1. Specifications Comparison
Design
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Physical Size | 161 × 74.1 × 8.4 mm | 162 × 75.1 × 8.7 mm | Very similar size; realme 8 slightly taller, wider, and thicker, but negligible in daily use |
Weight | 189g | 191g | Almost identical weight; both feel similar in hand |
Display
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Size | 6.55" | 6.78" | realme 8 offers slightly more screen real estate for media consumption and multitasking |
Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1264x2780 | realme 8 has a noticeably sharper display, resulting in clearer text and images |
PPI | 402 | 450 | Slightly higher pixel density on realme 8, leading to slightly crisper visuals |
Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; similar viewing experience |
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Smooth scrolling and animations on both; ideal for gaming and fluid UI experiences |
Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Brightness is identical at 0 nits, actual screen brightness unknown for both. |
Performance
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (4 nm) | realme 8 chipset is newer and likely more power-efficient, but performance difference is unknown due to missing antutu score of realme 8 |
AnTuTu Score | 821,600 | N/A | Unable to compare performance based on this spec due to missing data for realme 8. |
GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 732 | realme 8 has a newer GPU potentially resulting in better graphics processing, but real world performance would require testing |
Camera
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 1/2" Sony IMX586 Exmor RS, 0.80 µm pixel size | N/A | OnePlus 9R has a primary camera with good specs for daylight and low-light photos, while no info for realme 8 |
Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" Sony IMX471 Exmor RS, 1.00 µm pixel size | N/A | OnePlus 9R has a dedicated front-facing camera for selfies, while no info for realme 8 |
Wide Angle lens | 16MP, f/2.2, 1/3.09" Sony IMX481, 1.00 µm pixel size | N/A | OnePlus 9R allows capturing wider scenes, while no info for realme 8 |
Portrait mode (depth) | 2MP, f/2.4, sensor model unknown | N/A | OnePlus 9R has a dedicated depth sensor for better bokeh effects, while no info for realme 8 |
Macro lens | 5MP, f/2.4, sensor model unknown | N/A | OnePlus 9R has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, while no info for realme 8 |
Video Recording | 4K@30/60fps with HDR, EIS, 1080p@30/60/240fps with HDR, EIS, slow-motion, OIS | 4K@30/60fps with OIS, EIS, 1080p@30/60/120fps with OIS, EIS, no slow-motion | Both record high quality videos but OnePlus 9R supports HDR video and slow-motion, while realme 8 doesn't have slow-motion feature. OnePlus 9R has digital image stabilization |
Features | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW | N/A | OnePlus 9R has more camera features for photography enthusiasts. |
Battery
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Capacity | 4500mAh | 0mAh | OnePlus 9R likely provides significantly longer battery life, but this depends on various factors such as the OS, processor usage and display settings. realme 8 battery information is missing. |
Charging | 65W Fast Charging | Standard Charging | OnePlus 9R charges much faster, reducing downtime. Charging speed for realme 8 is unknown. |
Features | Non-removable | Standard features | Battery in OnePlus 9R can't be replaced by user, standard features on realme 8 |
Software
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
OS | Android 10, upgradable to 13 | Android 14 | realme 8 has a newer version of Android. Newer versions come with updated security, features and performance improvements. |
Connectivity
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Dual band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, Wi-Fi MiMO | N/A | OnePlus 9R has more modern WiFi with faster speeds and features such as hotspot and direct connection. realme 8 wifi information is missing. |
Bluetooth | 5.1 LE, A2DP, LE, APT-x, LDAC, AAC | N/A | OnePlus 9R has more modern Bluetooth version and codecs for better audio performance. realme 8 bluetooth information is missing. |
GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a) | N/A | OnePlus 9R has better GPS with support for multiple systems for improved accuracy. realme 8 GPS information is missing. |
SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | N/A | OnePlus 9R supports two SIM cards simultaneously. realme 8 sim information is missing. |
Storage
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Internal | 128GB/256GB | N/A | OnePlus 9R has more storage for apps, media and files. realme 8 storage is missing. |
RAM | 8GB/12GB | N/A | OnePlus 9R has more RAM which translates to better multitasking capabilities, specifically for 12GB variant. realme 8 RAM information is missing. |
Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, so users should choose storage variant accordingly. |
Audio
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Quality | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | Basic audio features | OnePlus 9R offers better audio experience with spatial sound, clearer calls and immersion |
Security
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both have similar fingerprint scanner for basic unlocking |
Build Quality
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Unable to compare screen protection. |
Sensors
Feature | OnePlus 9R | realme 8 | Practical Impact |
Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Light sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Basic Sensors | OnePlus 9R provides more comprehensive sensor suite, enabling advanced features and better gaming experience. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9R Advantages:
- Stronger Camera Setup: Includes a versatile quad-camera system with main, wide-angle, depth, and macro lenses.
