Smartphone Comparison: OnePlus 9 Pro vs. Honor Magic4 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 163.6 × 74.7 × 9.1 mm | Honor Magic4 Pro is slightly larger and thicker, which may be noticeable in pocket and hand comfort. |
| Weight | 197g | 209g | OnePlus 9 Pro feels slightly lighter, which could be preferred for extended holding or carrying. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.81" | Honor Magic4 Pro offers a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1312x2848 | OnePlus 9 Pro's sharper display results in clearer text and images, beneficial for reading and detailed content. |
| PPI | 525 | 460 | OnePlus 9 Pro offers noticeably sharper text and images, making it better for detail-oriented users and those with visual impairments. |
| Technology | - | OLED | Honor Magic4 Pro has an OLED display with superior contrast and color reproduction, beneficial for vibrant media and dark mode usage. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience, particularly in gaming and fast-paced apps. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1000 nits | OnePlus 9 Pro is significantly brighter, providing better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor Magic4 Pro's newer chipset offers slightly improved performance and efficiency, enhancing gaming and heavy application usage. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 945,832 | Honor Magic4 Pro shows marginally better performance, offering a slight edge for intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | Honor Magic4 Pro has a newer GPU, resulting in improved graphics performance for gaming and video editing. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4600mAh | Both offer comparable battery life for a full day's use; however, real-world endurance can vary based on usage patterns. |
| Charging | 65W fast charging | 100W fast charging | Honor Magic4 Pro charges significantly faster, allowing quick top-ups and reduced downtime. |
| Features | 50W Wireless, Reverse Wireless | 100W Wireless | Honor Magic4 Pro has faster wireless charging, offering more convenient and faster wireless power replenishment. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43", Sony IMX789 | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766 | OnePlus 9 Pro's larger sensor and wider aperture potentially offer slightly better low-light performance and shallower depth-of-field. |
| Telephoto Camera | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/2", Omnivision OV64B | Honor Magic4 Pro offers higher resolution Telephoto + portrait camera, providing potentially better details in zoomed photos and portrait shots. |
| Wide Angle Camera | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56" | 50MP, f/2.2 | Both offer wide-angle capabilities. Quality may vary based on processing; Honor Magic4 Pro's secondary wide-angle includes macro functionality. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" | 12MP, f/2.4 | OnePlus 9 Pro offers slightly higher resolution for selfies, potentially capturing slightly more detail. |
| ToF 3D sensor | None | 0.3MP | Honor Magic4 Pro provides depth mapping for enhanced portrait mode effects and AR applications. |
| Macro Camera | None | 50MP | Honor Magic4 Pro provides macro photography capabilities. |
| Black & White Camera | 2MP | None | OnePlus 9 Pro provides dedicated black and white image capture. |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps, EIS | 4K@60fps, EIS | OnePlus 9 Pro offers higher resolution video recording, better for professional-grade content creation. |
| DxOMark Score | 122 (Photo: 124, Video: 118) | 126 (Photo: 132, Video: 117) | Honor Magic4 Pro provides overall better photo quality, but OnePlus 9 Pro video capabilities are slightly better. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to 14 | Android 12 | Honor Magic4 Pro's newer OS provides a more up-to-date Android experience and potential for longer-term support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both offer fast and reliable Wi-Fi for browsing, streaming and downloading files. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Both support Bluetooth 5.2, offering reliable connections for wireless audio, wearables etc. |
| GPS | Dual-band GPS | Advanced GPS | Honor Magic4 Pro has better location accuracy, particularly in challenging environments, due to additional satellite system support. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Both support dual SIM functionality, allowing users to use two networks. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256/512 GB | Honor Magic4 Pro offers more storage capacity for apps, photos, and videos; OnePlus 9 Pro storage is limited to 128 or 256GB. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 8/12 GB | Both offer smooth multitasking and app switching. |
| Expandable | No | No | Both lack expandable storage, so users need to choose a storage variant carefully. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, 3 mics | DTS / DTS X | OnePlus 9 Pro has Dolby Atmos and noise cancellation for better sound, potentially providing higher fidelity and improved sound immersion. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | In-display fingerprint sensor | In-display fingerprint sensor | Both phones offer biometric security, providing convenient and secure unlocking. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | OnePlus 9 Pro has a superior screen protection against damage. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Both phones have a comprehensive set of sensors for advanced features and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and PPI offer a clearer and more detailed visual experience, ideal for reading and detail-oriented tasks.
