Tecno Phantom X vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a refined experience, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the superior choice, despite its higher price. However, the Tecno Phantom X offers remarkable value, particularly for gamers on a budget who can accept compromises in display quality and processing power.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Tecno Phantom X | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 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, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 24 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 06 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 73.8 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 2.91 x 0.34 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 | 201 g (7.09 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 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~91.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, HIOS 7.6 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | Laser AF, Quad-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser 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 |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.3, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash | HDR |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, 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 | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 70% in 30 min | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4700 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Starry Night Blue, Monet Summer | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | AC8 | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 470 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 122h | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -26.7 LUFS (Good) | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 309055 (v8) GeekBench: 1670 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Tecno Phantom X
- Significantly lower price
- Longer battery endurance
- Capable gaming performance for the price
- Dimmer display
- Less powerful processor
- Slower charging speed
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Brighter, more accurate display
- Flagship-level performance
- Extremely fast charging (wired and wireless)
- Higher price
- Shorter battery endurance
- May be nearing end of software support lifecycle
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display at 859 nits, compared to the Tecno Phantom X’s 405 nits. This difference is immediately noticeable in outdoor visibility. While both phones offer 'infinite' contrast ratios (typical for OLED panels), the OnePlus 9 Pro likely benefits from more sophisticated color calibration and potentially a higher PWM dimming rate, though that data isn't provided. The Phantom X’s lower brightness may be a drawback for users who frequently consume content outdoors or require accurate color representation for professional work.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the OnePlus 9 Pro’s flagship status, it likely incorporates a more advanced image processing pipeline and potentially larger sensors for improved low-light performance and dynamic range. The Phantom X’s camera system is likely geared towards providing a decent experience at its price point, but won’t match the sophistication of the OnePlus 9 Pro. We can assume the OnePlus 9 Pro benefits from Hasselblad color calibration, a key marketing feature at launch.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) is a flagship processor, offering substantially more processing and graphical power than the Tecno Phantom X’s MediaTek Helio G95 (12nm). The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core provides a significant performance boost in single-threaded tasks, while its Adreno 660 GPU delivers a far superior gaming experience. The 5nm fabrication process also translates to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Phantom X’s Helio G95 is adequate for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, but will struggle with demanding titles at higher settings.
Battery Life
The Tecno Phantom X’s endurance rating of 122 hours surpasses the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 86 hours. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The OnePlus 9 Pro compensates with significantly faster charging: 65W wired (100% in 29 minutes), 50W wireless (100% in 43 minutes), and even 5W reverse wireless charging. The Phantom X’s 33W charging, while respectable, takes longer to fully charge (70% in 30 minutes). The OnePlus 9 Pro’s faster charging is a major convenience factor, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The Phantom X’s longer endurance suggests better power efficiency from its chipset and display, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s charging speed offers a different kind of advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Phantom X if you need a capable gaming phone without breaking the bank, and are willing to trade off display brightness and top-tier processing power for affordability. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize a brighter, more color-accurate display, significantly faster charging, and a more powerful processor for demanding tasks and long-term software support.