1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | TCL 50 SE | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Size | 160 × 74.2 × 8.7 mm | 168.2 × 75.5 × 8.1 mm | TCL 50 SE is taller and slightly wider, while OnePlus 9 is thicker. TCL 50 SE is a bit less comfortable for small hands. |
| Weight | 192g | 195g | Both have virtually identical weight, negligibly different in feel. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | TCL 50 SE | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.55" | 6.78" | TCL 50 SE has a slightly larger display, better for media consumption but less convenient in pocket. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2460 | Both are very similar in terms of detail, differences are negligible in practice. |
| PPI | 402 | 396 | Both have very similar sharpness, differences are not noticeable to the naked eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | OnePlus 9 has better blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant colors, offering more engaging viewing experience, better power saving with dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | OnePlus 9 has smoother animations and scrolling, making the user interface feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 900 nits | OnePlus 9 is easier to view outdoors in bright sunlight, with better readability. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | TCL 50 SE | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G88 (12 nm) | OnePlus 9 has a much faster processor, leading to smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance. |
| Antutu Score | 880,900 | 250,000 | OnePlus 9 offers a significantly superior performance for demanding tasks, and future-proofed for longer use. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G52 MC2 | OnePlus 9 handles graphically intensive applications and gaming more smoothly and effectively. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | TCL 50 SE | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | TCL 50 SE has slightly higher resolution, but real world image quality depends on sensor and processing. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.8 | OnePlus 9 has a slightly wider aperture for better low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.4" | N/A | OnePlus 9 has a larger sensor, which helps in better light capturing and thus, more details. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 8MP | OnePlus 9 captures selfies with more detail, which allows for greater versatility with post-processing. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.0 | TCL 50 SE has a wider aperture on the front camera, capturing more light for selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP (f/2.2) | N/A | OnePlus 9 can take wide-angle shots, ideal for landscapes or group photos. |
| Macro Lens | N/A | 2MP (f/2.4) | TCL 50 SE can take extreme close-up shots, though quality may not be as good as a dedicated macro lens. |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP (f/2.4) | N/A | OnePlus 9 provides a dedicated monochrome camera for artistic photography. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | OnePlus 9 has much better video quality, supports higher resolutions with HDR and EIS. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | TCL 50 SE | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5010mAh | TCL 50 SE likely has better battery life, allowing for longer usage between charges. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | OnePlus 9 charges much faster, reducing time spent plugged into an outlet. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | No | OnePlus 9 provides convenient wireless charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and higher brightness offers a better visual experience.
- Much Better Performance: Snapdragon 888 chipset provides significantly higher processing power for all tasks, including gaming.
- Advanced Camera System: Versatile setup with wide-angle, black and white lenses, significantly better video recording and higher quality images overall.
- Faster Charging: 65W fast charging gets the phone back to full power much quicker along with wireless charging.
- Better Connectivity: Newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, providing higher data transfer speeds and better location accuracy.
- Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos, noise cancellation, and 3 microphones provide a richer, clearer audio experience.
Practical Implication: The OnePlus 9 is the better choice for users who prioritize performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and faster charging.
TCL 50 SE Advantages:
- Larger Battery: Offers longer battery life between charges for heavy users.
- Newer OS out of the Box: Ships with Android 14 providing more modern user experience with latest features and security updates.
- Slightly Wider Aperture for Selfie Camera: Better low-light selfies compared to OnePlus 9.
- Macro Camera: Allows taking extreme close-up shots.
- More affordable: Will likely be sold at a significantly lower price point.
Practical Implication: The TCL 50 SE is a budget-friendly option with a larger battery and a newer version of Android, suitable for users who need long battery life and basic functionalities.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9: Sacrifices battery capacity for higher performance and better features.
- TCL 50 SE: Sacrifices performance, display quality, and camera capabilities for a larger battery and newer OS at a lower price point.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Ideal User:
- Power Users: Gamers, multitaskers, video editors, and those who demand top-tier performance.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who want high-quality images, versatile camera setups and good low-light capabilities.
- Media Consumers: Those who enjoy watching high-quality content with vibrant colors and smooth visuals.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Those who appreciate cutting-edge technology, faster charging, and superior features.
Specific Use Cases: High-end gaming, capturing high-resolution photos and videos, multitasking heavy applications, and media consumption with a high quality display.
TCL 50 SE Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for a more affordable smartphone.
- Users Prioritizing Battery Life: Those who need their phone to last through a full day of heavy usage.
- Basic Smartphone Users: Those who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, social media and basic web browsing.
- Users seeking Newer OS: Those who want to experience Android 14.
Specific Use Cases: Everyday usage, basic social media browsing, calling and texting, long battery life usage and occasional photography.
Price-to-Value:
- OnePlus 9: Offers excellent value for users who value performance, camera, and display. However, the price will be higher.
- TCL 50 SE: Provides a very cost effective option for basic users but the sacrifice in other key areas such as performance and camera capabilities is significant.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? - If you are budget-conscious, the TCL 50 SE is the more affordable choice, while the OnePlus 9 has a higher price tag.
- What do you prioritize more - Performance or Battery Life? - If performance and camera quality are more important to you, choose the OnePlus 9. If you prioritize longer battery life and newer OS, consider the TCL 50 SE.
- How important is display quality, and do you consume a lot of media on your phone? - If you value a vibrant display with better visibility and smooth animations, the OnePlus 9’s AMOLED panel is superior.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Frequent Traveler
- Recommendation: TCL 50 SE, due to its larger battery that would be beneficial for long periods away from a charger, and the trade-off on display/performance won't be a huge factor.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gamer
- Recommendation: OnePlus 9, due to its high performance chipset, high refresh rate display, and better GPU for graphically intensive games.
- Scenario 3: Casual User
- Recommendation: TCL 50 SE would be more appropriate as the extra performance and camera features wouldn't be much of a factor and would also save money.
- Scenario 4: Photography and Videography enthusiast
- Recommendation: OnePlus 9, due to its highly versatile camera system that enables better quality images, video stabilization, and video quality of up to 8K.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the OnePlus 9. While the TCL 50 SE is a newer device and offers a larger battery and the latest Android OS out of the box, the sheer gap in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities of the OnePlus 9 is too significant to ignore. As someone who values smooth performance for gaming, vibrant and bright display for media consumption, and a versatile camera system for high quality pictures and videos, the OnePlus 9 offers the superior experience for my use case. Also, the faster charging speeds of the OnePlus 9 along with wireless charging would be more beneficial for me on a day to day basis.
