1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 161 × 74.1 × 8.4 mm | 161.1 × 72.4 × 8.6 mm | The OnePlus 9R is slightly wider, while the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra is a hair thicker. The difference is minimal and likely not noticeable in daily use. |
| Weight | 189g | 197g | The OnePlus 9R is slightly lighter, which might be noticeable during extended one-handed use. |
| Build Material | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (screen) | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra screen is more resistant to scratches and drops, potentially enhancing the phone's durability. The OnePlus 9R screen protection is unknown. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.55" | 6.7" | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers a slightly larger screen, beneficial for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1220x2712 | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a noticeably sharper display, resulting in clearer text and more detailed images. |
| PPI | 402 | 446 | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a slightly higher pixel density, contributing to a sharper viewing experience. |
| Technology | AMOLED | P-OLED | Both offer excellent color reproduction and deep blacks. The difference is minimal in real-world usage. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra provides slightly smoother animations and scrolling. This may be noticeable in fast-paced games and general UI navigation. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra screen is significantly brighter, offering vastly improved visibility in bright outdoor conditions. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra's newer chip provides faster processing, better power efficiency, and enhanced performance in demanding tasks, like gaming and video editing. |
| AnTuTu Score | 821,600 | 1,523,879 | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra demonstrates a significantly higher benchmark score, translating to smoother, faster performance in most applications. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 735 | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a more powerful GPU, resulting in improved graphics rendering for gaming and other graphically intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 1/2" Sony IMX586 | 50MP, f/1.6, 1/1.3" Omnivision OV50H | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a larger sensor and wider aperture, likely capturing more light and resulting in superior low-light performance and overall better image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" Sony IMX471 | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/2.76" Samsung S5KJN1 | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers a significantly higher resolution selfie camera and wider aperture. It will likely offer better detail and low-light performance for selfies and video calls. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP, f/2.4, 1/2" Omnivision OV64B | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens, offering optical zoom capabilities for closer shots without digital degradation. The OnePlus 9R relies on digital zoom. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 16MP, f/2.2, 1/3.09" Sony IMX481 | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76" Samsung S5KJN1 | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a higher resolution, wider aperture, and larger sensor, likely capturing better quality wide-angle shots. |
| Portrait (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9R has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. While the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra likely uses software to achieve this effect. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | OnePlus 9R has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra lacks this functionality. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps | Up to 4K@60fps | Both offer similar 4K recording capabilities. The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra does offer significantly higher slow-motion recording options. |
| DXOMark | Not Tested | Mobile: 146 (Photo: 150, Video: 134) | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a tested DXOMark score which provides quantifiable quality metrics. The OnePlus 9R has no DXOMark test results available. |
| Features | Quad Camera, OIS | Triple Camera, OIS, Optical Zoom, Time-Lapse, Night Mode, Dual Capture | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers enhanced features such as optical zoom, night mode, and time-lapse recording. While OnePlus 9R offers a dedicated macro camera. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4500mAh | Both have similar capacity, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 125W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless Charging, 10W Reverse Wireless | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra charges significantly faster and offers more versatile charging options. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, Reverse Charging, Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers wireless charging and reverse charging, enhancing convenience for users. |
Other
| Feature | OnePlus 9R | Motorola Edge 50 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Operating System | Android 10 (upgradable to 13) | Android 14 (upgradable to 17) | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has a newer OS version out of the box and will likely receive several more years of updates than the older OnePlus 9R. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra uses a faster, more reliable Wi-Fi standard for quicker and more stable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.4 | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra uses a more recent version which offers better connection speed and stability. |
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 512/1024 GB | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers considerably more storage for apps, media, and files. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 12/16 GB | The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers more RAM for enhanced multitasking and smoother performance with demanding applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither offer expandable storage, which can be a limitation for users with large media libraries. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Advantages of the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra:
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and Adreno 735 GPU offer drastically higher benchmark scores, resulting in faster app loading, better multitasking, and smoother gameplay.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, refresh rate, and brightness on the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra translates to a sharper, smoother, and more visible screen, especially in bright sunlight.