- Better Video Recording: Offers 4K recording with HDR, EIS, and OIS. Also includes slow-motion video capture which is absent on realme 8, along with digital image stabilization.
- Faster Charging: Supports 65W fast charging, which is a significant advantage for users needing quick power-ups.
- More comprehensive sensor suite: OnePlus 9R includes more comprehensive sensor suite than realme 8, offering a more comprehensive user experience.
- More Connectivity Features: Superior Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and SIM capabilities.
- Better Audio Quality: Includes Dolby Atmos, noise cancellation microphone, and stereo speakers.
- More storage and RAM: Comes with storage options of 128GB and 256GB along with 8GB or 12GB RAM, suitable for users who need more storage space.
realme 8 Advantages:
- Newer Android OS: Comes with Android 14 out of the box, while the OnePlus 9R needs to upgrade to Android 13 from it's older Android 10 version.
- Larger Display: Slightly larger screen provides more viewing space, albeit with marginally larger dimensions.
- Higher Resolution & PPI: Offers a sharper and more detailed display.
- Potentially Better Processor : Uses a newer chipset that may offer slightly more performance and efficiency over OnePlus 9R, though this can't be verified with the missing benchmark scores.
Trade-offs:
- realme 8: Sacrifices camera features, battery capacity, and connectivity options in favor of a slightly larger and higher resolution display, newer OS, and potentially better processor.
- OnePlus 9R: Trades slightly smaller screen size and lower resolution for better camera setup, faster charging, and a more feature-rich software.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for OnePlus 9R:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize versatile camera capabilities and video recording features.
- Power Users: Those who need fast charging, and good performance for demanding tasks.
- Media Consumers: Users who appreciate a good quality audio experience.
- Gamers: Users who appreciate comprehensive sensor suite, better audio quality and more storage and RAM.
Use Cases for OnePlus 9R:
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos in various scenarios.
- Gaming with good audio and a smooth display.
- Multitasking and running demanding applications.
- Quickly charging the phone during busy days.
Ideal User for realme 8:
- Casual Users: Those who prioritize display quality and a newer OS
- Users seeking to maximise screen estate: Users who prefer a larger screen for media consumption.
Use Cases for realme 8:
- Browsing social media and watching videos with a clearer display.
- General day-to-day use with the latest Android features.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The OnePlus 9R offers a more comprehensive feature set at the cost of slightly older OS and resolution.
- The realme 8 may appeal to those seeking a newer OS and a larger, clearer screen at a lower price, with its disadvantages in the camera and performance departments.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Camera Priority: How important are advanced camera features and quality for you?
- Performance and Speed: How much do you value fast charging and a more comprehensive feature set?
- Display Preferences: Do you prefer slightly larger screen size with higher resolution, or are you ok with a slightly smaller display but with other features?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Photography is key - Choose the OnePlus 9R. Its versatile camera system, HDR video recording, and comprehensive feature set make it better suited for photography enthusiasts.
- Scenario 2: Media Consumption is a priority - The realme 8, with its bigger, higher-resolution screen, will give the user slightly better visual experience.
- Scenario 3: Balanced use - The OnePlus 9R is the better option because it offers a good balance of performance, camera quality, charging speed, connectivity and features. It is only slightly inferior in display compared to realme 8 and has a more comprehensive feature set.
My Choice
I would choose the OnePlus 9R. While the realme 8 has a slightly larger and higher resolution screen and runs on a newer OS, the OnePlus 9R offers a more well-rounded package that suits my typical use case. The camera versatility, faster charging, better audio features and connectivity, and comprehensive sensor suite on the OnePlus 9R are more important to me than the marginal difference in display and slightly newer OS offered by realme 8. I also appreciate the better video recording features on the OnePlus 9R, which I'd utilize more frequently.