1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 160 × 74.2 × 8.7 mm | 159.4 × 74.2 × 6.8 mm | Edge 30 is significantly thinner and feels more compact. OnePlus 9 is noticeably thicker. |
| Weight | 192g | 155g | Edge 30 is much lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and portability. OnePlus 9 is heavier, which might feel less ergonomic. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.55" | 6.5" | Minimal difference; both offer similar screen real estate for content consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness; both provide a crisp visual experience for daily tasks and media viewing. |
| PPI | 402 | 405 | Negligible difference; both displays offer similar levels of pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both displays offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, resulting in an overall high-quality visual experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | Edge 30 has a slightly smoother display for gaming and fast-scrolling, while OnePlus 9 is still very fluid. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 0 nits | OnePlus 9 offers superior outdoor visibility and readability in bright sunlight. The Edge 30 brightness is missing and cannot be determined. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | OnePlus 9 has a much more powerful chip, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. Edge 30 is sufficient for general use and moderate gaming. |
| Antutu Score | 880,900 | 609,900 | OnePlus 9 significantly outperforms Edge 30 in benchmarks, indicating noticeably faster overall performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 642L | OnePlus 9's GPU is superior, meaning better graphics performance for gaming and GPU intensive apps. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Edge 30 offers slightly higher resolution, potentially allowing for slightly more detail in images when zoomed. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.8 | OnePlus 9 has a slightly wider aperture, allowing more light, which can improve low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.4" | 1/1.55" | OnePlus 9 has a larger sensor, allowing it to capture more light and detail, leading to better low-light performance and dynamic range. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 32MP | Edge 30 offers significantly higher resolution for sharper selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.25 | Edge 30 has a wider aperture, which could mean slightly better low-light selfie performance. |
| Selfie Camera Sensor Size | 1/3.13" | 1/3.14" | Negligible difference in sensor size. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP | Not available | OnePlus 9 has a dedicated wide-angle lens for expansive landscape shots, while the Edge 30 lacks this. |
| Portrait Mode Lens | Not available | 2MP Depth | Edge 30 has a depth sensor, potentially providing better portrait mode quality. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Not available | 50MP | Edge 30 has a dedicated ultrawide with macro camera, allowing for capturing wide and up-close shots. |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP | Not available | OnePlus 9 has a dedicated monochrome sensor for creative black and white photography |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps | OnePlus 9 can record higher resolution videos, offering better quality for professional content creation. |
| Video Stabilization | EIS | EIS, OIS | Edge 30 offers OIS and EIS, providing better stabilization for smoother videos, while OnePlus 9 only has EIS. |
| Slow-motion | 480 fps | 960 fps | Edge 30 has higher slow-motion capability, allowing for capturing more detailed slow-motion footage. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 30 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4020mAh | OnePlus 9 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering slightly better battery life under typical usage. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | OnePlus 9 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | Not Available | OnePlus 9 has wireless charging capability, adding more convenience for charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chip provides significantly better processing power, making it better for gaming and heavy multitasking.
- Significantly Brighter Display: 1100 nits of brightness means excellent outdoor visibility, even in bright sunlight.
- Better Main Camera Sensor: Larger sensor results in better low-light performance and dynamic range, especially in the main camera.
- Faster Charging: 65W charging significantly reduces charging times compared to the Edge 30.
- Wireless Charging: Adds convenience and versatility to charging methods.
- Additional Camera Lenses: Features a dedicated wide-angle and black-and-white lens for more creative photography options
- Better Audio Features: Features noise cancellation microphone, 3 microphones for clearer calls, better audio separation and immersion, better voice capture.
Motorola Edge 30 Advantages:
- Lighter and Thinner: More comfortable to hold and carry for extended periods.
- Smoother Display: 144Hz refresh rate provides slightly smoother scrolling and animations.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: 32MP front camera provides more detailed and sharper selfies.
- Better Video Stabilization: OIS combined with EIS makes the Edge 30 a better option for video recording, especially for users on the move.
- Better Slow-motion: Higher slow-motion capabilities.
- Wide angle + Macro Lens: Adds versatility for capturing detailed shots.
- Portrait Mode Lens: Dedicated depth sensor provides potentially better portrait mode results.
- Newer OS: Launched with a newer version of Android, although both phones have the same maximum version.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9: Trades the smaller, lighter build and slightly better video stabilization and a couple more camera features for significantly better performance, a brighter display, and faster charging.
- Motorola Edge 30: Trades some performance for a more ergonomic design, slightly smoother display, and newer software. Also trades main camera quality and brightness for better selfie camera and video stabilization.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Ideal Users:
- Power Users & Gamers: Those who need top-tier performance for demanding tasks and high-end gaming.
- Outdoor Photographers/Videographers: Those who need to use their device in bright sunlight and prefer to take photos and videos with the back camera and take advantage of 8k video capture.
- Users Prioritizing Fast Charging and Battery: Those who appreciate faster charging and wireless charging.
- Audio Enthusiasts: Those that want great audio clarity and features for communication or entertainment.
Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming, video editing on the go, or outdoor use under bright sun.
Motorola Edge 30 Ideal Users:
- Everyday Users: Users who prioritize comfort, sleek design, and a slightly smoother display for general use.
- Selfie Enthusiasts: Those who take a lot of selfies and value high resolution for their front camera.
- Casual Video Shooters: Those who value smooth video recording with more video stabilization features.
- Users on the Go: Those that prefer a lighter phone, with a thin form factor, easier for one-handed use.
Use Cases:
- General browsing, social media, and photography with a focus on the front camera.
Price-to-Value:
- The OnePlus 9 typically provides better value for users who prioritize performance and display quality, especially if found at a good price in the used market.
- The Motorola Edge 30 might offer better value for those seeking a more well-rounded mid-range experience with focus on comfort, selfie quality and video recording, especially if found at a discount.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Performance Needs: Do you prioritize maximum performance for gaming and demanding applications, or is adequate performance enough for your typical use?
- Camera Preferences: Do you value the main camera image quality and flexibility or are selfie quality and stabilization a higher priority for you?
- Ergonomics and Form Factor: Is a lighter and thinner phone more important to you, or are you okay with a heavier device with better performance?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gaming and Heavy Multitasking: Choose the OnePlus 9 for its significantly faster processor and better GPU.
- Scenario 2: Casual Use and Content Consumption: Choose the Motorola Edge 30 for its comfortable design and smoother display for general use.
- Scenario 3: Photography Focus: If main camera quality and wide-angle flexibility are desired, go for the OnePlus 9. If selfie quality, smooth video, and macro capability are desired, choose the Motorola Edge 30.
- Scenario 4: Outdoor Use: If using the phone under bright sunlight is essential, choose the OnePlus 9 for its superior brightness.
My Choice
I would choose the OnePlus 9. Although the Motorola Edge 30 has some advantages, especially in terms of form factor, selfie camera, and video stabilization, the OnePlus 9 offers superior performance, significantly better main camera performance, significantly brighter display, faster charging, and useful features like wireless charging that align better with my priorities. I prefer a phone with good overall performance that can be used for more demanding tasks as well as provide a better experience outdoors with its significantly brighter display.