- Brighter Display: Significantly better outdoor visibility due to its higher peak brightness, essential for use in bright sunlight.
- Superior Video Recording: 8K video recording at 30fps and 4K at 120fps provides professional-grade content creation.
- Dolby Atmos and Enhanced Audio: Offers immersive sound and superior recording capabilities due to Dolby Atmos and three noise-canceling microphones.
- Wider Aperture on Main Camera: Slightly better low-light performance and shallower depth-of-field in photos.
- Black & White Camera: Dedicated black and white images.
- Known Screen Protection: Offers better protection with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Honor Magic4 Pro Advantages:
- Newer Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 provides marginally better performance and efficiency.
- Faster Charging: 100W wired and wireless charging allow for much faster battery replenishment.
- Larger Internal Storage Options: Comes in 256GB/512 GB storage variants, catering to users with significant data requirements.
- Telephoto + Portrait camera: The 64MP Telephoto camera enables better quality zoomed photos.
- Advanced GPS: Better location accuracy due to support for more satellite systems.
- Macro Capability: Enables close-up photo capabilities.
- More up-to-date OS: Comes with Android 12, offering a more current software experience.
- ToF 3D Sensor: Enhanced depth mapping for portrait effects.
- Dual Front Camera: For dual camera capabilities.
Significant Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9 Pro: Sacrifices some processing power, charging speed, and overall camera DxOMark score for better display sharpness, brightness, video recording, and audio.
- Honor Magic4 Pro: Sacrifices screen sharpness and brightness, as well as video recording resolution for newer internals, faster charging, better telephoto camera, and larger internal storage.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro: Ideal For
- Content Creators: Professionals needing high-quality video capabilities, especially for 8K content.
- Detail-Oriented Users: Those who value sharp, clear displays for reading and detailed work.
- Outdoor Users: Individuals who frequently use their phone in bright sunlight and need good display visibility.
- Audiophiles: Users who want a superior sound experience for consuming media and creating content.
- Users who prioritize the best low-light images
Specific Use Cases:
- Filming high-resolution videos, editing video content on the go.
- Reading eBooks, technical documents, or working on detailed presentations.
- Navigating with a phone in bright outdoor settings.
- Listening to high-fidelity audio, recording high-quality audio.
Honor Magic4 Pro: Ideal For
- Power Users: Individuals who require high performance and multitasking.
- Gamers: Users who need superior GPU performance for graphic-intensive games.
- Users with Large Media Libraries: People needing ample storage for apps, photos, videos, and other files.
- Photography enthusiasts: who need versatility and great telephoto quality.
- Frequent Travelers: Those who rely on accurate GPS for navigation and need quick charging on the go.
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphic-intensive games.
- Quickly charging the phone between meetings or travel.
- Storing a large collection of photos, videos, and music.
- Navigating in areas with limited GPS coverage.
- Taking versatile photos
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- Do you prioritize display clarity, outdoor visibility, and video recording quality?
- Is fast charging, storage space and newer processing power more critical for your usage?
- Are superior audio recording capabilities or detailed telephoto photography more important to you?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Multimedia & Content Creation): If you prioritize content creation with excellent video and audio, and need a sharp display, the OnePlus 9 Pro is better suited.
- Scenario 2 (Gaming & Performance): If you need maximum processing power, fast charging and prefer a versatile camera, the Honor Magic4 Pro is the better choice.
- Scenario 3 (General Use): If you need a balanced smartphone with a large storage capacity and faster charging, but can accept a lower screen brightness and resolution, the Honor Magic4 Pro is recommended.
My Choice
I would choose the Honor Magic4 Pro.
Reasoning:
While the OnePlus 9 Pro's display is superior on paper, the Honor Magic4 Pro's slightly larger screen provides a very good visual experience, and I value the faster charging speeds and the enhanced versatility of the camera system. Additionally, the newer chipset in the Honor Magic4 Pro suggests better long-term performance and efficiency. While I appreciate the better video capabilities of the OnePlus 9 Pro, I believe that Honor Magic4 Pro's focus on fast charging, overall versatility in photography and updated internals is more aligned with my needs. The significantly faster charging is a huge convenience in my daily life, and the extra storage is always a plus, even if I'd prefer if it had expandable storage.
