1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 160.9 × 77.8 × 7.8 mm | OnePlus 9 Pro is taller and thicker but slightly less wide, resulting in slightly larger volume. iPhone 16 Plus is more compact. |
| Weight | 197g | 199g | Virtually identical weight; both feel similarly substantial in hand. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Identical screen size; both offer large display real estate. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1290x2796 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a sharper display with more detail, noticeably clearer text and images |
| Pixel Density | 525 PPI | 460 PPI | OnePlus 9 Pro appears sharper and more detailed due to higher pixel density. |
| Technology | OLED | Apple iPhone 16 Plus has better display technology with OLED which offers superior color accuracy, contrast and black levels | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | OnePlus 9 Pro offers much smoother scrolling and animations; more fluid experience overall. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 2000 nits | Apple iPhone 16 Plus is significantly brighter, offering better visibility outdoors in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Apple A18 (3 nm) | Apple A18 is significantly more powerful and energy-efficient, resulting in much faster app loading and superior performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 1,753,018 | Apple iPhone 16 Plus provides a much smoother experience, especially during heavy usage. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Apple's GPU is significantly more powerful, better suited for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4674 mAh | Both offer comparable battery life, expect a full day of regular use. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging | OnePlus 9 Pro charges much faster, good for quickly topping up the battery |
| Features | 50W Wireless, Reverse wireless | 25W Wireless | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more versatile wireless charging options (50W + reverse) |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43", Sony IMX789 | 48MP, f/1.6, 1/1.3", Sony IMX904 | Apple iPhone 16 Plus has a larger sensor and wider aperture, good for better low-light performance |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", Sony IMX471 | 12MP, f/1.9, Sony IMX714 | Apple iPhone 16 Plus has a wider aperture on the selfie camera, potentially better low light performance. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" | None | OnePlus 9 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities via telephoto lens; better for zoomed-in photos. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a dedicated ultrawide lens with higher resolution for a wider field of view |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", Sony IMX633 | Apple iPhone 16 Plus has a wide angle camera that doubles as a macro, good for close-up and wide shots |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated monochrome lens, may offer creative B&W photo options. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR, Stereo Sound | OnePlus 9 Pro has higher video resolution (8K), suitable for high-quality videography. iPhone 16 has stereo sound recording. |
| DxoMark Scores | Main: 122, Photo: 124, Video: 118 | Not available | OnePlus 9 Pro received a high score for its camera system indicating strong performance in its class. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | iOS 18 | Different operating systems; Android offers more customization, iOS offers a simpler and consistent user experience |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6, Direct, Display | Wi-Fi 6E | Apple iPhone 16 Plus has faster and more reliable Wi-Fi with 6E support, OnePlus 9 has Wi-Fi direct and display sharing |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 with LDAC, AAC | Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple iPhone 16 Plus has a newer Bluetooth version with faster data transfer, OnePlus 9 Pro has better audio codec support. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B1) | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1), NavIC System | Apple iPhone 16 Plus offers better location tracking via multiple satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM + eSIM | Apple iPhone 16 Plus provides the flexibility of eSIM for multiple carriers, OnePlus 9 Pro has dual physical sim slots. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | Apple iPhone 16 Plus offers a higher storage option (512GB) for users with extensive storage needs. |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 8GB | OnePlus 9 Pro has more RAM (up to 12GB), which is better for heavy multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both do not offer storage expansion via microSD, limiting the storage to the internal capacity. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos | Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos | Both are equipped with similar quality speakers and audio processing, comparable audio experience |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint sensor | Basic security features | OnePlus 9 Pro has a fingerprint sensor for easy biometric unlock, Apple iPhone 16 Plus has basic security features |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | OnePlus 9 Pro has confirmed screen protection; Apple iPhone 16 Plus screen protection is unknown |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Barometer | Apple iPhone 16 Plus has a barometer sensor, which is absent in OnePlus 9 Pro |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution (1440x3216) and pixel density (525 PPI) result in a noticeably crisper display.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate offers a more fluid and responsive user experience.
