Smartphone Comparison: OnePlus 9 Pro vs. Huawei nova Y90
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 163.3 × 74.7 × 8.4 mm | Very similar size; Huawei slightly wider and thinner, likely negligible in hand. |
| Weight | 197g | 195g | Virtually identical; both feel relatively substantial but not overly heavy. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Identical screen size; both offer a large viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1080x2388 | OnePlus 9 Pro display is significantly sharper with much higher detail, text and images are clearer. |
| PPI | 525 | 391 | OnePlus 9 Pro has significantly higher pixel density, resulting in sharper and clearer images, text, and graphics. |
| Technology | Missing | IPS LCD | Huawei nova Y90's IPS LCD generally provides good color reproduction, viewing angles and responsiveness, OnePlus 9 Pro's display technology is unknown, making this comparison incomplete. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | OnePlus 9 Pro has smoother scrolling and animations, slightly more fluid feeling for user interface and some games. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | OnePlus 9 Pro display is significantly brighter, and much more usable in bright sunlight. Huawei nova Y90's brightness information is missing, limiting the comparison. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | OnePlus 9 Pro offers significantly faster performance for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking. The Huawei is better suited to basic usage. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 249,000 | OnePlus 9 Pro delivers dramatically better performance, apps load faster, and the phone is significantly more responsive. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 610 | OnePlus 9 Pro's Adreno 660 provides much superior graphics performance for gaming and GPU intensive tasks. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | Huawei nova Y90 has larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 40W Fast Charging | OnePlus 9 Pro charges faster, reducing time spent waiting for the phone to reach full battery. |
| Features | Reverse, Wireless 50W, Reverse Wireless | Non-removable | OnePlus 9 Pro offers significantly more flexibility with charging, such as wireless and reverse charging, making it better for sharing power with other devices. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP f/1.8, 1/1.43" sensor | 50MP f/1.8, 0.70µm pixel size | Huawei nova Y90 has slightly higher resolution, but OnePlus 9 Pro's larger sensor may capture more light and detail; performance may vary. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP f/2.4, 1/3.13" sensor | 8MP f/2.0, missing pixel size | OnePlus 9 Pro offers higher resolution and wider aperture for better selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro offers telephoto zoom capabilities, which Huawei nova Y90 lacks. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP f/2.2 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro includes a wide-angle lens for more versatile photography, while Huawei nova Y90 lacks this capability. |
| Black & White | 2MP f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro provides a dedicated sensor for monochrome photography. |
| Secondary | None | 2MP f/2.4 | Huawei nova Y90 provides a secondary depth sensor, while OnePlus 9 Pro does not. |
| Tertiary | None | 2MP f/2.4 | Huawei nova Y90 provides a tertiary depth sensor, while OnePlus 9 Pro does not. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | OnePlus 9 Pro records much higher resolution video (8K), offering more detail and editing flexibility, it also has more advanced video stabilisation. |
| DXOMark | 122 (Mobile) | Not Tested | OnePlus 9 Pro has demonstrated superior camera performance in third party tests. |
| Features | Extensive Suite | Basic Suite | OnePlus 9 Pro provides significantly more advanced options such as optical zoom and RAW capture mode, manual video and photo control options, whereas Huawei nova Y90's feature set is basic |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (up to 14) | Missing | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a more well-known and widely used OS. Huawei nova Y90's operating system is unknown. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), MiMO | 802.11ac | OnePlus 9 Pro provides faster network speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 LE, APT-x, LDAC | 5.0 LE, EDR | OnePlus 9 Pro has newer Bluetooth offering more reliable connection and potentially higher quality audio with supported codecs. |
| GPS | Dual-Band, Multiple Systems | Multiple Systems including QZSS | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more accurate and reliable GPS due to more advanced satellite system support. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both support dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB or 256GB | 128GB | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a larger storage option (256 GB), Huawei nova Y90 is limited to 128 GB. |
| RAM | 8GB or 12GB | 4GB, 6GB or 8GB | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more RAM for smoother multitasking and performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo speakers | Basic | OnePlus 9 Pro offers far superior audio quality, with better immersion and clearer sound. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Huawei nova Y90 offers more modern side-mounted sensor which many users find more convenient to use. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | OnePlus 9 Pro provides superior screen protection, the Huawei has an unknown screen protection. |
| Sensors | Proximity, Gyroscope, Biometric | Ultrasonic, Biometric | OnePlus 9 Pro has additional sensors that enable more advanced functionality for a variety of use cases. Huawei nova Y90 does not have a gyroscope for motion control in games. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset provides significantly faster processing, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance compared to the Snapdragon 680 in the Huawei nova Y90.
