Just five months from the launch of the OnePlus 8T, should you have waited for the OnePlus 9 instead?

Serious uptick in performance, Colour-accurate screen

Better options for less money, Battery life drop, Hasselblad partnership disappoints

“It's let down by a boring design and a camera that just cannot compete with other devices in the same price range.”

OnePlus 9R was launched in 2021 as an alternative for those looking for a flagship OnePlus device at an affordable price. It was then seen as OnePlus’s answer to the rising cost of its devices.

Performance, Battery life, Subtle design

There was a time not that long ago that OnePlus phones were a guaranteed excellent value. That's no longer the case as the company has increasingly focused on flagship devices and carrier partnerships, pushing the cost of some devices over $1,000.

Display The 120Hz OLED is bright, crisp, and supports Comfort Tone ambient adjustments., Performance This phone is at least as fast as anything else you can buy right now., Software OnePlus gets credit for launching with Android 11 and its competent Oxygen OS skin.

Camera again OP's photo processing still blurs fine details, especially in low light., Software again The OnePlus 9 launches with its fair share of bugs—it's not 2020-bad but could be much better. We're also concerned about OnePlus' ongoing slide in update frequency and quality.

You win some, you lose some. The OnePlus 9 gets you a much better camera array than the OnePlus 8T for just a fraction more, but we get downgraded from a lovely metal sides to a fancy kind of plastic. Is the sacrifice worth it? We think so, especially as the wide camera also gets an upgrade and you can now shoot 8K video in two fields of view. So-so battery life when using the 120Hz mode keeps it away from full marks. And if you want a good camera zoom, consider saving up for a Samsung Galaxy S21 or the step-up OnePlus 9 Pro.

Major camera improvements; Powerful CPU; Ultra-fast charging;

Has plastic sides; Battery life is not amazing; No zoom camera;

The OnePlus 9 is a powerful phone at a reasonable price with a stunning screen. However, it's hampered by a selection of issues that are no longer forgivable.

Fantastic screen; Powerful components; Super fast charging; Oxygen OS;

Colour options limited by specs; No IP rating; Chunky with divisive finish; Camera issues;

Major camera improvements; Powerful CPU; Ultra-fast charging;

Has plastic sides; Battery life is not amazing; No zoom camera;

The OnePlus 9 has taken the firm somewhat back to its “upstart” roots , offering a top-flight experience for significantly less money than premium smartphone rivals. But to do so the company has cut corners that it hasn’t resorted to in the past, such as using plastic rather than metal for the...

Pros: super slick, long battery, top performance, good 120Hz screen, good software, speedy charging, fast fingerprint scanner, alert slider, good camera, lower cost.

Cons: only three years of software support, camera can oversharpen images, no optical zoom, screen glass not the toughest available, no water-resistance rating, plastic frame.

Flagship features and a big, clear screen make this mid-priced mobile a good option for your pocket Good for gaming Detailed picture performance Decent built-in speakers Screen could be subtler Flat audio performance

The OnePlus 9 is a very good phone that holds its own against other (often more expensive) flagships. It has all the things that truly matter: a great screen, excellent performance, good battery life, and a capable camera.

Snapdragon 888 chipset provides excellent performance, Big, 120Hz screen, High-quality ultrawide camera

No main camera stabilization, Lack of telephoto camera, 5G support across US carriers is a mixed bag