- Much Better Camera System: The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers better sensors, larger apertures, a telephoto lens with optical zoom and better performing selfie and ultrawide lenses.
- Faster and More Versatile Charging: The 125W wired, 50W wireless charging, and reverse charging capabilities offer significantly faster recharge times and added convenience.
- Newer Software: The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra comes with Android 14 with several more years of updates than the OnePlus 9R which will likely only receive security patches.
- Larger Storage Options: Offering up to 1TB compared to the 256GB on the OnePlus 9R.
- Newer Connectivity: The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra supports more recent and faster connectivity standards such as Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
- Better Screen Protection: Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has the more durable Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, compared to the unknown screen protection on the OnePlus 9R.
Advantages of the OnePlus 9R:
- Slightly Lighter: The OnePlus 9R is a few grams lighter, which some users may prefer for one-handed usage.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: The OnePlus 9R has a dedicated macro camera for close-up photography that the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra lacks.
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: The OnePlus 9R has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode shots, while the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra likely relies on software.
Trade-offs:
- OnePlus 9R is older: The OnePlus 9R was released in 2021 making it several years older than the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra:
- Power Users: Those who demand top-tier performance for gaming, multitasking, and resource-intensive apps.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want versatile camera capabilities, including optical zoom and better low-light performance, and do not rely heavily on macro photography.
- Media Consumers: Individuals who appreciate a bright, high-resolution display for watching videos, browsing the web, and reading.
- Frequent Travelers/On-the-Go Professionals: Those who need fast charging, wireless charging, and excellent outdoor screen visibility.
- Users who want more longevity: The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra comes with newer software which will be supported for several years into the future.
Ideal Users for the OnePlus 9R:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for a more affordable option with adequate performance for everyday tasks.
- Users Who Prefer Lighter Phones: Users who prefer a lighter phone and value that slightly more than other features.
- Users Who Use Macro Often: The OnePlus 9R offers a dedicated macro camera for close-up photography.
Use Cases:
- Motorola Edge 50 Ultra:
- Gaming with high refresh rates and powerful GPU.
- Professional photography and videography using a versatile camera system.
- Watching HDR content with a bright and high-resolution display.
- Using the device heavily throughout the day without worrying about battery life.
- OnePlus 9R:
- Daily communication, social media, and web browsing.
- Casual gaming and media consumption.
- Macro photography.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance Needs: Do you need top-tier performance for gaming and demanding applications, or is adequate performance for everyday use sufficient?
- Camera Requirements: Do you prioritize versatile camera capabilities, including zoom and low-light performance or are you mainly taking photos with the main lens? Do you require a dedicated macro lens?
- Budget: What is your price range? Are you willing to pay extra for top-tier performance, display quality, and camera features, or do you need a phone with a more budget-friendly option?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Power User/Gamer/Photographer - Choose the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra. Its superior chipset, display, and camera system are well worth the premium price.
- Scenario 2: Casual User/Budget Conscious - The OnePlus 9R may be a suitable choice, but users must be aware it is significantly older and won't offer nearly as good of an experience.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User with Camera and Speed Needs: The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers a balanced combination of camera, processing power and screen quality.
- Scenario 4: Macro Photography Enthusiast: The OnePlus 9R offers a dedicated macro camera lens, while the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra does not.
My Choice
Based on the above analysis, I would choose the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra. The significant improvements in performance, display quality, camera capabilities, charging speed, and overall software updates make it a far superior device. Although the OnePlus 9R is lighter and has a dedicated macro lens, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers a much better experience across a vast majority of usage scenarios. The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has better future proofing by virtue of its hardware and updated software capabilities. While the OnePlus 9R may be a more budget-friendly option, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra offers much higher value for the price.
