1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 161.2 × 74 × 8.6 mm | The OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly taller, while the Motorola is slightly wider. Both are similarly sized and should feel comparable in hand. |
| Weight | 197g | 199g | Both phones are almost identical in weight; not a noticeable difference during everyday use. |
| Build | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Motorola offers better screen protection with Gorilla Glass Victus, likely making it more resistant to scratches and breakage from drops. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Virtually the same size; negligible difference in screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1080x2400 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a noticeably sharper display; text and images will appear crisper and more detailed. |
| PPI | 525 | 394 | OnePlus 9 Pro provides a significantly higher pixel density, resulting in a sharper, more refined image. |
| Technology | - | OLED | Motorola Edge 40 Pro's OLED provides better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than the OnePlus 9 Pro's unspecified display technology. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | Motorola Edge 40 Pro offers a smoother visual experience, especially in animations and gaming. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1100 nits | OnePlus 9 Pro can get brighter, which improves outdoor visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Motorola Edge 40 Pro's newer chip provides significant performance gains in speed and efficiency compared to OnePlus. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 1,532,500 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro provides significantly faster app loading, better multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 740 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro offers noticeably better graphics performance, crucial for high-end games. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43" Sony IMX789 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55" Omnivision OV50A | OnePlus 9 Pro has a larger sensor, potentially better light gathering. Motorola has slightly higher MP count. The difference is marginal in terms of real-world impact. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" Sony IMX471 | 60MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" Omnivision OV60A | Motorola Edge 40 Pro boasts far superior resolution and a larger sensor for sharper, more detailed selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" Omnivision OV08A10 | 12MP, f/1.6, 1/2.93" Sony IMX663 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro has a brighter aperture and larger sensor, enabling better zoom photos, especially in low light. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56" Sony IMX766 | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" Samsung S5KJN1 | OnePlus 9 Pro has larger sensor, potentially better for wide-angle low-light photos; Motorola has wider view. |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated B&W lens which can be useful for artistic shots. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps with HDR & EIS | Up to 8K@30fps with HDR & EIS | Both offer similar video recording capabilities; Motorola offers higher slow-motion recording at 1080p@960fps compared to OnePlus 1080p@480fps. |
| DxOMark | Main: 122, Photo: 124, Video: 118 | Main: 130, Photo: 133, Video: 135 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro has significantly better overall camera performance, both in photos and videos. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4600mAh | Both have very similar battery capacity; battery life will likely be comparable for most users. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless | 125W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless | Motorola Edge 40 Pro charges much faster; OnePlus has faster wireless charging, if that is a priority. |
| Features | Reverse, 50W Wireless, Reverse Wireless | Reverse, 15W Wireless, 5W Reverse Wired | OnePlus has faster wireless charging, Motorola has wired reverse charging and better wireless charging wattage. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution (1440p) and pixel density (525 ppi) result in a clearer screen, which is beneficial for reading text and viewing detailed images.
- Brighter Display: Higher peak brightness (1300 nits) offers better outdoor visibility.
- Wider Range of Wireless Charging Options: 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging is more useful than the Motorola's slower 15W wireless charging.
- Black & White lens: Can take artistic B&W shots.
Motorola Edge 40 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset offers significantly faster processing and better graphics compared to the Snapdragon 888.
- Smoother Display: Higher refresh rate (165Hz) makes animations and scrolling look much more fluid.
- Significantly Better Camera System: Higher DxOMark scores, better selfie camera, better telephoto lens; provides superior image and video quality.
- Faster Wired Charging: 125W charging allows for faster battery top-ups.
- eSIM support: Allows to switch carriers digitally.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 13 and will receive updates up to Android 16.
- Newer WiFi standard: Supports newer and faster WiFi standards.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9 Pro: sacrifices raw performance, camera quality for a slightly sharper display and more complete wireless charging.
- Motorola Edge 40 Pro: has a lower display resolution and slightly lower brightness, but provides a better overall user experience and superior camera performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize display clarity: Those who read a lot on their phone or view detailed content will appreciate the higher resolution screen.
- Users who use wireless charging a lot: Those who prefer wireless charging will benefit from the higher charging speeds and options.
- Users who prefer a particular style of photography: The black & white sensor provides different photographic options.
- Users that are fine with less performance and camera quality, but want a good display: Those who want to get a flagship phone without caring about gaming performance and the latest camera features.
Motorola Edge 40 Pro Ideal User:
- Power Users and Gamers: Those who need maximum performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who want the best possible image and video quality.
- Users who want to get the most modern experience: Users that want a newer phone with all of the latest and modern software and features.
- Users who value fast charging: Those who want their phone to charge quickly.
Use Cases:
- OnePlus 9 Pro: Ideal for media consumption, reading, and tasks where a sharp display is paramount.
- Motorola Edge 40 Pro: Ideal for gaming, content creation, and photography.
Price-to-Value: Given that the OnePlus 9 Pro is an older model, it may be available for a lower price. However, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro offers significantly better performance and camera experience, and is therefore a better value for the average user.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What do I prioritize more, Display resolution or performance and camera quality?
- How important is having the latest software and features?
- Which charging style do I prefer and do I prefer wired or wireless?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual User: If you mostly browse social media and use basic apps and want a slightly cheaper option with an OK display and a good battery, the OnePlus 9 Pro might be suitable.
- Scenario 2: Performance User: If you are an avid gamer or use resource-intensive apps and want the best camera experience, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro is a better choice.
- Scenario 3: Photography User: If camera quality is your top priority, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro is the clear winner due to its superior sensors and processing.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Edge 40 Pro. While the OnePlus 9 Pro does have a slightly sharper display and better wireless charging options, the performance difference is significant, and I value faster loading times, better multitasking, and smoother gaming. The camera system on the Motorola is also vastly superior, and being able to take better photos is important to me. I also like to have the latest software and features on my phone and the Motorola gives me that. The higher refresh rate is also a big plus for me. While the higher resolution on the OnePlus would be nice, it's not enough to justify choosing it over the Motorola Edge 40 Pro.
