The OnePlus 9, 9 Pro and 9 Lite range promises to have many surprises in store for us. We can expect an announcement in March of not two, but three smartphones. Date, release, price, technical sheet … we tell you everything we know in this file.
OnePlus is now working on the series of OnePlus 9. But what is the Chinese manufacturer preparing for these new versions? The brand has made a shift in strategy over the past few years, and we should still have some surprises. Here’s everything we know about the OnePlus 9.
OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 9 Lite
Like most other manufacturers (Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi …), OnePlus offers many references covering a wide price range to appeal to a majority of consumers. We were recently treated to the OnePlus Nord range, intended to reach customers looking for a more affordable smartphone. OnePlus will continue to increase the number of products, this time adding a model to its main range: the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro will thus be accompanied by a OnePlus 9 Lite. So there are three variants of OnePlus 9 that await us.
The OnePlus 9
💰 What is the price of the OnePlus 9?
For now, No reliable leak reports a price for the OnePlus 9. Based on the previous generation, one can guess with some precision what prices to expect. The OnePlus 8 was marketed at its release in France at 699 euros for the 8 GB variant of RAM 128 GB of storage space and at 799 euros for 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. The OnePlus 8 Pro 8/128 GB was offered at 899 euros, while the OnePlus 8 Pro 12/256 GB was available at 999 euros.
We can therefore consider a similar price range for the new generation of OnePlus. We shouldn’t expect a drop in price now that the brand has entry and mid-range smartphones in its catalog. The OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro should thus resume the prices of their predecessors. The OnePlus 9 Lite will be a more affordable gateway to the series. It could be sold between 499 and 599 euros.
📅 What is the release date of the OnePlus 9?
Android manufacturers seem to have spread the word: all are getting ahead of their usual schedule. Samsung will launch its Galaxy S21s in mid-January instead of February, while Xiaomi has already unveiled its products in December. OnePlus has also decided to anticipate a few weeks with a OnePlus 9 expected during the month of March 2021, while its first flagships of the year normally land in April or May.
Usually, OnePlus opens pre-orders the same day the smartphones are presented, with a bonus accessory. Then a week later, the devices are officially available on the market.
🛠 OnePlus 9 technical sheet
In this table you will find a summary of the presumed technical specifications of the OnePlus 9 Lite, OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. Keep in mind that information is still missing and some data may change.
| Screen | 6.55 ”1080pFluid AMOLED90Hz Display | 6,55”1080p Fluid AMOLED120Hz Display | 6.7 “or 6.8” 1440pFluid AMOLED120Hz Display |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) |
| BONE | Android 11 + Oxygen OS 11 | Android 11 + Oxygen OS 11 | Android 11 + Oxygen OS 11 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB / 12GB | 8GB / 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB | 128 GB / 256 GB |
| microSD | No | No | No |
| Main sensor | 50 MP + ultra wide angle | 50 MP + ultra wide angle | 50 MP + ultra wide angle |
| Secondary sensor | 16 MP | 16 MP | 16 MP |
| Drums | 4500 mAh Quick charge 30 watts (Warp Charge 30T) | 4500 mAh 30 Watt Quick Charge (Warp Charge 30T) 30 Watt Wireless Quick Charge 5 Watt Reverse Charge | 4750 mAh Fast charge 65 watts Wireless charging 45W |
| 5G | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistance | No | No | Yes |
The OnePlus 9 Lite is thus a OnePlus 8T brought up to date, while the OnePlus 9 takes elements of the OnePlus 8 and 8T. The OnePlus 9 Pro, on the other hand, is like a mix of OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8T. As often with OnePlus, the novelties arrive by little touch and we resume what worked well on the later models.
📱 Design of OnePlus 9
Several leaks have given us a good overview of what the OnePlus 9 series smartphones will look like. No big surprise, they have a look that is very similar to the OnePlus 8T. The photo sensors positioned in the middle of the back of the device vertically will have survived until OnePlus 8. The OnePlus 9 takes over the photo block in upper left corner like on the 8T. The OnePlus logo is kept in the center.
The OnePlus 9
In the front, the borders are still a little smaller than on the latest models. The punch system integrated in the upper left corner of the screen to house the front camera remains in use on these new devices. The manufacturer keeps the alert cursor specific to the brand’s smartphones on the edge. The screen will be curved on the Pro model, while the OnePlus 9 and 9 Lite would be equipped with a flat panel.
There is of course a USB-C port at the bottom of the mobile, alongside a speaker and a microSD card slot. The OnePlus 9 Pro is said to be IP68 certified and water resistant, like the OnePlus 8 Pro. He can therefore be submerged 1.5 meters deep for up to 30 minutes. OnePlus has long preferred not to integrate this waterproofing certification into its smartphones so as not to increase their price, the OnePlus 9 Pro will be the second to benefit from it. Further proof of the upscale desired by the brand.
🔲 What type of screen is there on the OnePlus 9?
