1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Motorola ThinkPhone | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-03-30 | 2023-01-29 | Motorola ThinkPhone is a significantly newer device, potentially having more up-to-date software and features. |
| Form Factor | Standard | Standard | Both phones are traditional smartphones, no differences in form factor. |
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 158.8 × 74.4 × 8.3 mm | OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly taller and thicker, leading to a more substantial feel in the hand while Motorola ThinkPhone is slightly wider. |
| Weight | 197g | 188.5g | Motorola ThinkPhone is slightly lighter, which could be noticeable during long use periods, making it marginally more comfortable to hold. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.6" | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a slightly larger screen for more immersive media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1080x2400 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a much sharper display with noticeably finer details. Text and images will appear crisper compared to the Motorola. |
| Pixel Density | 525 PPI | 399 PPI | OnePlus 9 Pro's higher pixel density provides a visibly sharper and more detailed image, leading to better clarity especially for reading and image viewing. |
| Technology | P-OLED | Motorola ThinkPhone uses superior P-OLED technology, offering vibrant colors and deeper blacks. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | Motorola ThinkPhone's slightly higher refresh rate results in marginally smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1200 nits | OnePlus 9 Pro has a higher peak brightness, providing better visibility under direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Motorola ThinkPhone’s newer processor offers significantly better performance and efficiency, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 1,232,700 | Motorola ThinkPhone scores substantially higher, indicating much snappier performance in everyday usage and more intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | Motorola ThinkPhone features a more powerful GPU, resulting in enhanced gaming performance and graphics rendering. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | Motorola ThinkPhone's larger battery provides significantly longer battery life, especially for heavy users. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging | Motorola ThinkPhone offers slightly faster wired charging speeds, allowing for quicker top-ups. |
| Features | Reverse, Wireless 50W, Reverse Wireless | Wireless 15W | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more versatile charging options including faster wireless charging and reverse charging, whilst Motorola has only 15W wireless charging. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43" Sony IMX789 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55" Omnivision OV50A | OnePlus 9 Pro has larger sensor size, potentially better low-light performance despite slightly lower resolution. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" Sony IMX471 | 32MP, f/2.45, Unknown Sensor | Motorola ThinkPhone has much higher resolution for sharper and more detailed selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" Omnivision OV08A10 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro includes a dedicated telephoto lens for better zoomed images. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56" Sony IMX766 | None | OnePlus 9 Pro includes a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing expansive scenes. |
| Portrait Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4, Unknown Sensor | Motorola ThinkPhone includes a dedicated depth sensor for improved portrait mode photos. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | None | 13MP, f/2.4, Unknown Sensor | Motorola ThinkPhone has a wide angle lens that doubles as a macro lens for capturing close-up shots. |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, Unknown Sensor | None | OnePlus 9 Pro has a monochrome lens for enhanced black & white photos. |
| Video | Up to 8K 30fps | Up to 8K 30fps | Both phones offer high-resolution video recording, however the Motorola has a slightly faster slow-motion mode. |
| DxOMark | Main score: 122 Photo score: 124 Video score: 118 | Not Tested | OnePlus 9 Pro has been tested for mobile camera performance. DxOMark scores indicate strong video and photo performance. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple Camera, OIS, Ultra stable video, Autofocus, manual focus, RAW 12 bit, etc. | Triple Camera, OIS, Autofocus, RAW, etc. | OnePlus 9 Pro has more camera features, offering greater manual control and potentially more versatile shooting options. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, Upgradable to 14 | Android 13, Unknown Max Version | Motorola ThinkPhone ships with a newer version of Android, potentially offering the most recent features and security updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both phones offer similar Wi-Fi connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2, AptX, LDAC | 5.2 | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more advanced audio codecs for higher quality wireless audio. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, SUPL, Galileo | OnePlus 9 Pro supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both phones support Dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256 GB | Motorola ThinkPhone offers only 256GB of storage. OnePlus 9 Pro is available in 128GB or 256GB. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 8 GB | OnePlus 9 Pro has a higher RAM option (12GB) for smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 Mics, Noise Cancelling | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 Mics | OnePlus 9 Pro has more microphones and noise cancellation, potentially offering better audio recording and call quality. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones feature a fingerprint sensor for biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass Victus | Motorola ThinkPhone has better screen protection, making it more resistant to scratches and damage. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | OnePlus 9 Pro includes a compass and Gravity sensor, offering more advanced sensor options. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Higher Resolution and Pixel Density Display: Offers a significantly sharper and more detailed display for better viewing experience, especially for text and images.
