1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Nokia G11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160 × 74.2 × 8.7 mm | 164.6 × 75.9 × 8.5 mm | Nokia G11 is slightly larger, may feel less compact in hand. OnePlus 9 might be more pocketable. |
| Weight | 192g | 189g | Virtually identical, negligible difference in hand feel. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.55" | 6.5" | Both phones have similar screen sizes. 0.05" difference is barely noticeable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 720x1600 | OnePlus 9 has a much sharper display. Text and images look clearer, less pixelated. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 402 | 270 | OnePlus 9's higher PPI means significantly sharper visuals. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | OnePlus 9's AMOLED offers deeper blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colours. More suitable for HDR content and dark mode enthusiasts. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | OnePlus 9 has smoother animations and scrolling. Less noticeable on a daily basis but makes the experience slightly more premium. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 0 nits | OnePlus 9 is significantly brighter, much better for use in direct sunlight. Nokia G11's brightness specification is missing, however, it will be less bright than the Oneplus 9. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) | OnePlus 9 has a significantly faster, more powerful chipset. Apps launch faster, multitasking is smoother, and gaming is vastly superior. |
| AnTuTu Score | 880,900 | 253,300 | OnePlus 9 offers drastically higher performance for any task, better gaming experience and more future proofing. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G57 MP1 | OnePlus 9 has a much more powerful GPU, important for graphic-intensive tasks and gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/1.4" Sony IMX689, 1.12µm | 13MP, f/1.8 | OnePlus 9 captures much more detailed images, better low-light performance due to the bigger sensor and wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" Sony IMX471, 1.00µm | 8MP, f/2.0 | OnePlus 9 takes more detailed selfies while Nokia G11 has a wider aperture for slightly better low-light performance. |
| Wide Angle | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56" Sony IMX766, 1.00µm | N/A | OnePlus 9 has a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing more of the scene in photos. Nokia G11 does not have this lens. |
| Portrait (depth) | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4 | Nokia G11 has a dedicated depth sensor, useful for portrait mode background blur effect. OnePlus 9 does not have this lens. |
| Macro Lens | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4 | Nokia G11 has a dedicated macro lens for taking close-up shots. OnePlus 9 does not have this lens. |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | OnePlus 9 has a dedicated black and white sensor, for enhanced monochrome photos. Nokia G11 does not have this lens. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | 1080p@30fps | OnePlus 9 can record much higher-resolution videos, suitable for professional and high-quality content creation. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5050mAh | Nokia G11 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life on a single charge. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless Charging | 18W Fast Charging | OnePlus 9 charges much faster and has wireless charging, while Nokia G11 has a slow 18W charging speed. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256GB | 32GB/64GB | OnePlus 9 has significantly more internal storage for apps, media, and files. |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 3GB/4GB | OnePlus 9 has much more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and faster performance of heavy apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither device supports external storage. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 11 | OnePlus 9 has an upgrade to Android 13, offering better features and better security. Nokia G11 has no confirmed android upgrade path. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) | OnePlus 9 supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, offering faster and more stable wireless connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.0 | OnePlus 9 has the newer Bluetooth version with more advanced features. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2) | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | OnePlus 9 has more advanced GPS system with more satellite frequencies for superior location accuracy. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | 2 microphones | OnePlus 9 has superior audio with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support. |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Nokia G11 has more convenient side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | OnePlus 9 has a known and more robust screen protection against scratches and cracks. Nokia G11 is unknown. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity | Accelerometer, Fingerprint, Proximity | OnePlus 9 has additional sensors for more accurate motion tracking and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED with higher resolution, refresh rate and brightness offers a much richer visual experience with sharper images, smoother animations, better contrast and vivid colours especially outdoors.
- Much Higher Performance: Snapdragon 888 chipset provides drastically faster app loading, seamless multitasking and high-end gaming capabilities.
- Significantly Better Camera System: High resolution main camera, superior image processing, dedicated wide angle lens and higher video recording capabilities make it suitable for quality content creation.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: 65W fast charging and 15W wireless charging are much more convenient than the 18W on the Nokia G11.
- More Storage and RAM: Significantly more storage and RAM for better multitasking, app performance and future proofing.
- Advanced Connectivity: Supports faster Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 offering the best of modern connectivity.
- Better Audio Quality: Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers and 3 microphones provide superior sound output and voice capture quality.
- More Robust Build: Gorilla Glass 5 screen protection adds to the durability and longevity.
Nokia G11 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: 5050 mAh battery offers a potentially longer battery life.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Generally considered a more ergonomic position.
- Dedicated Macro and Depth Sensors: Useful for specific photography use cases like portrait and close-up shots.
- Potentially Lower Price: As an entry level device it will probably be cheaper than the OnePlus 9.
- Includes charger in the box: Nokia G11 comes with a basic charger, while OnePlus does not.
- Front Facing Flash: Useful for taking photos in low light conditions.
Trade-offs:
- The OnePlus 9 sacrifices battery capacity and dedicated macro/depth cameras for significantly better overall performance, display and camera quality.
- The Nokia G11 sacrifices processing power, display quality, and camera performance for a larger battery and lower price.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Ideal User:
- Power User: Needs a fast, responsive phone for heavy multitasking, demanding apps, and gaming.
- Multimedia Consumer: Values high-quality display, immersive audio, and high resolution video playback.
- Photography Enthusiast: Wants a versatile camera system with great image quality and high-resolution video recording.
- Tech-Savvy: Appreciates the latest connectivity features and a premium experience.
Users who want future-proofing: Users who want a device that will be relevant for a few years to come.
Specific Use Cases:
- Gaming with smooth graphics and no lag.
- Editing photos and videos on the go.
- Watching HDR content with vibrant colors and deep blacks.
- Using multiple apps simultaneously with no slowdown.
Nokia G11 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious User: Needs a basic smartphone for everyday tasks and wants to get the most for their money.
- Casual User: Primarily uses the phone for calling, texting, browsing and social media.
- Long Battery Life Prioritizer: Values a long lasting battery and battery life is a top priority.
Photography Beginners: Needs a basic camera with a few extra features.
Specific Use Cases:
- Basic daily use such as making calls and texting.
- Long trips where battery endurance is key.
- Taking quick photos.
- Using the phone as a backup device.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The OnePlus 9 offers a much higher price-to-performance and feature ratio, targeting users who prioritize speed and high quality experience.
- The Nokia G11 offers good value for money for basic use cases targeting budget oriented customers.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case? (Gaming, media consumption, photography, daily use)
- How much do I value performance and display quality?
- How important is long battery life versus fast charging?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If performance and display are a priority: Choose the OnePlus 9. The difference in performance is night and day and you should notice this every single time you use your device.
- If you need a phone for basic tasks and value battery life: Choose the Nokia G11. This can be a good backup phone or for users who do not need high performance.
- If you need to take photos on the go: OnePlus 9 is the best device to choose. It's main camera will produce much higher quality results.
- If you intend to play demanding games or do intensive tasks: The OnePlus 9 is the best choice, as the performance difference is night and day between the two.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the OnePlus 9. Although it is older, its raw performance, superior screen, and greatly enhanced camera system make it a much better overall phone and will provide a much better user experience. The much faster charging, better connectivity features, and superior build quality also give it a much better long-term value for money.
Although the Nokia G11 has a slightly bigger battery and a few extra camera features such as a dedicated macro lens, the drop in overall performance and quality is very significant and would make the day-to-day use of the phone very difficult.
