Smartphone Comparison: OnePlus 9 Pro vs. Motorola Edge 30
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the OnePlus 9 Pro and Motorola Edge 30, focusing on practical impacts:
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 159.4 × 74.2 × 6.8 mm | OnePlus 9 Pro is taller and thicker, while the Edge 30 is thinner and slightly wider. The Edge 30 may feel more comfortable in hand due to the thinner profile, while the OnePlus 9 Pro feels more substantial. |
| Weight | 197g | 155g | The Motorola Edge 30 is significantly lighter, making it easier to hold for extended periods. The OnePlus 9 Pro's added weight might be noticeable during long usage sessions. |
| Build Quality | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (Screen) | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (Screen) | OnePlus 9 Pro has more robust screen protection against scratches and minor impacts, making it more durable |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.5" | OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly larger screen for a more immersive viewing experience. This difference is noticeable when consuming media. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1080x2400 | The OnePlus 9 Pro's higher resolution results in sharper images, text, and videos. The Edge 30 is still sharp, but the difference is noticeable to trained eyes. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 525 | 405 | OnePlus 9 Pro has significantly higher pixel density resulting in better clarity, finer details, especially in text and high-resolution images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | The Motorola Edge 30's AMOLED display offers deeper blacks, vibrant colors, and better contrast. It is more energy-efficient when using dark mode. OnePlus 9 Pro does not specify its display tech. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | The Motorola Edge 30's 144Hz refresh rate provides slightly smoother scrolling and animations than the OnePlus 9 Pro's 120Hz, but the difference is subtle. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | OnePlus 9 Pro is significantly brighter, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. Motorola Edge 30's brightness is missing. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | The OnePlus 9 Pro's Snapdragon 888 is a more powerful flagship chipset, offering better performance for demanding apps and gaming. The Edge 30's 778G+ is still capable but less powerful. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 609,900 | The OnePlus 9 Pro scores higher, indicating noticeably faster app loading, smoother operation, and better performance in demanding tasks and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 642L | The Adreno 660 in the OnePlus 9 Pro offers better graphics processing, resulting in higher frame rates and smoother gameplay in graphically intensive games. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43" sensor | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55" sensor | Motorola Edge 30 has slightly higher resolution, but the OnePlus 9 Pro has a larger sensor for potentially better low-light performance, less noise, and improved dynamic range. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" sensor | 32MP, f/2.25, 1/3.14" sensor | The Motorola Edge 30 has a higher-resolution selfie camera, capturing more detail. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" sensor | None | OnePlus 9 Pro offers dedicated optical zoom capabilities, useful for taking zoomed photos without loss of quality, whereas the Edge 30 relies on digital zoom. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56" sensor | None | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing landscape and group photos, the Edge 30 relies on digital zoom. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | Motorola Edge 30 can achieve depth in portrait photos using a dedicated lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" sensor | Motorola Edge 30 offers wide angle photography and close-up macro shots with this lens. |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated black and white lens, providing stylistic monochrome photos. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps | Up to 4K@30fps | OnePlus 9 Pro offers higher video recording capabilities, making it more suitable for professional video creation. |
| DXOMark Score | 122 (Overall), 124 (Photo), 118 (Video) | Not Available | OnePlus 9 Pro has a known and relatively high score, indicating good image quality, whereas Motorola Edge 30 is untested by DXOMark. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4020mAh | The OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly larger battery, potentially lasting longer on a single charge. |
| Charging | 65W fast charging | 33W fast charging | OnePlus 9 Pro charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse charging, Wireless charging 50W, Reverse wireless charging | None | OnePlus 9 Pro offers additional charging options, including wireless charging and reverse charging for other devices. |
Other
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 11, upgradable to 14 | Android 12, upgradable to 13 | Motorola Edge 30 has a newer Android version out of the box, but the OnePlus 9 Pro will get longer software support. |
| RAM | 8 GB or 12 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more RAM for improved multitasking performance, especially useful for demanding users and gamers. |
| Storage | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | Both devices offer similar storage options |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither supports expandable storage |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, Noise cancellation microphone, 3 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | OnePlus 9 Pro has a slight edge in audio features offering enhanced spatial audio, clearer calls, better audio separation and immersion, better voice capture. |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | OnePlus 9 Pro uses superior screen protection. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity, Proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | OnePlus 9 Pro has an additional gravity sensor for motion tracking. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset offers significantly better performance for gaming, heavy multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Higher Resolution & Brighter Display: The higher resolution and significantly higher brightness provide a sharper and more vibrant viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- More Versatile Camera System: The inclusion of telephoto and wide-angle lenses offers more flexibility for different photographic scenarios.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: 65W fast charging and 50W wireless charging provide much more convenient charging options and significantly less downtime
- More RAM Option: A 12GB RAM option ensures smooth multitasking and better performance when running demanding applications.
