1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Size | 161 × 74.1 × 8.4 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is slightly taller and noticeably thinner, potentially feeling more streamlined. OnePlus 9R is thicker by 0.6mm, which may make it feel a bit more bulky. |
| Weight | 189g | 183g | Honor 90 is slightly lighter (6g difference) which could make it more comfortable for extended use. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.55" | 6.7" | Honor 90 offers a slightly larger screen, better for multimedia consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper display with more detail, improving clarity for text and images. |
| PPI | 402 | 435 | Honor 90 has a higher pixel density, leading to slightly crisper visuals. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations, enhancing user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90's significantly higher brightness ensures much better visibility in direct sunlight. OnePlus 9R brightness data is not available. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | OnePlus 9R’s chipset, though older, shows higher benchmark scores and potentially better performance for demanding tasks. The Honor 90's newer chipset is more energy-efficient. |
| AnTuTu Score | 821,600 | 701,227 | OnePlus 9R offers potentially smoother experience in gaming and other resource intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 644 | OnePlus 9R’s GPU should provide slightly better graphics performance, especially for gaming. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 200MP | Honor 90 captures much more detail and allows for higher resolution prints and crops. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.7 | f/1.9 | OnePlus 9R's wider aperture allows slightly more light, potentially better low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.4" | Honor 90's larger sensor captures more light, likely improving overall image quality, especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 50MP | Honor 90 offers significantly higher resolution for more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 16MP (f/2.2) | None | OnePlus 9R has a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing expansive scenes. |
| Portrait Camera | 2MP (f/2.4) | 2MP (f/2.4) | Similar performance for portrait depth effects, though Honor 90 has larger pixel size for the portrait sensor. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP (f/2.4) | None | OnePlus 9R allows for dedicated macro shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP (f/2.2) | Honor 90 combines wide-angle and macro capabilities into one lens, providing flexibility. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps | Up to 4K@30fps | Both record high-quality video, but OnePlus 9R offers 4k@60fps option for smoother videos. Honor 90 offers higher slow motion fps. |
| Camera Features | OIS, Quad Camera, Panorama, Manual Focus | Night Mode, Front Flash, Triple Camera | OnePlus 9R offers OIS for better stabilization and a full Quad camera. Honor 90 has Night Mode and Front Flash, which are better in specific scenarios. |
| DxOMark Score | Not available | Main Score 122, Photo 128, Video 126 | Honor 90 has an overall good camera performance based on the DxOMark score. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | Honor 90 has a larger battery, likely providing longer battery life. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Similar charging speeds, both offering quick top-ups. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9R Advantages:
- Slightly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 870 offers higher benchmark scores, potentially providing a smoother experience for gaming and demanding tasks.
- Versatile Camera System: Dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses provide more shooting options.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Improves image stabilization, particularly useful in low-light conditions.
- Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos: Offers better audio experience while playing games, watching movies, listening to music etc.
- More Satellite Systems for GPS: Better and more accurate GPS positioning.
- 4K@60fps Video Recording: The 60fps option results in smoother videos.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Significantly Better Display: Higher resolution and brightness provide a superior viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Superior Camera Resolution: The 200MP main camera captures far more detail, offering greater flexibility for editing and cropping.
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery provides extended usage time on a single charge.
- Newer Chipset: While benchmarked lower, the 4nm chipset offers better power efficiency.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Better resolution selfies and better portrait effects.
- Front Flash: For better selfies in low light.
- Night Mode: For clearer low-light shots.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.2 is more efficient and can provide better range and latency compared to 5.1.
- Larger RAM Configuration: Option for 16GB of RAM for heavy multitasking.
- Better DxOMark Score: Shows better overall camera performance.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9R: Loses out in display quality and camera resolution.
- Honor 90: Loses out on performance and versatile camera options offered by dedicated lenses.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9R Ideal Users:
- Gamers: The Snapdragon 870 and Adreno 650 offer good performance for mobile gaming.
- Photography Enthusiasts (with Wide Angle focus): Those who prioritize wide angle and macro photography might prefer its versatile camera system.
- Users on a Budget: Older, but still powerful device and thus could be bought for a lower price, making it a good budget option.
- Users who prioritize audio: Those who need better audio experience with dolby atmos and stereo speakers will prefer this phone.
- Users who prioritize video recording: Users who need the smoothest videos while recording in 4K will prefer this phone.
Use Cases:
- High-performance mobile gaming
- Shooting varied photography with wide and macro lenses.
- Watching videos and listening to music with stereo speakers
- Accurate GPS tracking
Honor 90 Ideal Users:
- Content Consumers: The larger, sharper, and brighter display is perfect for enjoying videos and other content.
- Photography Enthusiasts (Resolution Focused): Those who want maximum detail and resolution in their photos will be drawn to the 200MP camera.
- Social Media Users: The high-resolution selfie camera and night mode are ideal for sharing photos and videos on social media.
- Power Users: Those who need long battery life.
- Users who prioritize selfies in low light conditions: Front flash will allow better photos in low light.
Use Cases:
- Consuming high-resolution media on a bright screen.
- Capturing highly detailed photos and videos.
- Sharing social media content.
- All-day usage without needing to recharge.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Do you prioritize display quality and battery life, or raw performance?
- If display and battery, the Honor 90 is better. If performance, the OnePlus 9R is better.
- Is a versatile camera system with wide-angle and macro capabilities crucial, or do you need high-resolution and better low-light performance?
- If you need a wide range of lens options, the OnePlus 9R. If high resolution and low-light, the Honor 90.
- Is long battery life or is 4K@60fps video recording a priority?
- If battery, the Honor 90 is a better option. If 4K@60fps videos are required, OnePlus 9R is the only option
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gamer
- Recommendation: OnePlus 9R. The Snapdragon 870 and Adreno 650 offer superior gaming performance.
- Scenario 2: Content Creator and Media Consumer
- Recommendation: Honor 90. The high-resolution display, 200MP main camera, and front flash are more suitable for content creation and media consumption.
- Scenario 3: Everyday User with Photography Needs
- Recommendation: It depends on preference. If versatility is preferred, OnePlus 9R is better with dedicated lenses. For better low-light performance and higher resolution, the Honor 90 is better.
- Scenario 4: User on a budget
- Recommendation: OnePlus 9R can be bought at a lower price.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would lean towards the Honor 90. While the OnePlus 9R offers slightly better performance on paper and a more versatile camera system with dedicated lenses, the Honor 90's strengths in display quality, battery life, and camera resolution are more compelling for my needs. As someone who frequently watches videos and takes photos, the Honor 90's superior display and 200MP camera, better low light performance, combined with better battery life, would improve my daily experience. The better selfie camera and front flash is also an added bonus. Although I might miss having a dedicated wide angle lens and 60 fps video recording, the Honor 90's high-resolution main camera and other benefits outweigh those disadvantages for my use case. The slightly lower raw performance isn't a major concern for me as I am not an avid gamer. I believe the Honor 90 offers a more well-rounded experience for the average user.
