for its excellent selfie quality. Image quality is generally good on both, but the R9 Plus often produces more natural-looking colors.
Performance
Both devices utilize the Snapdragon 652 chipset, but the Oppo R9 Plus has a slightly tweaked CPU configuration (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) versus the A9's (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53). This subtle difference, combined with Oppo's software optimizations, generally results in slightly smoother performance on the R9 Plus, especially in multitasking and demanding apps.
Battery Life
The A9 (2016) shines in this category with a massive 4000mAh battery and an endurance rating of 103 hours. The R9 Plus has a smaller 2850mAh battery, but compensates with significantly faster 20W charging (75% in 30 minutes). While the A9 lasts longer on a single charge, the R9 Plus can quickly top up when needed.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) is ideal for users prioritizing a large screen and exceptional battery life, and who don't mind slower charging. The Oppo R9 Plus is better suited for those who value faster charging and a smoother user experience, even with a slightly smaller battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) has significantly better battery life with its 4000mAh battery and 103-hour endurance rating.
❓ Is the Oppo R9 Plus worth buying today?
While both phones are older, the Oppo R9 Plus's faster charging and slightly better performance make it a more practical choice for everyday use in 2024. However, software support is limited.
