Smartphone Comparison: OnePlus 9 Pro vs. Honor 50
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Honor 50 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 160 × 73.8 × 7.8 mm | OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly taller and thicker, potentially feeling bulkier in hand. Honor 50 is slimmer and more compact. |
| Weight | 197g | 175g | Honor 50 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.57" | OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1080x2340 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a much sharper display, resulting in crisper text and images, especially noticeable when viewing high-resolution content. |
| Pixel Density | 525 PPI | 392 PPI | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a noticeably sharper and more detailed display due to higher pixel density. |
| Technology | OLED | Honor 50 uses OLED technology, known for vibrant colors and deep blacks, likely offering better contrast and viewing experience | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations for a fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | OnePlus 9 Pro offers vastly superior outdoor visibility, making it usable in bright sunlight. Honor 50 brightness is unknown, which makes it hard to tell if is good for outdoors. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | OnePlus 9 Pro has a more powerful flagship chipset, providing faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 582,766 | OnePlus 9 Pro provides significantly better overall performance, ideal for demanding tasks and high-end gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 642L | OnePlus 9 Pro has a more powerful GPU for smoother and more detailed graphics in demanding apps and games. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43", Sony IMX789 | 108MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52", Samsung S5KHM2 | Honor 50 has higher resolution, while OnePlus 9 Pro has a larger sensor with a slightly wider aperture, impacting low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", Sony IMX471 | 32MP, f/2.2, 1/3.14", Samsung JD1 | Honor 50 has higher resolution with a wider aperture selfie camera. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities, which is important for better zoomed photos. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766 | 8MP, f/2.2 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a significantly higher resolution wide-angle lens for detailed ultrawide shots. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | Honor 50 provides a depth sensor that provides better depth of field for portrait photography. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | Honor 50 includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro includes a dedicated black & white sensor for creative photography. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps | OnePlus 9 Pro offers significantly higher resolution video recording capabilities. |
| Stabilization | Yes | No | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a better stabilization, leading to smoother video quality while recording video. |
| DXOMark Score | 122 | Not tested | OnePlus 9 Pro has a superior camera based on the DXOMark Score. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4300mAh | OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly larger battery, potentially providing marginally better battery life. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Both offer very fast charging speeds, providing a full charge in a short amount of time. Honor 50 is marginally faster. |
| Features | 50W Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging | None | OnePlus 9 Pro provides convenient wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities. |
| Software | |||
| Operating System | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | Android 11 | OnePlus 9 Pro offers better software support with potential upgrade to Android 14. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both phones support the latest Wi-Fi standards. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC | 5.2, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC | OnePlus 9 Pro provides better Bluetooth codecs for enhanced audio. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1) | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more satellite systems for more accurate location tracking. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB | Both offer the same storage options. |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 6GB/8GB/12GB | Both offer multiple RAM options; OnePlus 9 Pro has 8 or 12 GB, Honor 50 has 6, 8, or 12. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, potentially limiting long term storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, Noise Cancellation, 3 Microphones | Hi-Res Audio | OnePlus 9 Pro delivers enhanced audio quality with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Basic | Basic | Both use basic fingerprint sensors for security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | OnePlus 9 Pro uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for better scratch resistance. |
| Sensors | |||
| Suite | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | OnePlus 9 Pro includes an additional gravity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset, resulting in faster performance for demanding apps, gaming, and multitasking.
- Higher Resolution Display: Significantly sharper display with more detail, better for viewing high-resolution content and reading.
- Brighter Display: Much brighter screen for excellent outdoor visibility, crucial for viewing the screen in sunny conditions.
- Advanced Camera System: Higher resolution wide-angle lens, Telephoto lens with optical zoom, better overall camera performance and image quality.
- Higher Quality Video Recording: Offers 8K video recording.
- Better Wireless Charging: Supports fast 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
- Enhanced Audio Features: Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support for superior audio quality.
- Better Software Support: The OnePlus 9 Pro has a higher potential for OS updates to the latest version of android, and that provides a more secure user experience and up to date features.
- More Robust Build: Includes Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on its screen, and a more detailed GPS system.
Honor 50 Advantages:
- Lighter and Slimmer Design: More comfortable and portable, especially for extended periods.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Better selfies with more detail.
- Dedicated Macro and Depth Lens: Provides additional camera options for close-up and portrait photography.
- Slightly Faster Charging: Offers marginally faster wired charging speed.
- OLED Display: Display technology known for vibrant colours and deep blacks.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9 Pro: Heavier, potentially less comfortable for some users. It's also thicker and taller than the Honor 50.
- Honor 50: Lower performance in demanding tasks, inferior display, camera system lacks the flexibility of the OnePlus 9 Pro, limited video recording capabilities, and unknown display protection.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro:
- Ideal Users: Power users, gamers, photography enthusiasts, users who prioritize performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
- Use Cases:
- Heavy gaming with demanding titles.
- High-resolution photo and video capture.
- Multitasking between demanding applications.
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight where screen visibility is crucial.
- Users who want a better sound quality when using speakers.
Honor 50:
- Ideal Users: Users who prioritize a light and slim design, selfie lovers, users who want good performance for everyday use, and basic camera capabilities.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday tasks, social media, and light gaming.
- Selfie photography and basic social media sharing.
- Users who find a more comfortable and lighter device essential.
- Users who want a better display than an LCD screen can offer.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The OnePlus 9 Pro likely has a higher price tag due to its superior specifications, whereas the Honor 50 is targeted towards a more budget-friendly segment of the market. The cost difference will be a key factor for the consumer.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- How important is performance for you? (Gaming, heavy multitasking)
- What is your primary use case? (Photography, video, social media, daily tasks)
- How important is portability and comfort? (Weight, size)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For Gaming and Performance: If high-end gaming and heavy app usage are priorities, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the clear choice, due to its superior chipset and GPU capabilities, also leading to a better AnTuTu Benchmark score of 877,600 compared to the Honor 50's 582,766.
- For Photography and Videography: If you value high-quality photography and advanced video features, and want high resolution recording, the OnePlus 9 Pro, with its advanced camera sensors and 8K video recording is the superior choice.
- For Casual Use and Portability: If everyday tasks, social media, and comfort are more important, the Honor 50 is a good option due to its light weight and slimmer design, as well as an OLED screen.
- For Outdoor Usage: If screen brightness for outdoor usage is a must-have, the OnePlus 9 Pro, with its 1300 nits brightness, is significantly better than the Honor 50, whose screen brightness is unknown.
- For Best Audio Experience: If you care about the best audio experience, the OnePlus 9 Pro, with its Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers and noise cancelling microphone is the superior choice.
Personal Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the OnePlus 9 Pro. While the Honor 50 is lighter and has a better selfie camera, the OnePlus 9 Pro provides a much more comprehensive package. Its superior processing power is a key advantage for demanding tasks. The higher resolution and brightness of its display make the user experience better. The versatility and quality of its camera system, the 8K video support, and the enhanced audio features are also extremely compelling. While it is thicker and heavier, the added functionality is worth the trade-off for me. Therefore, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a better fit for my needs.
