1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 160 × 74.2 × 8.7 mm | 161.6 × 73.9 × 8.2 mm | Realme 11 Pro+ is slightly taller and thinner; OnePlus 9 has a slightly larger volume and might feel a bit bulkier. |
| Weight | 192g | 183g | Realme 11 Pro+ is noticeably lighter, potentially more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build Quality | Gorilla Glass 5 (screen) | Unknown (screen) | OnePlus 9 offers better screen protection against scratches and minor impacts. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.55" | 6.7" | Realme 11 Pro+ has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2412 | Minimal difference in resolution; both offer a sharp and clear visual experience. |
| PPI | 402 | 394 | Both have similar pixel density; displays will appear equally sharp. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Smooth scrolling and animations on both; good for gaming and general usage. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 950 nits | OnePlus 9 screen can get brighter, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm) | OnePlus 9 has a higher-end chipset; Offers superior performance, faster app loading and more efficient multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 880,900 | 540,800 | OnePlus 9 has significantly higher benchmark scores, indicating a much faster and smoother experience, especially for demanding applications and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G68 MC4 | OnePlus 9's GPU is significantly more powerful, providing better graphics performance in gaming and other GPU-intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/1.4", Sony IMX689, 1.12µm | 200MP, f/1.69, 1/1.4", Samsung ISOCELL HP3, 0.56µm | Realme 11 Pro+ has a much higher resolution main sensor, potentially capturing more detail; Wider aperture on Realme 11 Pro+, slightly better in low light; OnePlus 9 has a larger pixel size for better low-light performance |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", Sony IMX471, 1.00µm | 32MP, f/2.45, 1/2.74", Sony IMX615, 0.80µm | Realme 11 Pro+ has a higher resolution selfie camera, capturing more detail. |
| Wide Angle | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766, 1.00µm | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", Sony IMX355, 1.14µm | OnePlus 9 has a significantly higher resolution and larger sensor for its wide-angle shots, leading to better quality. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.3, 1/5", GalaxyCore GC02M1, 1.75µm | Realme 11 Pro+ offers a dedicated macro lens for closeup shots. |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9 has a dedicated black and white camera. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps, with HDR, EIS, 4K@60fps | Up to 4K@30fps, with EIS | OnePlus 9 offers higher resolution video recording and more options. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Realme 11 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | Realme 11 Pro+ has a larger battery, likely offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 65W fast | 100W fast | Realme 11 Pro+ charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime. |
| Features | 15W Wireless Charging | 2x2500mAh | OnePlus 9 offers convenient wireless charging. Realme 11 Pro+ has a dual-cell design which improves charging speed and heat management |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Advantages
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 offers significantly better performance, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming.
- Better Display Brightness: The screen can reach 1100 nits, making it more visible in direct sunlight.
- Higher Video Recording Resolution: Capable of recording 8K video, which is suitable for professional-grade video content creation.
- Better Wide-Angle Camera: The 50MP wide-angle lens offers much better image quality than the 8MP on the Realme 11 Pro+.
- Wireless Charging: Offers convenient 15W wireless charging capabilities.
- More Audio Capabilities: Has 3 microphones for better audio recording.
- Screen protection: Comes with Gorilla Glass 5 for better screen durability
Realme 11 Pro+ Advantages
- Longer Battery Life: Larger battery capacity means longer usage between charges.
- Faster Charging: 100W charging is significantly faster than 65W charging.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: The 200MP camera can capture more detail, especially in good lighting conditions
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens allows for close-up photography.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 13 and is slated for an upgrade to Android 15, offering a more modern user experience.
- More GPS Systems: Supports more satellite systems leading to better location accuracy.
- Better Bluetooth Version: Has a newer version of Bluetooth with more energy efficiency and stability.
- More Storage Options: Comes with a 1TB variant which is useful for users needing to store lots of media files.
Trade-offs
- OnePlus 9: Trades longer battery life and faster charging for superior performance and a more premium camera experience (especially wide-angle and video)
- Realme 11 Pro+: Trades top-tier performance for a larger battery, faster charging, and a high-resolution main camera, but less capable wide-angle camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9
- Ideal User: Gamers, power users, photographers/videographers focused on wide angle and video quality who prioritize performance and screen visibility in daylight.
- Use Cases: Demanding mobile gaming, heavy multitasking, high-quality video recording, professional photography using wide-angle lens, outdoor photography.
- Price-to-Value: Potentially better value for users needing top-tier performance and advanced camera features.
Realme 11 Pro+
- Ideal User: Casual users, content consumers, and social media enthusiasts who prioritize battery life, fast charging, and high-resolution photos on main camera.
- Use Cases: Daily media consumption, social media content creation, long days without charging, taking casual close-up shots, better navigation.
- Price-to-Value: Likely offers better value for casual users due to its more affordable price and long battery life with very fast charging
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance Needs: Do you prioritize top-tier performance for gaming and heavy multitasking (OnePlus 9), or is a smooth experience with longer battery life sufficient (Realme 11 Pro+)?
- Camera Preferences: Do you need the best wide-angle lens and video recording quality (OnePlus 9), or do you prefer high-resolution images from a main lens with a dedicated macro lens (Realme 11 Pro+)?
- Battery and Charging: Is it more important to have longer battery life and much faster charging speeds (Realme 11 Pro+), or are you okay with slightly less battery and slower charging in exchange for wireless charging (OnePlus 9)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gaming Enthusiast: Choose the OnePlus 9 for its superior performance and graphics capabilities.
- Scenario 2: Photography Enthusiast (Wide-Angle Focus): Choose the OnePlus 9 for its better wide-angle lens and video quality.
- Scenario 3: Social Media Content Creator: Choose the Realme 11 Pro+ for its high-resolution main camera, and dedicated macro lens.
- Scenario 4: Everyday User (Battery Focused): Choose the Realme 11 Pro+ for its longer battery life and significantly faster charging.
- Scenario 5: User Needing Extra Storage: Choose the Realme 11 Pro+ for its 1TB variant.
Personal Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would select the OnePlus 9. My primary use case revolves around gaming and media consumption with secondary use for photography. The significantly better performance of the Snapdragon 888, combined with the superior wide-angle camera, 8K video recording, brighter display and the added flexibility of wireless charging make it a more appealing option for my needs. While the Realme 11 Pro+ has a larger battery and faster charging, the performance difference is a greater priority for me. I also value the high-quality video recording and wide-angle capabilities of the OnePlus 9 more than the high-resolution main camera and macro lens of the Realme.