The OnePlus 9 would be equipped with a screen 6.55-inch “flat” Super AMOLED with Full HD + 1080p definition, like the OnePlus 8. On the other hand, it should benefit from a better refresh rate from 90 Hz to 120 Hz as on the 8T.
The OnePlus 9
The curved screen of the OnePlus 9 Pro promises to be even more breathtaking. It will have a diagonal of between 6.7 and 6.8 inches, still with Super AMOLED technology for deep blacks, better contrasts and the “Always On Display” display, a very practical function which has recently become available natively on Oxygen OS. . The refresh rate of 120 Hz promises a beautiful fluidity and image definition QHD 1440p will allow display quality among the best on the smartphone market.
The OnePlus 9 Pro
Information about the OnePlus 9 Lite are less certain, but we are talking about a panel that would be similar to that of the OnePlus 9 except for one detail: the refresh rate would be limited to 90 Hz. In fact, it would be the same as the one we found on the OnePlus 8.
💪 OnePlus 9 performance and memory
The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro will of course be equipped with the most powerful chip on the market: the Snapdragon 888 from Qualcomm. This is the first SoC engraved in 5nm of the American giant, which works with Samsung for their manufacture. For its part, the Lite version should be satisfied with a Snapdragon 865.
The Snapdragon 888’s GPU, the Adreno 660, is according to Qualcomm 35% more powerful and 20% more efficient energetically speaking than its predecessor. It supports HDR10, HDR10 + and Dolby Vision for videos and HDR for video games. It is capable of displaying 60 frames per second in 4K definition and 144 frames per second in Quad HD + quality.
The Snapdragon 888 also includes the brand new Snapdragon X60 modem, 5G compatible. It supports the majority of frequency bands used by the new generation of mobile, including so-called millimeter bands. 5G multi-SIM is also becoming possible, but that does not necessarily mean that the OnePlus 9 will be entitled to it.
In terms of memory, several configurations will be offered for each device. We can expect to find variations 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage space or 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. It’s plausible that the OnePlus 9 Pro will snub weaker specs to focus only on the higher end specs.
In any case, the quality of the hardware associated with the software know-how and optimizations of OnePlus should ensure premium performance, as always with the manufacturer.
🔋 OnePlus 9 battery, autonomy and recharging
We should have three different proposals in this regard. First, the OnePlus 9 Lite and OnePlus 9 would ship a 4500 mAh battery. The OnePlus 9 Pro, which requires more power with its larger screen, QHD + and 120 Hz, would see an accumulator of 4750 mAh. As a reminder, the OnePlus 8 had a battery with a capacity of 4300 mAh and the OnePlus 8 Pro of 4510 mAh. With this increase in capacity and a Snapdragon 888 SoC which promises to consume less energy than the Snapdragon 865, we can expect a gain in autonomy on this generation.
The OnePlus 9 Pro
Wired charging has been one of OnePlus’ specialties for a long time now, its next generation of smartphones will continue to benefit from its efficient Warp Charge technology. The OnePlus 9 Lite is compatible with a charge up to 30W, while the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro can count on a ultra fast 65W charge.
Only the OnePlus 9 Pro has a wireless charging (30W). As with the water resistance certification, the manufacturer believes this to be an expensive feature that is only useful to a minority of users. It is therefore only offered on the most upscale model.
📸 The OnePlus 9 camera
This is the aspect on which OnePlus has a little trouble and for which we hope the most improvements. It is rumored that OnePlus is now using Leica, just like its competitor Huawei. Nonetheless, an extremely reliable leaker when it comes to the brand’s leaks cut this rumor short. According to the various leaks on the design of the smartphone that have reached us, the OnePlus 9 Lite and OnePlus 9 would be equipped with a triple photo sensor, while the OnePlus 9 Pro would benefit from an additional module.
We should have a 50 MP main photo sensor on all three smartphones, with a f / 1.9 aperture. The OnePlus would also benefit from a 20 MP wide-angle sensor (aperture f / 1.8). As to 3rd sensor, it would be a 12 MP telefoto (f / 3.4).
It is likely that only the OnePlus 9 Pro has a telephoto lens, presumably with optical image stabilization, allowing up to 3x optical zoom. The identity of the fourth lens of the OnePlus 9 Pro is not yet known. It could be a macro module, a depth sensor or a color filter camera like on the OnePlus 8 Pro last year.
🔎 Oxygen OS 11
This is the hallmark of OnePlus, its overlay Oxygen OS is one of the best Android interfaces on the market. With the Oxygen OS 11 update based on Android 11, it gets even better, going in particular to draw some good ideas from One UI, Samsung’s interface.
On the program: new themes and clocks for the Always On Display function, the ability to quickly respond to Instagram and WhatsApp messages while playing a video game, an improved dark mode, a revised and corrected weather application, optimizations for gaming and of course a redesign of the interface in general, which becomes more modern.
The OnePlus 9 series will ship directly under Oxygen OS 11 and will benefit from three years of feature updates. The new OnePlus smartphones generally receive the following major Android update among the first, so Android 12 should be available very soon after its release.
