1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Nothing CMF Phone 1 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm | 164 x 77 x 8.2 mm | CMF Phone 1 is slightly taller and wider, OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly thicker. May affect handling comfort. |
| Weight | 197g | 197g | Both phones feel identical in hand regarding weight. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Negligible difference in screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1080x2400 | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a significantly sharper and more detailed display. |
| PPI | 525 | 395 | OnePlus 9 Pro provides a crisper display with noticeably finer text and images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | CMF Phone 1 has better display tech: deeper blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colors, and improved power efficiency with dark themes. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, suitable for gaming and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 2000 nits | CMF Phone 1 has much better outdoor visibility, easily readable in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) | OnePlus 9 Pro offers slightly faster app loading and overall performance for demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 673,000 | OnePlus 9 Pro shows notably better benchmark performance, potentially offering smoother gaming and multitasking experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G615 MC2 | Different architectures. OnePlus 9 Pro's Adreno 660 might perform better in graphics-intensive tasks like gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43", Sony IMX789 | 50MP, f/1.79, 1/2", Sony IMX882 | CMF Phone 1 has a higher resolution, but OnePlus 9 Pro has a larger sensor, likely resulting in better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", Sony IMX471 | 16MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", GalaxyCore GC16B3C | CMF Phone 1 has wider aperture and larger pixel size for better low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", Omnivision OV08A10 | Not Available | OnePlus 9 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766 | Not Available | OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing expansive scenes. |
| Portrait (Depth) Lens | Not Available | 2MP, f/2.3, 1/4", Smartsens sc202pcs | CMF Phone 1 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a dedicated black and white lens for artistic shots. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps | OnePlus 9 Pro can record higher-resolution video, useful for professional-grade content. |
| Camera Features | Extensive features including OIS, RAW, and more | Noise Reduction, dual camera | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more advanced camera features and flexibility, while the CMF phone has noise reduction and a dual camera setup. |
| DxOMark Score | 122 | Not Available | OnePlus 9 Pro has been tested by DxOMark, indicating a solid camera performance. CMF Phone 1 is untested, so performance is unknown. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh | CMF Phone 1 offers slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging, Wireless Charging 50W | 33W Fast Charging | OnePlus 9 Pro charges much faster and has wireless charging with fast speed. |
| Features | Reverse charging, wireless charging | None | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more features like reverse charging capabilities. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | Android 14 (upgradable to 16) | CMF Phone 1 comes with a newer version of Android out of the box, will receive more OS updates in the future. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both offer modern WiFi standards. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | CMF Phone 1 uses the more modern Bluetooth version for slightly improved connectivity. |
| GPS | Extensive GPS, Galileo support | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | OnePlus 9 Pro has more extensive satellite support for accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both support dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | Both offer the same storage options. |
| RAM | 8 GB or 12 GB | 8 GB or 6 GB | OnePlus 9 Pro has up to 12GB RAM, better for heavy users. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones | Basic Audio | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more advanced audio with richer sound. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Both phones use fingerprint sensors. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Not specified | OnePlus 9 Pro uses Gorilla Glass 5 for better protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Extensive Suite | Extensive Suite | OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly more comprehensive sensor suite, including Gravity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density (525 ppi) provides a noticeably clearer and more detailed viewing experience.
- Stronger Performance: Snapdragon 888 chip and higher AnTuTu scores mean smoother and faster performance for demanding apps and games.
- Versatile Camera System: Dedicated telephoto, wide-angle and black & white lenses, plus higher video recording capabilities with 8K, offers greater creative control.
- Faster Charging: Significantly faster 65W wired charging and 50W wireless charging speeds save valuable time.
- Advanced Audio: Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers, and multiple microphones greatly enhance audio experience for media consumption and calls.
- More Sensors: Comprehensive sensor suite for advanced features, such as gravity sensor.
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Advantages:
- Newer OS & Updates: Comes with a newer Android version out of the box and is likely to receive longer software support.
- Superior Display Tech: AMOLED display with more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and higher contrast ratio, offers a more immersive display.
- Brighter Display: Much higher brightness (2000 nits), superior outdoor visibility and readability in bright conditions.
- Longer Battery Life: Larger 5000mAh battery provides a longer runtime on a single charge.
- Better Low-Light Selfies: Wider aperture and larger pixel size in the front camera leads to better selfie results in low lighting conditions.
- Newer Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3 offers slightly better range and efficiency than OnePlus 9 Pro.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9 Pro: Older OS, lower battery capacity, basic screen tech, and less bright screen.
- Nothing CMF Phone 1: Slower performance, basic audio, and fewer camera features and no telephoto/wide lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal User:
- Power Users: People who need top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system with telephoto, wide-angle, and high-resolution video recording.
- Multimedia Consumers: Those who value high-quality audio for music, movies, and videos.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the premium features and faster charging.
- Use Case: A professional photographer or videographer will appreciate the OnePlus 9 Pro’s versatile camera system, especially for outdoor photography in diverse lighting conditions.
Nothing CMF Phone 1 Ideal User:
- Everyday Users: People who prioritize a good display, long battery life, and a modern operating system.
- Social Media Enthusiasts: Users who take frequent selfies and want good low-light performance for them.
- Outdoor Users: People who need a display that is easily visible in bright sunlight.
- Value Seekers: Those who want a well-rounded phone with the latest software at a competitive price.
- Use Case: A frequent commuter who listens to music, watches videos on the go, and needs their phone to last through the day with good outdoor visibility in bright conditions, would favor the Nothing CMF Phone 1.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do I prioritize performance or display quality and battery life? If you need the absolute best speed, multitasking, and gaming performance, choose the OnePlus 9 Pro. If you need a very bright, vivid display and a long battery life, CMF phone is a better choice.
- How important is camera versatility and advanced features? The OnePlus 9 Pro has a more versatile camera system with optical zoom, telephoto, and wide-angle lenses. If these are important for your creativity, the OnePlus is better. If you just want a solid camera with good selfies and portraits, the CMF phone is sufficient.
- What is my budget? Consider your budget, how important are wireless charging and other advanced features. If these are important, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice if it fits your budget.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gamer: The OnePlus 9 Pro is a better option because of its superior performance, better GPU, and higher refresh rate display.
- Scenario 2: Outdoor Photographer: The OnePlus 9 Pro offers the better camera system for professional/creative photography and videography, including a wide angle, telephoto, and black & white lens.
- Scenario 3: Daily User needing long battery: The CMF phone is better because of it's larger battery, a better display and newer OS.
My Choice
Given the choice, I would personally choose the OnePlus 9 Pro.
Reasoning:
While the CMF Phone 1 offers a brighter display, a newer OS, and a larger battery, my priorities lean towards performance and camera capabilities. I frequently engage in mobile gaming and use my camera for creative photography. The OnePlus 9 Pro's more powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset, its excellent camera system with its telephoto and wide angle lens, the versatile features (OIS, RAW, and 8K video) and faster charging, more than outweigh the CMF Phone 1's advantages for me. While the CMF Phone 1's AMOLED display is tempting, the higher resolution and pixel density of the OnePlus 9 Pro, along with the comprehensive sensor suite for advanced features, is better suited to my needs. I also favor the faster charging speeds and the advanced audio, which is more important for me personally. I do not value outdoor visibility in bright conditions more than a versatile camera system, faster charging speeds, faster performance and better audio experience.