- Better Audio: Enhanced spatial audio, clearer calls, better audio separation and immersion, better voice capture.
- Better Screen Protection: Uses a more robust version of Corning Gorilla Glass
Motorola Edge 30 Advantages:
- Lighter & Thinner Design: The Edge 30 is significantly lighter and thinner, making it more comfortable to hold and carry around.
- Slightly Smoother Display: A 144Hz refresh rate provides marginally smoother visuals, although most users would struggle to notice.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: The 32MP selfie camera captures more detail than the 16MP in the OnePlus 9 Pro.
- Dedicated Depth & Macro Camera: Versatile camera setup for portrait and close-up shots.
- Newer Android Version: Ships with Android 12 out of the box.
Trade-offs:
- The OnePlus 9 Pro sacrifices some portability (heavier, thicker) for better performance and camera features.
- The Motorola Edge 30 lacks the advanced camera features (telephoto, wide-angle) and performance of the OnePlus 9 Pro, opting for a lighter design and higher refresh rate.
- The Edge 30 display does not have brightness information available, making it hard to compare to the much brighter OnePlus 9 Pro display.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Individuals who perform demanding tasks, run resource-intensive apps, and multitask frequently.
- Gamers: Those who prioritize high performance and smoother gameplay in graphically intensive games.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system with telephoto, wide-angle, and high-resolution video recording capabilities.
- Media Consumers: Users who appreciate a high-resolution, vibrant display for viewing movies and content, particularly outdoors.
- Users who prioritize fast charging: Those who prefer quick charging and also wireless charging.
- Users who want the best audio experience: Clear calls, better audio separation and immersion, better voice capture.
Motorola Edge 30 Ideal Users:
- Casual Users: Individuals who prioritize a lightweight and comfortable phone for everyday use.
- Social Media Users: Those who primarily use social media apps and take selfies.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users who want a good balance of features without the flagship price.
- Users who prefer lighter phone: The Edge 30 is much lighter and thinner than the OnePlus 9 Pro.
Specific Use Cases:
- OnePlus 9 Pro:
- Playing demanding mobile games at the highest settings.
- Shooting 4K or 8K video with advanced stabilization.
- Editing photos and videos on the go.
- Consuming content in bright sunlight with great visibility.
- Using multiple apps simultaneously without lag.
- Recording high quality audio.
- Motorola Edge 30:
- Casual browsing, social media, and streaming.
- Taking selfies and sharing them on social media.
- Using the phone one-handed for a long time.
- Capturing casual photos and videos in good lighting.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do you prioritize performance and camera quality above all else? If yes, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice.
- Is a lightweight and comfortable design more important than raw power? If yes, the Motorola Edge 30 might be a better fit.
- What is your budget? The OnePlus 9 Pro is likely to be more expensive given its premium features and chipset.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gaming and Performance: If you are a mobile gamer and prioritize gaming performance and demanding use cases, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better option.
- Scenario 2: Everyday Use and Comfort: If you are a casual user and want a light, thin, comfortable phone for social media, the Motorola Edge 30 is a more suitable choice.
- Scenario 3: Versatile Photography: If you need different types of cameras with good performance, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice.
- Scenario 4: Outdoor Use: If you need to see the screen in bright sunlight, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would choose the OnePlus 9 Pro. While the Motorola Edge 30 is lighter and has a slightly smoother display, the OnePlus 9 Pro's superior performance, brighter and higher resolution display, more versatile camera system, much faster charging speeds, and better audio make it a better choice for my needs and preferred use cases. I also appreciate the additional screen protection and better support for software upgrades. Even though the OnePlus 9 Pro is heavier and bulkier, the benefits it offers outweigh these minor drawbacks in my specific case.
