1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Huawei Pura 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 157.6 × 74.3 × 8 mm | Huawei Pura 70 is shorter and thinner, potentially more comfortable for smaller hands. OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly bulkier. |
| Weight | 197g | 207g | OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly lighter, which might be noticeable during extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.6" | OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly larger screen for a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1256x2760 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a significantly sharper display, resulting in crisper text and images. |
| Pixel Density | 525 PPI | 460 PPI | OnePlus 9 Pro's higher pixel density means more detailed visuals. |
| Technology | Unknown | OLED | Huawei Pura 70 has superior display technology with better blacks and contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 2500 nits | Huawei Pura 70 has dramatically better outdoor visibility, especially in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Kirin 9000S1 | Different chipsets will have varying performance characteristics, difficult to quantify directly. The Snapdragon 888 is generally known for strong performance in 2021-era phones. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 768,000 | OnePlus 9 Pro benchmarks higher, suggesting potentially smoother operation for demanding tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Maleoon 910 | Different GPUs; specific game performance will vary. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP f/1.8, 1/1.43" sensor, 1.12 µm pixels | 50MP f/1.4, 1/1.3" sensor, 1.20 µm pixels | Huawei Pura 70 has a larger sensor and wider aperture, potentially better in low light conditions. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP f/2.4, 1/3.13" sensor, 0.70 µm pixels | 13MP f/2.4, unknown sensor size, unknown pixel size | OnePlus 9 Pro has a higher resolution front-facing camera. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP f/2.4, 1/4.4" sensor, 1.00 µm pixels | 12MP f/3.4, unknown sensor size, unknown pixel size | Huawei Pura 70 has a higher resolution telephoto lens; OnePlus 9 Pro has a wider aperture. The Huawei telephoto will likely have a longer optical zoom. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP f/2.2, 1/1.56" sensor, 1.00 µm pixels | 13MP f/2.2, unknown sensor size, unknown pixel size | OnePlus 9 Pro has a significantly higher resolution wide-angle camera. |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP f/2.4 | Not present | OnePlus 9 Pro has an additional monochrome lens for potentially enhanced B&W photography. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 4K | OnePlus 9 Pro offers higher video resolution. |
| DXOMark | 122 (Mobile), 124 (Photo), 118 (Video) | Not tested | OnePlus 9 Pro's camera performance is benchmarked with good scores. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4900mAh | Huawei Pura 70 has a larger battery, likely resulting in slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | Both phones offer fast wired charging. |
| Wireless Charging | 50W, Reverse | 50W, 7.5W Reverse | Both phones offer fast wireless charging, OnePlus 9 Pro offers faster reverse wireless charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to 14 | Unknown | OnePlus 9 Pro provides a more known OS with updates guaranteed to Android 14. The Huawei Pura 70 is unknown, but probably based on HarmonyOS. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 | Both support modern WiFi standards. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 LE, aptX | 5.2 | OnePlus 9 Pro has slightly more advanced codecs for wireless audio. |
| GPS | Extensive systems | Extensive systems, potentially more accurate | Huawei Pura 70 may have more precise positioning due to more satellite system support. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones offer dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 256GB/512GB/1024GB | Huawei Pura 70 offers significantly more internal storage. |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 12GB | Huawei Pura 70 offers consistent RAM configuration, good for multitasking and heavy use. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | OnePlus 9 Pro offers potentially better audio capture and clearer calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both use basic fingerprint sensor technology. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | OnePlus 9 Pro has established screen protection, while the Huawei’s protection is unknown. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, RGB | Huawei Pura 70 has a wider set of sensors, suitable for some apps and games. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and PPI result in noticeably crisper visuals.
- Higher Benchmark Performance: A higher AnTuTu score suggests smoother performance for demanding tasks.
- More Versatile Video Recording: Supports 8K recording.
- More Advanced Audio: Additional noise cancellation microphone and 3 microphones may enhance calls and audio capture.
- Established Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
- Known OS: Android 11 with updates guaranteed up to Android 14.
- More Feature Rich Wireless Charging: Has Reverse and 50W Wireless charging capabilities.
Huawei Pura 70 Advantages:
- Brighter Display: Significantly higher brightness makes it much more usable in direct sunlight.
- Larger Battery: Provides potentially longer battery life.
- Better Main Camera Sensor: Larger sensor with wider aperture, potentially better in low light.
- Potentially better telephoto camera: Higher resolution telephoto camera with longer optical zoom.
- Significantly More Storage Options: Offers up to 1TB of internal storage.
- More Advanced GPS: Support for more satellite systems.
- Wider sensor package: Including Hall and RGB sensors
- Slightly newer phone: The Pura 70 is slightly newer with updated technology.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9 Pro prioritizes display sharpness and performance but is older.
- Huawei Pura 70 focuses on display brightness, camera low light capabilities, and larger storage, but with less established software and possibly less processing power.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who need smooth multitasking and gaming performance.
- Video Content Creators: Those who want to shoot 8K video.
- Users valuing Display Sharpness: Those who want the crispest image quality possible.
- Those looking for a more established OS: User that want access to the Google ecosystem.
Use Cases:
- Gaming, video editing, and running multiple apps simultaneously.
- Shooting high-resolution videos.
- Everyday use where display sharpness is key.
- Android ecosystem users.
Huawei Pura 70 Ideal User:
- Outdoor Enthusiasts: Users who need to use their phones in bright sunlight.
- Photography Lovers: Those who prioritize low-light camera performance.
- Storage Heavy Users: Users who need a lot of internal storage.
- Users who want a new and up to date phone.
Use Cases:
- Taking pictures and videos in challenging lighting conditions.
- Storing large files, high quality photos, and videos.
- Long days outdoors using the phone as a primary device.
- Users who prefer a slightly smaller and newer phone.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The OnePlus 9 Pro, being an older phone, will likely be more affordable, providing high-end performance and a very crisp display for a lower cost.
- The Huawei Pura 70, being newer, will likely be more expensive, with a focus on camera quality, display brightness, and storage capacity, but the OS and its updates are less well known.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- How important is outdoor visibility? If you frequently use your phone in bright sunlight, the Huawei Pura 70 is clearly better.
- What is your storage requirement? If you need a lot of space for media, the Huawei Pura 70 is a clear winner.
- Do you value raw performance and a very crisp screen or latest camera tech and a large battery? The OnePlus 9 Pro offers raw performance and a sharper display, while the Pura 70 is more balanced with a focus on camera, storage, and battery.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-Performance User: If you are a gamer or heavy multitasker that values raw performance and wants to ensure you have a Google based Android ecosystem, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice, even if it is an older model.
- Scenario 2: Outdoor Photographer: If you take photos frequently, especially outdoors, or in low light conditions, and require a lot of storage, the Huawei Pura 70 is the better choice, given its brighter screen, larger battery, and larger main sensor, as well as the larger storage.
- Scenario 3: General User: If you want a balanced phone with a good screen, good camera, big battery and lots of storage, while still being a newer model, the Huawei Pura 70 is the better choice.
My Choice
Given my own needs, I would choose the Huawei Pura 70. While I appreciate the sharper display and raw power of the OnePlus 9 Pro, the Pura 70's superior camera low light capabilities, brighter display, larger battery, and significantly more storage are more critical for my daily usage patterns. I often find myself in bright sunlight and take a lot of photos and videos, so the Pura 70's strengths align well with those needs. The slightly newer model is also a plus. While the software on the Pura 70 is less established, I am willing to adapt to a new ecosystem for the hardware upgrades this model brings.
