Smartphone Comparison: OnePlus 9 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy A35
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the OnePlus 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A35, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 161.7 × 78 × 8.2 mm | The OnePlus 9 Pro is slightly taller and thicker, while the A35 is wider. This will affect how the phones feel in hand and pocket. The A35 may feel slightly more unwieldy due to its wider frame, especially for users with smaller hands. |
| Weight | 197g | 209g | The OnePlus 9 Pro is 12g lighter, making it potentially more comfortable for extended use, especially when holding it for longer periods like watching videos or playing games. |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 (Screen) | Gorilla Glass Victus (Screen) | The Samsung A35 has superior screen protection from scratches and impacts due to the Gorilla Glass Victus. The OnePlus 9 Pro is more susceptible to damage. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.6" | The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a slightly larger screen, which is marginally better for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1080x2340 | The OnePlus 9 Pro's higher resolution leads to significantly sharper images and text. The display will look noticeably crisper and more detailed for users who value image clarity. |
| PPI | 525 | 390 | Higher PPI on the OnePlus 9 Pro results in a sharper display with finer details, providing a better viewing experience particularly for text and detailed graphics. |
| Technology | Not specified | AMOLED | The Samsung Galaxy A35's AMOLED screen offers deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency when using dark themes, which benefits contrast and color accuracy. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both phones have a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, enabling smoother scrolling and animations. The user experience in terms of fluidity will be nearly identical. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | The OnePlus 9 Pro offers much better visibility in direct sunlight due to a significantly brighter display. The A35's low brightness is a critical flaw for outdoor visibility. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) | The OnePlus 9 Pro's Snapdragon 888 offers significantly higher performance, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming experience. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 578,500 | This confirms the OnePlus 9 Pro's superiority in overall performance. It will feel much faster and more responsive compared to the A35. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G68 MP5 | The Adreno 660 GPU in the OnePlus 9 Pro provides better graphics rendering, improving gaming performance and visual quality of apps and videos. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | The Samsung Galaxy A35 likely offers longer battery life due to its larger capacity. For extended use without charging, the A35 will likely perform better. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging | The OnePlus 9 Pro's 65W fast charging allows for much quicker battery refills, reducing downtime spent waiting for the phone to charge, getting it back to use much faster. |
| Features | 50W Wireless, Reverse | Non-removable | The OnePlus 9 Pro's wireless and reverse charging add convenience, making it easier to charge on the go and share power with other devices. The A35 lacks this convenience. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43" sensor, 1.12µm pixels | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.96" sensor, 0.8µm pixels | The OnePlus 9 Pro's larger sensor size allows for better light capture resulting in improved image quality, especially in low light. Even though the A35 has higher resolution, the pixel size and sensor size on the 9 pro can make a larger difference in some cases. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" sensor, 0.7µm pixels | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixels | The A35's larger pixels on the selfie camera could potentially improve low-light performance while the OnePlus offers more resolution. |
| Telephoto | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" sensor | Not available | The OnePlus 9 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities through its telephoto lens, whereas the A35 only relies on digital zoom. The 9 Pro will have better zoom quality. |
| Wide Angle | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56" sensor | 8MP, f/2.2 | The OnePlus 9 Pro's higher resolution and larger sensor result in superior ultrawide image quality and more detail in wide-angle shots. |
| Macro | Not Available | 5MP, f/2.4 | The Samsung A35 offers a dedicated macro lens for capturing close-up shots. The OnePlus 9 Pro lacks a dedicated macro lens. |
| B&W | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a dedicated B&W lens for artistic black and white photos. The Samsung A35 lacks this feature |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS, 4K@120fps | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | The OnePlus 9 Pro offers significantly higher video resolution, enabling higher quality and more professional-grade videos. It also has the capability of 4K videos at 120fps for slow motion which the A35 does not. |
| DxOMark | Overall: 122, Photo: 124, Video: 118 | Overall: 104, Photo: 107, Video: 110 | The OnePlus 9 Pro significantly outperforms the Samsung A35 in overall camera performance, capturing better photos and videos. |
| Features | 4K/8K Video, Optical Zoom, Quad Camera, OIS, EIS, RAW 12-bit, LAF, PDAF, CDAF | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Triple Camera, OIS, EIS, RAW 12-bit, AutoFraming, All Pixel Omni- Directional PDAF, NPU AI Engine | The OnePlus 9 Pro has more features for manual and professional photography (8K Video, Optical zoom, Quadruple camera, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Contrast detection autofocus (CDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), RAW), While the A35 has features that improve quality of life (AutoFraming, All Pixel Omni- Directional PDAF, NPU AI Engine). |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 (Up to 14) | Android 14 (Up to 18) | The Samsung A35 has a more recent Android version, and will likely receive longer software and security support. OnePlus 9 Pro will likely not be supported for as long. |
| WiFi | WiFi 6, Dual Band, MiMo etc. | WiFi 6, Dual Band, MiMo etc. | Both phones offer the same WiFi capabilities and will have similar performance on a wifi network. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 (AptX, LDAC) | 5.3 (AptX, LDAC, Apt-x Adaptive) | The A35 has a newer version of Bluetooth that will have improved energy efficiency, bandwidth and performance in specific use cases, like bluetooth headphones. |
| GPS | Multiple Bands, Precise Location | Standard GPS | The OnePlus 9 Pro offers superior location accuracy by supporting a wider range of satellite systems. This will have a greater impact in urban settings or when driving for GPS accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both devices offer the same dual SIM capabilities |
Storage & Audio
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB | 128 GB / 256 GB | Both phones have the same maximum storage capacity with identical options. This will have no impact on use. |
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 6 GB / 8 GB | The OnePlus 9 Pro's 12 GB RAM option provides better multitasking performance for demanding users. The 9 Pro will be more suitable for heavy gaming. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage, which may be a limitation for users who need more storage. This will be equally impacting for both devices. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, 3 Mics | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio | Both have stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos. The OnePlus 9 Pro's additional mics offer a slight edge for better voice capture in calls. The A35 offers Hi-Res audio. |
Security & Sensors
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor | Basic | Basic | Both phones use basic fingerprint sensor technology which will provide similar security and speed. |
| Sensors | Gyroscope, Compass, Accelerometer, Proximity | Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ultrasonic proximity virtual, Hall, Geomagnetic | The OnePlus 9 Pro has a compass and standard proximity sensor, whereas the A35 has a hall sensor, geomagnetic sensor, and ultrasonic proximity sensor. This results in minor differences in specific use cases such as gaming, but overall this will have little impact on most users. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset offers significantly better performance for demanding tasks and gaming, as evidenced by its much higher AnTuTu score.
