1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Size | 160 × 74.2 × 8.7 mm | 163 × 73.9 × 8.6 mm | OnePlus 10 Pro is slightly taller (3mm), potentially feeling a bit larger in hand. |
| Weight | 192g | 201g | OnePlus 9 is 9g lighter, making it slightly more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build Quality (Screen) | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | OnePlus 10 Pro offers significantly better drop and scratch resistance for the display. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.55" | 6.7" | OnePlus 10 Pro offers a slightly more immersive viewing experience due to its larger size. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3216 | OnePlus 10 Pro has a much sharper display, resulting in clearer text and images, especially noticeable in small details. |
| PPI | 402 | 525 | OnePlus 10 Pro's higher pixel density leads to a crisper and more detailed display, reducing pixelation. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OnePlus 9 offers better blacks, contrast, and power efficiency with dark themes with its AMOLED display. The technology of the OnePlus 10 Pro is not specified, which is a limitation. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, suitable for gaming and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 1300 nits | OnePlus 10 Pro is more visible in bright outdoor conditions due to its higher peak brightness. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) | OnePlus 10 Pro's newer chipset offers marginal performance gains and potentially slightly better efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 880,900 | 900,491 | Both provide top-tier performance, suitable for demanding tasks and high-end gaming. The 2% performance difference is unlikely to be noticeable in day-to-day use. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | OnePlus 10 Pro’s newer GPU may offer slightly better performance in graphics-intensive tasks like gaming, though the practical difference may be marginal. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/1.4" Sony IMX689 | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43" Sony IMX789 | OnePlus 9 has a slightly larger sensor and wider aperture, potentially resulting in slightly better low light performance but the differences are marginal. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" Sony IMX471 | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.74" Sony IMX615 | OnePlus 10 Pro offers more detailed selfies, better low-light performance, and a wider field of view. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" Omnivision OV08A10 | OnePlus 10 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities, allowing for better zoomed images without loss of quality. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56" Sony IMX766 | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" Samsung S5KJN1 | OnePlus 9's wide-angle camera has a larger sensor, potentially capturing more light and resulting in higher-quality ultrawide photos. |
| Black & White Camera | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9 has a dedicated black and white sensor. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps, 4K@120fps | Both offer high-resolution video, but the OnePlus 10 Pro has higher framerates at 4K. |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | OnePlus 10 Pro provides better video stabilization, resulting in smoother and less shaky footage. |
| DXOMark | N/A | 122 (Mobile) | OnePlus 10 Pro has a tested camera score indicating good image and video quality. |
| Features | Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Contrast detection autofocus (CDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night Mode, RAW 12 bits | Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Contrast detection autofocus (CDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night Mode, RAW 12 bits | OnePlus 10 Pro has more advanced features like OIS, optical zoom, continuous autofocus and laser autofocus, that will make the picture quality better. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | OnePlus 10 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | OnePlus 10 Pro's larger battery generally provides longer usage between charges. |
| Charging | 65W fast charging, 15W wireless | 80W fast charging, 50W wireless | OnePlus 10 Pro charges faster both wired and wirelessly. |
| Features | Non-removable, 15W Wireless Charging | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 50W wireless charging, Resverse wireless charging | OnePlus 10 Pro provides better charging options and reverse wireless charging to charge other devices. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 10 Pro Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density result in a crisper and more detailed viewing experience.
- Superior Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers significantly better scratch and drop resistance.
- More Versatile Camera System: Features a telephoto lens for optical zoom, a higher resolution selfie camera, OIS and laser focus, providing more flexibility in various shooting scenarios.
- Longer Battery Life & Faster Charging: Larger battery and faster wired and wireless charging provide extended use and quicker recharge times.
- Newer Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 provides slight performance improvements over the Snapdragon 888, and possibly better efficiency.
- Newer Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 support for improved performance in crowded areas and faster download speeds.
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Can charge other devices wirelessly.
- Latest OS: Comes with Android 12 out of the box.
OnePlus 9 Advantages:
- Lighter Build: Slightly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use.
- Larger Wide-Angle Camera Sensor: Might deliver superior ultrawide image quality, especially in low light.
- AMOLED Display: Better contrast, blacks, and efficiency with dark themes than the unknown technology of the OnePlus 10 Pro's display.
- Dedicated B&W Sensor: Can provide better black and white photos.
- More Satellites supported: Improved location accuracy with more satellite systems supported by the phone.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 10 Pro is larger and heavier.
- OnePlus 9 lacks a telephoto lens, OIS, and has a lower resolution selfie camera.
- OnePlus 9's build quality is not as robust (Gorilla Glass 5 vs. Victus).
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for OnePlus 10 Pro:
- Power Users: Users who demand top-tier performance, fast charging, and long battery life.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who appreciate a versatile camera system with optical zoom, a high-res selfie camera, and better video capabilities.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who enjoy watching videos and playing games, benefit from the sharper display and brighter screen.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Those who want the latest technology, including Wi-Fi 7 and reverse wireless charging.
- Users who want better build quality and better screen protection.
- Users who require better video quality with stabilization.
Ideal User for OnePlus 9:
- Users who prioritize comfort: Users who prefer a lighter and slightly smaller device.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Those looking for high-end performance at a potentially lower price point than the 10 Pro.
- Users who take ultrawide pictures frequently: Users that require better wide-angle pictures.
- Users who like to take black and white pictures.
- Users that value OLED display technology
Use Cases:
- OnePlus 10 Pro: Gaming, professional photography, watching high-resolution videos, frequent travel where fast charging and long battery life are crucial.
- OnePlus 9: Everyday use, social media browsing, general photography, users who value a lighter feel and slightly smaller size.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
Do you prioritize camera versatility and video quality? If yes, the OnePlus 10 Pro is the better choice with its telephoto lens, better selfie camera, OIS, and high-quality video capture.
Is battery life and fast charging essential? If yes, the OnePlus 10 Pro's larger battery and faster charging (both wired and wireless) make it the preferable option.
Is a lighter, smaller phone more important, or do you value the extra screen sharpness and overall build quality? If comfort is crucial and you are ok with the sacrifices on the camera and the screen protection, the OnePlus 9 might suffice. If not, go with the OnePlus 10 Pro.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Frequent traveler needing maximum battery and fast charging: Choose the OnePlus 10 Pro.
- Scenario 2: Budget-conscious user wanting great performance for everyday use: Choose the OnePlus 9.
- Scenario 3: A user who needs the best possible camera: Choose the OnePlus 10 Pro.
- Scenario 4: A user who requires the best possible screen protection: Choose the OnePlus 10 Pro.
My Choice
If I were to choose between the two, I would opt for the OnePlus 10 Pro. While the OnePlus 9 has some merits, the 10 Pro offers a more complete package with significant upgrades in areas that matter most to me. The superior display, versatile camera system, faster charging, and better screen protection are worth the extra cost. I also appreciate the performance increase from the Snapdragon Gen 1 chipset and more recent OS, ensuring the phone stays relevant for a longer time. The additional features like reverse wireless charging and OIS are also very compelling. Although the OnePlus 9's AMOLED display is a plus, the 10 Pro's improvements overall make it a much better choice in my opinion.
