OnePlus 9 Pro Review: A Flagship That Strikes the Perfect Balance

When OnePlus first announced its partnership with Hasselblad, many wondered whether a “premium flagship” by a formerly “near‐stock Android” brand could truly compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple. The OnePlus 9 Pro answers that question emphatically: it delivers top‐tier performance, an exceptionally bright and smooth display, a camera system tuned in collaboration with Hasselblad, and battery life engineered to last all day—even under heavy use. After several weeks of daily driving the Pine Green 12 GB/256 GB variant, I’ve come away impressed by how well OnePlus has refined its core strengths rather than chasing every spec sheet trend. Below, you’ll find a deep dive into what makes the 9 Pro tick, where it shines, and where it makes sensible compromises.

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Design & Build: Understated Elegance, Solid Construction

At first glance, the OnePlus 9 Pro looks like what it is: a modern premium flagship. Its gently curved glass flows into an aluminum frame with just enough bezel to feel comfortable without feeling bulky. Pine Green is a standout colorway—more subtle than neon lime or bright red, yet livelier than matte black. The satin‐finish glass back reduces fingerprint smudges, and the polished camera housing (with its distinctive circular Hasselblad badge) sits centrally, lending a balanced aesthetic.

Weighing in at 197 g and measuring 8.7 mm thick, the 9 Pro strikes a pleasing balance between substantial and svelte. It never feels like an unwieldy brick in the pocket, but you can sense quality in every tap and swipe. The edges of the display are subtly rounded, helping it feel seamless in hand, yet they avoid the “mushy” feeling that sometimes plagues over‐curved screens. Tactile details remain quintessentially OnePlus: the iconic alert slider on the right still toggles silently between ring, vibrate, and silent, while the matte aluminum side buttons provide crisp feedback when pressed.

OnePlus has also embraced IP68 water and dust resistance here—no longer a “nice to have,” it’s become table stakes among true flagships. In practice, this means an accidental rain shower, a splash by the kitchen sink, or a sweaty workout at the gym won’t send you into a panic. With its Gorilla Glass 5 on both front and back, the phone shows impressive scratch resistance; after a month of normal use, the display remained unscathed even without a screen protector. In short, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s design feels polished, durable, and appropriately premium—an ideal first impression for a flagship in 2021.

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Display: One of the Brightest and Smoothest Panels Ever

If there’s one area where the OnePlus 9 Pro truly stands out, it’s its 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display. At Quad HD+ resolution (3216 × 1440 pixels) and an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate, this panel exudes sharpness, vibrancy, and silky­smooth motion. Scrolling through social media feeds, menus, and games feels entirely frictionless: there’s zero ghosting, and even under bright sunlight, peak brightness maxes out near 1 300 nits, ensuring text and images remain legible without shading the phone.

Color accuracy is another hallmark. By default, the “Vibrant” color mode leans slightly saturated—perfect for eye-catching video playback on YouTube or HDR 10+ streaming on Netflix. But switching to “Natural” mode calibrates the panel to DCI-P3 standards, giving you near-perfect accuracy for photo editing or prolonged reading. Blacks are inky, thanks to per-pixel dimming that lets the screen seat into an almost perfect off-state when rendering pure black. Viewing angles remain pristine; no matter how you tilt the phone, the image never looks washed-out or color-shifted.

OnePlus also incorporated an “Always On Display” function that’s surprisingly unobtrusive. A quick glance shows time, battery percentage, notifications, and even a customizable small clock face—all while consuming an imperceptible fraction of battery. Edge contours are tastefully subtle: you can opt into “edge lighting” to highlight incoming notifications or disable them entirely if you prefer a strictly flat look. Whether streaming HDR content, gaming at 120 Hz, or just reading e-books in bed, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s display is a flagship-worthy canvas that rarely falters.

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Performance: Snapdragon 888 and OxygenOS 11 Deliver Seamless Speed

Under the hood, the OnePlus 9 Pro packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 SoC paired with 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and super-fast UFS 3.1 storage (256 GB in the Pine Green model). In daily use, that combination translates to instantaneous app launches, seamless multitasking, and virtually zero stutters—even when juggling a dozen apps in split-screen view. The phone never hesitates: games like Genshin Impact run at stable 60 fps at high graphics settings, with only modest thermal throttling after extended play. In benchmark testing, single-core and multi-core scores rival or exceed older flagships, but the real-world takeaway is how smooth everything feels—even after days of continuous usage without a restart.

OxygenOS 11, built atop Android 11, remains one of the cleanest yet most customizable skins available. OnePlus’s signature gestures (double-chop for flashlight, three-finger screenshot, and quick twist for camera) still work flawlessly, and the added “Insight Clock” widget at the top of the left-most home panel offers contextual information—weather, upcoming calendar events, and fitness metrics—without cluttering your main screens. System animations feel buttery smooth at 120 Hz, thanks to careful optimization and minimal background bloatware. OnePlus promises two major Android updates and three years of security patches for the 9 Pro, reassuring users that their investment will stay fresh over time.