- High-Quality Display: The higher resolution, pixel density, and refresh rate provide a noticeably sharper, more fluid visual experience, enhanced by much higher maximum brightness.
- Advanced Camera System: Offers more versatile and higher-quality photos and videos with a telephoto lens, wide-angle lens, higher video resolution (up to 8K), and OIS. The additional black & white camera provides added options for creative photography.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: Supports 65W fast charging and 50W wireless charging with reverse wireless charging, offering flexibility and convenience for power users.
- Better Audio: The inclusion of Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers and 3 microphones provides far superior audio recording and playback capabilities.
- More advanced connectivity: The OnePlus 9 Pro has superior wifi capabilities, a more advanced bluetooth version, and superior GPS functionality
Huawei nova Y90 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000 mAh battery could provide longer battery life compared to the 4500 mAh battery in the OnePlus 9 Pro, although real world performance will depend on usage patterns.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Some users may find the side-mounted sensor more convenient than a traditional in-display sensor.
- Potentially Lower Cost: Typically, phones with lower specs are sold at a more affordable price point.
Trade-offs:
- The OnePlus 9 Pro sacrifices battery capacity for performance and camera superiority.
- The Huawei nova Y90 sacrifices performance, screen sharpness, camera quality, and many advanced features for increased battery size and potentially lower cost.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro is Ideal For:
- Power Users: Users who need the best performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize high-quality photos and videos, with greater zoom capabilities and image stabilization.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who value a high-resolution, smooth and bright display for watching videos or browsing the web.
Users who need rapid charging and wireless charging users who need to charge on the go or want to be able to charge their other devices.
Use Case Examples: Mobile gaming, professional photography, video content creation, watching HD content on the move.
Huawei nova Y90 is Ideal For:
- Casual Users: Users who primarily use their phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, browsing social media, and basic web browsing.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users who are looking for a cost-effective phone with a large display for comfortable usage, and long battery life.
Users who prioritize basic audio: users who want to listen to music and make phone calls with a standard audio experience.
Use Case Examples: Social media browsing, web browsing, general communication, watching videos with no critical requirements regarding screen resolution or brightness, casual gaming.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is my priority? Performance/Camera, or Battery Life/Budget? If you need the best performance, display and camera quality, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice. If you need long battery life and cost is more important, then the Huawei is better suited.
- How important is display sharpness and brightness? If you find yourself often using your phone outdoors or reading text, the OnePlus 9 Pro offers superior experience. If this is not important, the Huawei's screen is still capable.
- How important is advanced functionality vs cost? If wireless charging and superior audio is not important, then the Huawei may be a better option due to the lower cost.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-End User: If you are looking for flagship level performance and camera quality, the OnePlus 9 Pro is far superior.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious User: If you are on a tight budget and prioritize long battery life over other features, the Huawei nova Y90 is more suitable.
- Scenario 3: Mid-Range User: If you don't need top of the line performance or a superior camera system and you are willing to compromise on the display quality, the Huawei nova Y90 may be a good compromise.
My Choice
I would choose the OnePlus 9 Pro. While the Huawei nova Y90 offers a larger battery, the OnePlus 9 Pro excels in almost every other critical area. As a power user and a tech enthusiast, I value the significantly superior performance offered by the Snapdragon 888, the sharper and brighter display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the more advanced and versatile camera system with telephoto and wide-angle lenses, and the faster wireless and wired charging. Additionally the Dolby Atmos audio support is a huge bonus for me as I consume a lot of multimedia.
While the larger battery of the Huawei nova Y90 is appealing, the compromise in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities is not worth it for my needs. The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a premium experience that justifies the trade-off in battery capacity. For a tech enthusiast who enjoys gaming, content creation, and consuming high-quality media, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the clear winner.