- Telephoto and Wide-Angle Lens: Dedicated lenses offer more versatility in photography, allowing for better zoom and wide-angle shots.
- More versatile Charging Options: Supports faster 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
- Advanced Audio Codecs: Supports APT-x and LDAC codecs for better audio quality with compatible headphones.
- More RAM Option: Available with 12GB of RAM, beneficial for heavy multitasking and gaming.
- More Sensors: Includes a compass and Gravity sensor.
Motorola ThinkPhone Advantages:
- Newer and More Powerful Chipset: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 provides significantly better performance in daily tasks and gaming with a 4nm architecture.
- Larger Battery: A bigger battery capacity translates to longer battery life, particularly for power users.
- Higher Refresh Rate Display: Provides a marginally smoother display for gaming and scrolling experience, although the difference from 120Hz may not be very noticeable to everyone.
- Superior Screen Protection: Gorilla Glass Victus provides better resistance to scratches and damage.
- Newer Operating System: Ships with Android 13 for better software support and features.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Offers more detailed and sharper selfies.
- Dedicated Portrait and Macro Lens: Offers a dedicated portrait sensor for depth and a wide angle lens that also does macro shots.
Significant Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9 Pro trades processor performance for superior display clarity and versatile camera system.
- Motorola ThinkPhone sacrifices some camera versatility and display sharpness for significantly better performance and battery life.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal Users:
- Media Consumers: Users who prioritize display quality and want sharp details for watching videos, browsing photos, and reading.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Individuals who want a versatile camera system with telephoto and wide-angle lenses, and advanced features like RAW capture.
- Wireless Charging Users: Those who want faster wireless charging capabilities and reverse wireless charging for accessories.
- Audio Quality Seekers: Those who want better audio quality over bluetooth with support for aptX and LDAC
Motorola ThinkPhone Ideal Users:
- Performance Seekers: Users who need the fastest possible performance for demanding apps and gaming.
- Power Users: Those who prioritize battery life and need to use their phone throughout the day without worrying about running out of power.
- Selfie and Social Media Users: Individuals who need a high resolution selfie camera and a wide-angle macro lens for creative content.
- Durability Seekers: Those who want better screen protection and more durability for their phone.
- Software Enthusiasts: Those who want the latest Android features and updates.
Specific Use Cases:
- OnePlus 9 Pro: Excellent for watching high-resolution videos, editing photos, taking zoom shots, and using wireless charging for accessories.
- Motorola ThinkPhone: Ideal for playing graphic-intensive games, running multiple apps simultaneously, taking selfies for social media, and capturing macro shots, as well as ensuring battery life for a long day.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your priority: Display quality or performance?
- If you prioritize display sharpness and detail, the OnePlus 9 Pro is better. If you need the fastest processor for gaming and multitasking, choose the Motorola ThinkPhone.
- Do you take a lot of pictures and what type of shots?
- If versatile camera and zoom are essential, OnePlus 9 Pro's telephoto and wide-angle lenses are important. For high-resolution selfies and dedicated portrait shots, the Motorola ThinkPhone is better.
- How important is battery life to you?
- If you need a phone that lasts all day, the Motorola ThinkPhone's larger battery is a better choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: If you are a photography enthusiast who frequently zooms and uses wireless charging, choose the OnePlus 9 Pro.
- Scenario 2: If you are a gamer or power user who needs the best performance and longest battery life possible, choose the Motorola ThinkPhone.
- Scenario 3: If you use your phone primarily for media consumption and reading with the focus on display clarity, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a better fit.
- Scenario 4: If you use your phone primarily for content creation using selfies and macro shots with the focus on camera features, the Motorola ThinkPhone is a better fit.
My Choice and Why
Personally, I would choose the Motorola ThinkPhone. While the OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly better display and a more versatile camera system, my personal priority lies with performance and battery life. The newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset of the Motorola ThinkPhone is a significant upgrade, ensuring snappier performance and better efficiency. Additionally, the larger battery is a big advantage for someone who is often on the go and can't always charge easily. The Motorola ThinkPhone also offers a newer operating system, better screen protection, and a higher-resolution selfie camera, all of which align with my priorities. While I appreciate the additional cameras and display quality on the OnePlus 9 Pro, the performance and battery trade-off is not worthwhile for my daily use case.
