1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | OnePlus 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 164.3 × 75.8 × 9.2 mm | OnePlus 12 is slightly larger and thicker, which might impact one-handed use and pocketability for some users. |
| Weight | 197g | 220g | OnePlus 9 Pro is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use, especially with one hand. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphone builds. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.82" | OnePlus 12 offers a slightly larger screen, providing a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1440x3168 | Both have very sharp displays; the difference is negligible in daily use. |
| Pixel Density | 525 ppi | 510 ppi | Both have very high pixel density, resulting in crisp text and images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OnePlus 12's AMOLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to the unspecified technology of the OnePlus 9 Pro. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both phones provide smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 4500 nits | OnePlus 12's much higher brightness makes it significantly easier to see the screen in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | OnePlus 12's newer chip offers significantly faster processing, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 2,110,808 | The OnePlus 12 has dramatically higher performance, leading to much faster app loading times and overall snappier performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 | The OnePlus 12's newer GPU offers improved graphics performance, resulting in better gaming and video processing capabilities. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5400mAh | OnePlus 12's larger battery should provide noticeably longer battery life, potentially lasting a full day for most users. |
| Charging | 65W fast charging | 100W fast charging | OnePlus 12 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse charging, 50W Wireless charging, Reverse wireless charging | Reverse charging, 50W Wireless charging | OnePlus 9 Pro has reverse wireless charging which is missing in the OnePlus 12. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43", Sony IMX789 | 50MP, f/1.6, 1/1.43", Sony LYTIA-T808 | OnePlus 12's main sensor has slightly better specs which should result in better low-light performance and image clarity |
| Telephoto + Portrait | N/A | 64MP, f/2.6, 1/2", Omnivision OV64B | OnePlus 12 has a dedicated telephoto/portrait lens for enhanced zoom and portrait photography. |
| Selfie | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", Sony IMX471 | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/2.74", Sony IMX615 | OnePlus 12 provides sharper, more detailed selfies with a higher resolution sensor and slightly larger sensor |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", Omnivision OV08A10 | N/A | OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities, a feature missing in the OnePlus 12. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766 | N/A | OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated wide-angle lens for expansive shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 48MP, f/2.2, 1/2", Sony IMX581 | OnePlus 12 offers a wide-angle lens that also functions as a macro lens. |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | OnePlus 9 Pro includes a dedicated black and white sensor for specialized photography. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps | Both phones are capable of high-resolution video recording, making them suitable for professional content creation, with a slight edge in frame rate for the OnePlus 9 Pro. |
| DxOMark | 122 (Mobile), 124 (Photo), 118 (Video) | N/A | OnePlus 9 Pro's camera is a known quantity in terms of camera performance whereas OnePlus 12 has no third-party camera evaluation. |
| Features | 4K/8K Video, OIS, PDAF, LAF, RAW 12 bit | 4K/8K Video, OIS, PDAF, Flicker sensor, Noise reduction | Both have good camera features with minor differences in focus features. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (max 14) | Android 14 (max 18) | OnePlus 12 has a significantly newer OS and will receive more future updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | OnePlus 12's Wi-Fi 7 provides faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance on modern networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.4 | OnePlus 12 has the newer Bluetooth version, offering slightly better connectivity and efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, NavIC | OnePlus 12 has support for more satellite systems, providing more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano/eSIM) | OnePlus 12 supports eSIM, providing more flexibility in carrier selection. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | OnePlus 12 has higher storage options, which are beneficial for users storing a lot of media. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 12/16/24 GB | OnePlus 12 offers more RAM, supporting faster multitasking and better gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | OnePlus 9 Pro has 3 microphones for better voice capture. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both devices offer a standard biometric security option. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | OnePlus 12 offers better screen protection, reducing the chance of scratches and damage. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint, Proximity, Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint, Proximity, Motion: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic, RGB | The OnePlus 12 has extra sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 12 Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and Adreno 750 GPU offer a massive performance boost, making it much better for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking.
- Superior Display: The AMOLED display with 4500 nits brightness provides much better outdoor visibility and better overall picture quality.
- Larger Battery & Faster Charging: The 5400 mAh battery with 100W fast charging allows for longer usage and quicker recharges.
- More Storage & RAM: Up to 1TB of storage and 24GB of RAM provide greater flexibility and improved multitasking.
- Better Camera Hardware: The 50MP main camera, plus a dedicated 64MP telephoto and 48MP wide-angle + macro provide a versatile camera setup.
- Newer Software: Android 14 provides the latest features and will receive more software updates in the future.
- Advanced Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 offer faster and more reliable wireless connections.
- eSIM Support: eSIM adds flexibility for mobile plan management.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 offers superior scratch and shatter resistance.
- Additional Sensors: Hall, Geomagnetic, RGB sensors offer improved functionality for various use cases.
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Lighter Build: The 197g weight makes it more comfortable for extended one-handed use.
- Dedicated Telephoto Lens: The dedicated telephoto lens offers optical zoom, a feature missing in the OnePlus 12.