- Faster Charging: 65W wired charging and 50W wireless charging are significantly faster than the iPhone.
- Versatile Camera System: Includes a telephoto lens, a wide angle lens and a black & white lens for more photographic options.
- More RAM: Up to 12GB of RAM which allows more efficient multitasking and handling of demanding apps
- More Features: Provides features such as reverse charging, Wi-Fi direct and display sharing, 8k video recording and a physical fingerprint sensor.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The A18 chip is significantly faster and more efficient than the Snapdragon 888.
- Brighter Display: 2000 nits peak brightness offers excellent outdoor visibility.
- Better Main Camera: Larger sensor and wider aperture on the main camera for improved low-light performance.
- Newer iOS: Runs the latest version of iOS, receiving updates and security patches.
- Better Battery Management: Apple A18 chip is more efficient in terms of battery management.
- Better GPS Support: Supports more satellite systems for precise location tracking.
- Better Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E offers faster speeds, lower latency, and access to 6GHz band
- More Storage: Up to 512GB of internal storage for large files.
Significant Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9 Pro offers a sharper, smoother display and faster charging but is older and has a less powerful chipset.
- Apple iPhone 16 Plus offers superior performance and a brighter display but with a lower refresh rate and slower charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize a visually crisp and smooth display, and very fast charging
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers who value smooth gameplay and fast charging.
- Users who frequently consume multimedia content and want a sharp display with smooth animations.
- Users who prefer faster charging and the ability to reverse charge other devices.
- Users who enjoy photography with a wide range of lens options.
- Android users who appreciate the customizability of the OS.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus:
- Ideal User: Users who value top-tier performance, a bright screen, and are fully in the Apple Ecosystem.
- Use Cases:
- Users who demand maximum performance for gaming, video editing, and other intensive tasks.
- Those who want the best low-light photography performance with a larger main camera sensor.
- Users who prefer the simplicity and consistency of iOS.
- Users who work in bright environments where good screen visibility is crucial.
- Users who value the latest software updates and features for the long term.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
* The OnePlus 9 Pro is an older model, which would make it much more affordable than the newly launched iPhone 16 Plus.
* The iPhone 16 Plus would represent a higher price-point, but with much better performance.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance vs. Display: Do you prioritize cutting-edge performance and screen brightness (iPhone) or a smoother, sharper display with faster charging (OnePlus)?
- Ecosystem Preference: Are you committed to the Apple ecosystem (iOS) or do you prefer the flexibility and customization of Android?
- Budget Constraints: Is price a major factor, or are you willing to pay more for the latest technology and features?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Heavy gamer and multitasker
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 16 Plus. The superior chipset and GPU will handle demanding games and heavy multitasking more effectively.
- Scenario 2: Photography Enthusiast
- Recommendation: OnePlus 9 Pro for more versatility in terms of lenses or Apple iPhone 16 Plus for the best low light image quality. This depends on whether you want more lenses or just higher quality images.
- Scenario 3: Multimedia Consumer:
- Recommendation: OnePlus 9 Pro. The sharper display and higher refresh rate will make the media consumption experience much more enjoyable.
- Scenario 4: Long-Term Reliability and Updates:
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 16 Plus. You'll get updates and support for much longer than on the OnePlus.
- Scenario 5: Budget Conscious:
- Recommendation: OnePlus 9 Pro, would be cheaper considering the fact that is an older model.
My Choice
I would choose the Apple iPhone 16 Plus. While the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a smoother display with faster charging and more camera lens options which are attractive, the performance difference is too significant. The Apple A18 chip provides a substantial performance advantage, making the phone feel much faster and more fluid. This would provide a more seamless experience in heavy usage cases like gaming, video editing and demanding apps. Additionally, I find that long term support and software updates would be much better on an Apple device. For these reasons, the iPhone 16 Plus is my recommendation.
