Smartphone Comparison: OnePlus 9R vs. Huawei nova Y90
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 161 × 74.1 × 8.4 mm | 163.3 × 74.7 × 8.4 mm | Huawei nova Y90 is slightly taller (2.3mm), but both have very similar width and thickness, meaning similar hand feel. |
| Weight | 189g | 195g | OnePlus 9R is slightly lighter (6g), which might be noticeable for users holding it for extended times. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.55" | 6.7" | Huawei nova Y90 provides a slightly larger viewing area, which could be beneficial for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2388 | Both have very similar resolutions. The difference is negligible and unlikely to be noticeable to the naked eye. |
| Pixel Density | 402 PPI | 391 PPI | Both offer similar sharpness. The human eye will likely not discern the minor difference. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | OnePlus 9R's AMOLED provides more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast, leading to a superior visual experience, especially in darker environments. AMOLED also benefits from better power efficiency when using dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | OnePlus 9R offers smoother scrolling and animations, making the user interface feel more responsive and fluid, especially noticeable when playing compatible games or quickly navigating through content. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is identical on both devices, but actual brightness may vary significantly. This data is incomplete and needs verification. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | OnePlus 9R's Snapdragon 870 is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The 5G capability also provides faster network speeds. |
| AnTuTu Score | 821,600 | 249,000 | OnePlus 9R’s vastly superior score indicates a much faster and more responsive user experience, particularly for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 610 | OnePlus 9R’s Adreno 650 is much more capable for graphic-intensive applications and games, providing better visuals and smoother frame rates. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 1/2" Sony IMX586, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 0.7µm | OnePlus 9R has a wider aperture (f/1.7) and larger sensor with larger pixel size and more advanced sensor model and is likely to perform better in low light. Huawei has a higher resolution sensor, but pixel size is smaller. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" Sony IMX471, 1.0µm | 8MP, f/2.0 | OnePlus 9R's front-facing camera will likely produce sharper images with greater detail due to higher resolution. Huawei nova Y90 has a wider aperture (f/2.0), potentially better low-light selfies. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 16MP, f/2.2, 1/3.09" Sony IMX481, 1.0µm | Not Available | OnePlus 9R offers a much more versatile camera system as it has a dedicated wide angle sensor, allowing for wider landscape and group shots |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | OnePlus 9R has a depth sensor to assist with portrait photos, providing better background blur and subject separation. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | OnePlus 9R allows capturing very close-up shots. |
| Additional Lenses | Not Available | 2x 2MP, f/2.4 (Secondary and Tertiary) | Huawei nova Y90 has two additional 2MP cameras that likely assist with depth and macro, but the impact on image quality remains to be seen. |
| Video Recording | 4K@60fps with HDR, EIS, 1080p@240fps | 1080p@30fps | OnePlus 9R has much higher video resolution and frame rate capabilities, resulting in higher quality and more versatile videos with smooth slow motion capability |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | Huawei nova Y90 has a larger battery, potentially resulting in longer battery life between charges, especially for users with heavy usage patterns. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 40W Fast Charging | OnePlus 9R will charge significantly faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Removable | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both phones have non-removable batteries. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9R Advantages
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 870 chipset and Adreno 650 GPU provide significantly faster performance for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking. The higher Antutu score reflects this.
- Better Display: The AMOLED display offers superior contrast, color vibrancy, and deeper blacks than the IPS LCD panel of the Huawei nova Y90. The 120Hz refresh rate also results in smoother scrolling and animations.
- More Capable Camera System: It offers more versatile camera setup with the dedicated wide-angle and macro lens. It supports high-resolution 4K video recording and slow-motion at higher frame rates. It has better stabilization.
- Faster Charging: 65W fast charging is considerably faster than the 40W charging offered by Huawei.
- Advanced Connectivity: Features newer WiFi standards (WiFi 6) and Bluetooth (5.1) with additional audio codecs for better streaming.
- Better Audio: Enhanced audio features with Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers, and noise cancellation microphone.
Huawei nova Y90 Advantages
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery offers better endurance than the OnePlus 9R's 4500mAh battery, potentially lasting longer on a single charge.
- Slightly Larger Screen: The 6.7-inch screen offers a slightly bigger canvas, which may be preferable for media consumption.
- Slightly Higher Resolution Main Camera: A 50MP main camera (compared to the 48MP on OnePlus) although sensor size and aperture is smaller.
- Side Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Has more advanced side-mounted fingerprint sensor, unlike the more basic implementation in OnePlus 9R.
Trade-offs
- OnePlus 9R: Sacrifices battery capacity for better performance, display quality and charging speed.
- Huawei nova Y90: Sacrifices performance, display, and camera capabilities for a larger battery and slightly bigger screen.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9R Ideal User
- Gamers: The powerful chipset and high refresh rate display make it suitable for smooth gameplay and high graphics settings.
- Multitaskers: The higher RAM options and powerful processor allow for efficient multitasking without slowdowns.
- Content Creators: The advanced camera system, 4K video recording, and wide-angle lens cater to users who create videos and photos.
- Users seeking superior multimedia experience: AMOLED display with Dolby Atmos for enhanced visual and audio experience.
Huawei nova Y90 Ideal User
- Casual Users: Suitable for users who need a reliable phone for everyday tasks, web browsing, and social media with long battery life.
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those who prioritize battery life and basic features over high performance and advanced features.
- Users who consume a lot of media: Slightly larger screen is suited for viewing content.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance Priority: How important is raw processing power for your usage (gaming, heavy apps)?
- Display Preference: Do you prefer vibrant colors and deep blacks (AMOLED), or is a slightly larger screen with good battery life more critical?
- Camera Needs: Do you need advanced camera features such as 4k recording, wide angle lenses, or high frame rate slow motion recording?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gaming/Performance: If gaming and performance are paramount, the OnePlus 9R is the clear choice.
- Scenario 2: Battery Life Priority: If you prioritize long battery life and are a casual user, the Huawei nova Y90 might be more suitable.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: If you want a balance of good performance, a superior display, a versatile camera system, and fast charging, the OnePlus 9R is recommended.
- Scenario 4: Budget Focused: If budget is extremely tight, Huawei nova Y90 might be a better fit due to a likely lower price point.
My Choice and Why
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would pick the OnePlus 9R. The significantly superior performance, AMOLED display with a higher refresh rate, and much better camera system are crucial for my use cases. While the battery life of the Huawei nova Y90 is appealing, the advantages of the OnePlus 9R in terms of overall performance, media consumption experience and camera quality outweigh the slight improvement in battery life offered by the Huawei model. The faster charging capability of the OnePlus 9R also minimizes the impact of the smaller battery capacity. I prioritize a smooth and responsive experience, high-quality multimedia, and great camera, which are the strengths of the OnePlus 9R.