- Dedicated Wide-Angle lens: The dedicated wide-angle lens allows for expansive landscape shots.
- Dedicated Black and White Lens: The dedicated Black and White sensor allows specialized photography.
- Slightly better audio features: OnePlus 9 Pro has 3 microphones offering enhanced audio quality compared to OnePlus 12
- Reverse Wireless Charging: OnePlus 9 Pro offers reverse wireless charging to power other devices.
- Established Camera Performance: Known DxOMark scores mean users have a baseline for camera performance.
- Slightly Higher Resolution on the Main Camera: 48 MP vs 50 MP, but in practice the difference is minimal.
Trade-offs:
- The OnePlus 12 is significantly heavier than the OnePlus 9 Pro.
- The OnePlus 12 drops the telephoto and wide-angle lenses in favor of a Telephoto + Portrait lens and a wide-angle + macro lens.
- The OnePlus 12 has an inferior video recording frame rate at 8K (24 fps vs 30 fps for the 9 Pro).
- The OnePlus 12's camera performance is untested by DxOMark, while the OnePlus 9 Pro has a known rating.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 12 Ideal User:
- Power Users: Gamers, professionals who need top performance for demanding applications, and users who multitask extensively.
- Content Creators: Individuals who rely on a phone for high-quality video and photo capture.
- Outdoor Enthusiasts: Those who frequently use their phone in bright sunlight and need a screen that remains visible.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest technology, including faster wireless connectivity and the newest Android version.
- Users who prioritize battery life: Those who need a phone that can last the entire day.
Use Cases:
- Playing graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact or Fortnite.
- Editing 4K video or high-resolution photos on the go.
- Working on productivity apps while on the move.
- Capturing detailed photos and videos in various lighting conditions.
- Streaming media outdoors in bright sunlight.
- Traveling and using a phone for GPS and mapping, relying on the most accurate tracking.
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal User:
- Value-Conscious Consumers: Users who want a flagship experience at a potentially lower price.
- Users who prefer lighter phones: Users who have a preference for lightweight phones for more comfortable handling.
- Users who use telephoto and wide-angle lenses frequently: Users who want those camera features.
- Users who utilize reverse wireless charging: Those who frequently power other devices wirelessly.
- Users who value known camera performance: Those who rely on third-party scores to select a phone.
Use Cases:
- Daily social media use and casual photography.
- Basic gaming and app usage.
- Users who make use of the included reverse wireless charging features.
- Users who like dedicated telephoto and wide-angle lenses.
- Users who desire dedicated black & white lens for photography.
Price-to-Value:
- The OnePlus 12 offers superior performance and modern features, justifying its higher price for users who want the best.
- The OnePlus 9 Pro, now potentially available at a lower cost, still provides a solid user experience, making it a good option for budget-conscious buyers.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is raw performance? If you prioritize gaming, multitasking, and future-proofing, the OnePlus 12 is superior. If you just want to perform basic day-to-day activities, the OnePlus 9 Pro is also an option.
- Do you prefer a lighter phone or a superior display with better battery? The OnePlus 9 Pro is much lighter but has an inferior display with poor sunlight visibility, whereas the OnePlus 12 is heavier with a better display and battery.
- Which camera features are most important to you? Do you need dedicated wide-angle and telephoto lenses (OnePlus 9 Pro) or is a single wide-angle + macro and telephoto + portrait lens better (OnePlus 12)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Gaming & Performance: If gaming is a primary use, the OnePlus 12 is the clear winner, due to its superior performance, display, and battery life.
- Budget Conscious: If you are on a tight budget and do not need the latest technology, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a good choice, provided you are okay with the trade-offs.
- Photography Focused: The OnePlus 12 is better if you prefer the flexibility of having more lenses that can perform different functions. For dedicated telephoto and wide-angle lenses, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a better option.
- Everyday Use: For regular users, the OnePlus 12 provides a better experience due to a superior display, a larger battery, and better overall performance.
- Outdoor User: The OnePlus 12 is the clear winner here because of the dramatically higher brightness.
- Users who prefer a lighter phone: The OnePlus 9 Pro will be the preferred option here, but the user has to be ok with all the trade-offs.
My Choice
I would choose the OnePlus 12.
Reasoning:
While I appreciate the lighter build and dedicated lenses of the OnePlus 9 Pro, the sheer performance boost of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, combined with the far superior display and significantly better battery life of the OnePlus 12 is too compelling to ignore. The OnePlus 12 is more future-proof, provides a much smoother user experience for demanding tasks, and addresses significant limitations of the OnePlus 9 Pro, such as poor outdoor visibility and middling battery endurance. The lack of a dedicated telephoto lens on the OnePlus 12 is unfortunate, but the new telephoto + portrait lens offers versatility. The same is true for the new wide-angle + macro lens which replaces the dedicated wide-angle lens.
For me, the increase in weight is a reasonable trade-off for the overall improvements in user experience and future-proofing offered by the OnePlus 12. Additionally, the OnePlus 12 has a substantially newer software update which means the phone will be supported for longer.
