Smartphone Comparison: OnePlus 9 vs. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 160 × 74.2 × 8.7 mm | 161.1 × 72.4 × 8.6 mm | Motorola is slightly taller (1.1mm) and narrower (1.8mm). Overall similar size, but the feel in hand may differ slightly. |
| Weight | 192g | 197g | OnePlus 9 is 5g lighter, potentially noticeable during extended use. |
| Build Quality | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (screen) | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (screen) | Motorola offers superior screen protection against scratches and impacts. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.55" | 6.7" | Motorola offers slightly more screen real estate for content consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1220x2712 | Motorola's higher resolution will appear noticeably sharper, resulting in finer details and clearer text. |
| PPI | 402 | 446 | Motorola's higher pixel density provides a more crisp and detailed display experience. |
| Technology | AMOLED | P-OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. The difference is minor, though P-OLED might have slight variations in panel technology. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | Motorola provides slightly smoother animations and scrolling, enhancing the overall fluidity of the user experience. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 2500 nits | Motorola's significantly higher peak brightness will make the display much more visible in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Motorola's newer chipset offers better power efficiency and improved overall performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 880,900 | 1,523,879 | Motorola's significantly higher benchmark score means faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 735 | Motorola has a more powerful GPU, resulting in smoother graphics for gaming and other graphically intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/1.4", 1.12µm | 50MP, f/1.6, 1/1.3", 2.00µm | Motorola’s main sensor has larger pixels and a wider aperture, resulting in better low-light performance and potentially less noise. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", 1.00µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Motorola’s front camera has significantly higher resolution and a wider aperture. Better quality selfies and video calls, especially in low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP, f/2.4, 1/2", 0.70µm | Motorola has a dedicated telephoto lens, enabling optical zoom and better zoomed-in shots without significant loss in quality, which OnePlus lacks. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56", 1.00µm | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | OnePlus has larger sensor, while Motorola has wider aperture. Different strengths and weaknesses for wide angle shots. |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus has a dedicated black & white camera for creative shots. Motorola lacks this. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR, EIS | OnePlus offers higher 8K video resolution, while Motorola captures slightly better quality video due to its superior image processing capabilities. Motorola also has better slow motion capture at 960fps. |
| DxOMark Score | Not Tested | Mobile: 146 (Photo: 150, Video: 134) | Motorola has been benchmarked, which provides an objective measure of its camera capabilities. |
| Features | 4K/8K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, DIS, Ultra stable video, Autofocus, PDAF, CDAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, RAW 12 bits | Time-Lapse, 4K Video, Digital/Optical zoom, Triple camera, DIS, OIS, Autofocus, PDAF, Continuous AF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, Dual capture, RAW | Motorola has features like Time-Lapse, OIS, and Continuous AF for enhanced versatility in photography, while OnePlus has features like 8k video and CDAF. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh | Both have the same battery capacity, suggesting similar battery life under typical use. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless | 125W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless, 10W Reverse Wireless | Motorola charges significantly faster and offers faster wireless charging and reverse charging, offering more convenient options. |
| Features | Non-removable, 15W Wireless Charging | Non-removable, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging | Motorola can act as a power bank for other devices. |
Software, Connectivity, & Other
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 14 (upgradable to 17) | Motorola offers a much newer Android version, ensuring longer software support. |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | Motorola offers a faster and more reliable Wi-Fi experience. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 | Motorola has a slightly newer Bluetooth version. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2) | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo, (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC System | OnePlus has a slight edge with more satellite system support. Motorola also has strong GPS capabilities, with added support for SUPL and NavIC System. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) | Motorola provides the flexibility of using eSIM. |
| Storage | 128/256 GB | 512GB/1024 GB | Motorola offers significantly more internal storage, which is helpful for users who store a lot of media and apps. |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 12GB/16GB | Motorola has more RAM, offering better performance when multitasking and using demanding apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones, Noise Cancellation Microphone | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones | OnePlus has a slight edge with noise cancellation microphone feature. |
| Security | Fingerprint Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones have a basic fingerprint sensor. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both have a similar set of sensors |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Advantages:
- 8K Video Recording: Offers higher resolution video recording, appealing to users who prioritize video quality.
- Slightly Lighter: May be more comfortable for extended handheld use.
- Black & White Lens: Dedicated sensor for creative photography.
- Noise cancellation microphone: Provides better audio capture during calls or recording
Motorola Edge 50 Ultra Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: Newer chipset, higher AnTuTu score, and more powerful GPU provide a smoother and faster experience for all tasks, including gaming.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, pixel density, brightness, and refresh rate provide a much better visual experience, especially outdoors.
- Better Main and Selfie Camera: Larger sensors and wider apertures on both front and main lenses for better low-light performance.
- Dedicated Telephoto Lens: Provides optical zoom capabilities, absent on OnePlus 9.
- Much Faster Charging: Both wired and wireless charging are much faster, adding significant convenience.
- Newer Software: Comes with a newer Android OS version, which will receive support for longer.
- More Storage and RAM: More storage and RAM options cater to power users.
- Wi-Fi 7 Support: Future-proofed with faster Wi-Fi capabilities.
- eSIM support: Adds flexibility with digital carrier options.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9: Trades better video recording and a lighter build for weaker overall performance, camera and screen capabilities.
- Motorola Edge 50 Ultra: Trades the black and white camera and slightly better GPS capabilities for faster charging, a better display, better performance and updated software.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for OnePlus 9:
- Users focused on creative video content: Individuals who need 8K recording for professional or advanced video purposes.
- Users on a tight budget: Given it's older, it'll be much cheaper on the used market.
- Users who enjoy black and white photography: Users who want to experiment with monochrome photography.
Use Cases:
- Creating high-resolution videos for professional or personal projects
- General media consumption and photography.
Ideal Users for Motorola Edge 50 Ultra:
- Power users: Those who require high performance for multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps.
- Users wanting a great display experience: Individuals who consume a lot of visual content and want a sharp, bright display.
- Users who prioritize camera quality: For users who want high-quality low-light photos, optical zoom and versatile camera features.
- Users who want quick charging and battery convenience: For those who are always on the go and need quick charging capabilities.
- Users who want a phone with long-term software support: More software update availability.
Use Cases:
- Gaming and other graphically-intensive applications
- Photography and videography in various conditions
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight
- Professional work and content creation
- Daily usage where you need fast battery charging
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance Needs: How important is raw performance for your daily tasks and gaming?
- Display Quality: How much do you value display brightness, sharpness, and refresh rate?
- Camera Features: Do you prioritize specific camera features like optical zoom or high-resolution videos?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget-Conscious): If budget is the primary concern, the used OnePlus 9 is a viable option.
- Scenario 2 (Multimedia Enthusiast): If a high-quality display, great camera, and fast performance are your priorities, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is the clear choice.
- Scenario 3 (Professional Photography): If you need 8K recording, consider the OnePlus 9 but be aware of its other shortcomings. If you value photo quality, telephoto and a better display, the Motorola is better.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra. The advantages it brings in terms of performance, display quality, camera versatility, faster charging and longer software support are simply too significant to ignore. While the OnePlus 9 does have the 8K recording and a unique black and white sensor, the benefits of the Motorola, such as its better low-light photos, optical zoom, significantly faster charging, more vibrant display, and superior overall performance, align better with my priorities as a daily driver. The performance boost will lead to a much more fluid experience for daily tasks, gaming and multitasking.
