1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160 × 74.2 × 8.7 mm | 163 × 76 × 8 mm | Motorola is slightly taller and wider; OnePlus is thicker |
| Weight | 192g | 190g | Negligible weight difference |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.55" | 6.7" | Motorola offers a slightly larger viewing area for media consumption |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness on both screens |
| PPI | 402 | 385 | Both offer sharp visuals; negligible difference in practice |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | Motorola provides marginally smoother scrolling and animations |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 0 nits | OnePlus has significantly better visibility under bright sunlight, Motorola spec is missing |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 (7nm) | OnePlus offers slightly better overall performance and efficiency due to the newer chip |
| AnTuTu Score | 880,900 | 813,800 | OnePlus is slightly faster for demanding tasks and games |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 650 | OnePlus provides slightly better graphics processing for gaming |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/1.4" sensor | 108MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52" sensor | Motorola has higher resolution, but OnePlus has a wider aperture and larger sensor, which can result in better low-light photos |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" sensor | 32MP, f/2.3 | Motorola offers a higher resolution selfie camera, with a slightly wider aperture |
| Telephoto Lens | N/A | 8MP, f/3.4 | Motorola has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed shots |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56" sensor | N/A | OnePlus has a dedicated ultra-wide camera for expansive shots |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 16MP, f/2.2 | Motorola has a combined wide angle and macro lens |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | OnePlus has a dedicated monochrome sensor |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps, 1080p@240fps | Up to 8K@24fps, 1080p@960fps | Both have 8K video; Motorola offers higher slow-motion capability |
| Features | Ultra stable video, PDAF, CDAF, RAW, Night Mode | Optical zoom | Different strengths in video and photography features |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4500mAh | Similar battery life for typical use |
| Charging | 65W fast charging, 15W wireless | 30W fast charging, reverse charging | OnePlus charges much faster; Motorola can charge other devices |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 11 (no max version specified) | OnePlus is confirmed to get newer Android OS update than Motorola |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 | Both support fast and modern wifi standards |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.1 | OnePlus has a slightly newer Bluetooth standard |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1+B2), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1+B2), Galileo (E1+E5a), GLONASS (L1) | Motorola provides slightly better accuracy due to inclusion of GLONASS(L1) |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256GB | 128/256GB | Same storage options |
| RAM | 8/12GB | 12GB | Motorola has fixed 12GB RAM, OnePlus 8/12GB variant |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither support additional storage |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation, Stereo speakers | Basic audio features | OnePlus has better overall audio features and quality |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Motorola features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, potentially faster and more convenient |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass 5 | Both offer similar screen protection |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Both offer a comprehensive sensor suite |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Advantages:
- Superior Display Brightness: 1100 nits vs missing value on Motorola; much better outdoor visibility in sunny conditions
- Faster Charging: 65W vs 30W allows for quicker top-ups.
- More Powerful Chipset: Snapdragon 888 vs 870 for smoother performance in demanding tasks
- Better Audio: Includes Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers, and a noise-canceling microphone for a better multimedia experience.
- Better Main Camera Sensor: Larger sensor allows for better light capture, resulting in better image quality.
- Wide Angle lens: Includes a dedicated ultra-wide lens for capturing more of the scene.
- Confirmed OS Upgrade: Guaranteed upgrade to Android 13 for latest features.
Motorola Edge 20 Pro Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Display: 6.7" vs 6.55" for a more immersive viewing experience.
- Higher Refresh Rate: 144Hz vs 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations.
- Telephoto Lens: Dedicated 8MP telephoto lens for zoomed shots without digital zoom loss
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: 32MP vs 16MP for greater detail in selfies.
- Higher Slow Motion: 960fps vs 480fps for capturing fast-moving moments.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Convenient and fast fingerprint scanner.
- Reverse Charging: Ability to charge other devices.
- Wide Angle + Macro: One lens to capture both wide scenes and macro shots.
- GPS (L1) Additional GPS feature not available on OnePlus 9
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus sacrifices a telephoto lens and expandable storage for better general-purpose performance, and audio
- Motorola lacks confirmed OS update and has inferior audio and display brightness but gains a telephoto camera and reverse charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Ideal Users:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Gamers and heavy multitaskers who need fast performance.
- Media Consumers: Users who value a bright, vibrant display and high-quality audio.
- Photography lovers: Those who value better low-light photography and ultrawide capability.
- Users who want fast charging: Those who hate waiting long for their phone to charge
- Users who want the latest software: Those who value having the latest version of Android
Motorola Edge 20 Pro Ideal Users:
- Photography focused users: Those who value versatility in a camera system, including optical zoom and macro capabilities.
- Multimedia lovers: Users who prefer a large, smooth screen with a high refresh rate.
- Users who want reverse charging: Those who want to charge other devices using their phones.
- Users who value side-mounted fingerprint sensor: Those who want a quick and convenient way to unlock their phone.
Use Cases:
- OnePlus 9: Gaming, streaming video, social media browsing, photography in variable lighting
- Motorola Edge 20 Pro: Mobile photography with zoom, watching movies, using the phone as a secondary charger.
Price-to-Value: Without specific pricing information, it's hard to assess the exact value. Generally, OnePlus 9 offers slightly better general-purpose performance while Motorola offers a very versatile camera and large display.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- How important is camera versatility and zoom capabilities for you? (Motorola offers telephoto & macro lenses)
- Do you prioritize display brightness for outdoor use? (OnePlus is significantly brighter).
- How important is fast charging and the latest Android version? (OnePlus has faster charging and confirmed Android 13 upgrade)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Frequent outdoor use, gaming: Choose OnePlus 9 for better display brightness and performance.
- Scenario 2: Photography enthusiast: Choose Motorola Edge 20 Pro for the telephoto lens and versatile camera system.
- Scenario 3: Value the latest software and fast charging: Choose OnePlus 9, as it has the most recent software confirmed
- Scenario 4: Focus on multimedia and reverse charging: Choose Motorola Edge 20 Pro for its display and reverse charging features.
What I Would Choose
I would choose the OnePlus 9.
Reasoning:
While the Motorola Edge 20 Pro has a few compelling advantages like the telephoto lens and slightly larger display with a higher refresh rate, the OnePlus 9 has a more well-rounded set of strengths that align better with my priorities. The significantly brighter display of the OnePlus 9 is a major advantage for my frequent outdoor use, ensuring good visibility even in direct sunlight. The faster charging capability is also a significant convenience factor, and the confirmed software updates are important to me as they ensure the phone will be more future-proof. The slight performance advantage provided by the Snapdragon 888 would be beneficial for gaming and heavy multitasking. While the telephoto lens on the Motorola is appealing, the excellent main camera sensor and included ultrawide lens on the OnePlus 9, along with the promise of better image quality in low-light conditions, are more valuable to me. Finally, the enhanced audio features of the OnePlus 9, including stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and a noise cancelling microphone, would be preferable for a more immersive audio experience.