- Superior Display Quality: Higher resolution, PPI, and brightness deliver a crisper and more vibrant visual experience, especially under direct sunlight.
- Better Camera System: Larger sensors, telephoto lens, higher video resolution and better DxOMark score provide a better photography and videography experience, particularly in low light.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: 65W fast charging refills the battery quicker, and wireless charging adds convenience.
- Better GPS: Improved GPS for more accurate navigation.
Samsung Galaxy A35 Advantages
- Larger Battery: Offers potentially longer battery life due to its bigger 5000 mAh battery.
- Newer OS: Comes with a newer Android version and is expected to receive more software updates.
- Better Screen Protection: The Gorilla Glass Victus screen provides better scratch and shatter resistance.
- AMOLED display: Better contrast, colors and power efficiency for dark themes.
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens provides additional shooting versatility.
- Hi-Res Audio: Offers Hi-Res Audio for audiophiles.
Trade-offs
- OnePlus 9 Pro: Sacrifices battery life and newer OS version for performance and camera quality.
- Samsung Galaxy A35: Prioritizes battery life and software support over raw performance, screen brightness and camera capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal Users
- Performance Enthusiasts: Gamers and power users who need a phone that can handle demanding tasks.
- Photography Lovers: Users who want a versatile camera system with advanced features and better low-light performance.
- Media Consumers: Individuals who prioritize a high-resolution, bright and color accurate display for viewing content.
- Users needing Fast Charging and wireless: Users that value convenience and the speed of wireless and fast charging.
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive mobile games.
- Shooting professional-quality videos in various lighting conditions.
- Extensive multitasking with numerous apps.
- Enjoying high-resolution videos and images.
Samsung Galaxy A35 Ideal Users
- Casual Users: People who prioritize a long-lasting battery, good screen quality for general use, and a more modern OS.
- Everyday Photographers: Users who want a decent camera experience but do not need advanced features or top-tier performance.
- Users who value long term software support: Users that want to keep their phones for longer and value software updates.
- Budget Conscious: Users who may prefer a device that performs well for daily tasks at a more affordable price point.
Specific Use Cases:
- Daily social media browsing and communication.
- Watching videos and basic gaming.
- Taking casual photos and videos.
- Users that want a reliable phone that will last the entire day on a single charge
4. Decision Framework
Consider these questions when choosing between the two phones:
- How important is raw performance to you? (If you’re a gamer or heavy multitasker, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice.)
- Do you prioritize a high-quality camera and video capabilities or longevity of battery and software support? (The OnePlus 9 Pro has a significantly better camera, whereas the A35 has a better battery life and will be supported for longer).
- Is a brighter display for outdoor visibility essential? (If yes, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the superior option.)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gaming Enthusiast: Choose the OnePlus 9 Pro for its superior performance, smoother gameplay, and better GPU.
- Scenario 2: Frequent Traveler/Outdoor User: Choose the OnePlus 9 Pro for its brighter display and fast charging, despite the slightly shorter battery life.
- Scenario 3: Budget-Conscious Daily User: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A35 for its longer battery, good screen and newer OS at a potentially lower price point.
- Scenario 4: Camera Focused User: Choose the OnePlus 9 Pro due to its superior camera and video recording capabilities.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would pick the OnePlus 9 Pro. The primary reason is the significant performance difference due to the Snapdragon 888 chipset. As a user who often engages in mobile gaming, demanding apps, and content creation, this performance edge is crucial. I also value the higher quality display with significantly higher brightness, making it much easier to use outdoors. The superior camera system with better low-light performance, telephoto lens, and 8K video is also a very compelling factor, as this would be more suitable for my needs as well as provide more versality with the additional sensors. While the Samsung Galaxy A35 offers a longer battery and newer software, the drawbacks in performance, display and camera quality make the OnePlus 9 Pro a better choice despite it being an older device. The 9 pro is simply much more powerful in every way.