OnePlus’s “HyperTouch” technology improves touch sampling rates in games, making on-screen controls more responsive for competitive titles. And with both Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 support, you get consistent low-latency connectivity to routers and accessories—ideal for real-time multiplayer mobile games or streaming high-fidelity audio to wireless earbuds. Overall, performance remains among the best in any 2021 flagship, embodying OnePlus’s philosophy of “fast and fluid.”

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Camera System: Hasselblad Collaboration Elevates Mobile Photography

By partnering with Hasselblad, OnePlus aims to bring more authentic color science to its flagship cameras—and the OnePlus 9 Pro reflects that ambition. The rear camera array consists of:

• 48 MP Sony IMX789 primary sensor (wide, f/1.8, OIS)

• 50 MP Sony IMX766 ultra-wide sensor (f/2.2, 14.2 mm equivalent)

• 8 MP telephoto sensor (f/2.4, 3.3× optical zoom, OIS)

• 2 MP monochrome sensor (for depth and black-and-white photography)

In practice, this combination produces impressive results across a variety of lighting conditions. During bright daytime scenarios, the primary sensor captures rich details—individual strands of hair, patterned tiles on the floor, or distant mountain ridges all resolve crisply. Hasselblad’s color tuning nudges toward natural-looking skin tones and well-balanced saturation. Unlike some phones that pump up greens and blues unnaturally, the 9 Pro’s automatic white balance stays surprisingly grounded.

Ultra-wide shots, taken with the 50 MP sensor, exhibit excellent edge-to-edge clarity—distortion is minimal, and color consistency between the main and ultra-wide sensors means panoramas and stitched landscapes look seamless. The implied “freeform lens” corrections handle curved architectures and tree canopies without warping lines unnaturally. In close-up mode, the wide sensor can focus down to about 8 cm, yielding sharp macros without the need for a separate lens.

The 8 MP telephoto sensor offers up to 3× optical zoom—useful for crisp portrait shots or isolating subjects at a distance. While it can go up to 30× digital zoom, I found the sweet spot at 5–10×, where OIS and digital stabilization still preserve adequate detail. Nightscape mode stitches multiple exposures to brighten dark scenes, reducing noise while retaining fine textures; streetlight bokeh looks smooth, and indoor night shots avoid the typical over-exposed halos seen in many low-light modes.

Portrait mode (Hasselblad-branded “Portrait” in camera UI) combines depth data from the telephoto and monochrome sensors, delivering natural subject–background separation with pleasingly soft bokeh. In artificial lighting, skin renders true to life, without signs of oversharpening or plastic-like smoothing. Video capabilities extend to 8K at 30 fps on the primary lens, and 4K at 120 fps on both wide and ultra-wide. Electronic image stabilization (EIS) remains impressively smooth in 4K 60 fps clips, making handheld vlogging or action shots feel more professional.

On the front, a 16 MP sensor behind a small punch-hole cutout captures detailed, well-balanced selfies. In bright daylight, textures remain intact and HDR works intelligently to avoid blown-out skies. In low light, Nightscape selfie kicks in seamlessly, merging a handful of exposures to keep faces bright without turning them into overly noisy smudges.

While no phone camera is perfect, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s Hasselblad-tuned approach delivers consistently pleasing results with minimal fuss. Whether you’re a casual shooter or a budding mobile photographer, this system offers impressive flexibility across virtually every shooting scenario.

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Battery Life & Charging: Warp Charge 65 Takes Prime Real Estate

OnePlus equips the 9 Pro with a 4 500 mAh dual‐cell battery—split into two 2 250 mAh cells. With moderate to heavy use (including frequent camera usage, screen-time near 120 Hz, social media scrolling, and some light gaming), I consistently saw five to six hours of screen-on time by the day’s end, which translates to a full 16–18 hours off-charger. On lighter days (email, maps, occasional video streaming), I could stretch toward six and a half hours of screen on time, often ending the day with 20–25 percent battery left.

OnePlus’s real magic comes with Warp Charge 65 (65 W fast charging). Plugging in for 10 minutes took the phone from 10 percent to almost 50 percent—enough juice to comfortably sprint through a busy morning of calls and emails. A full charge from near zero to 100 percent clocked in at around 30 minutes, an enviable figure even when compared to the best fast-charging competitors. Warp Charge’s temperature management remains impressive: the phone stays warm but never hot to the touch, thanks to internal graphene cooling layers.

Additionally, the OnePlus 9 Pro is one of the first OnePlus devices to support Warp Charge 50 Wireless—a 50 W wireless standard that restores roughly 45 percent of the battery in 30 minutes when placed on the official OnePlus AirVOOC pad or selected third-party wireless chargers. While true 50 W wireless stations aren’t yet ubiquitous, when properly supported, they rival many older wired charging speeds—an appealing prospect for decluttering your bedside table.

Reverse wireless charging of Up to 5 W lets you top off your earbuds or compatible accessories when on the go, though it is relatively slow by modern standards. Overall, the OnePlus 9 Pro sets the bar high for battery life and charging, offering a reliable all-day experience and near-instantaneous top-ups.

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Software & Ecosystem: OxygenOS 11 on Android 11—Clean, Customizable, and Fast

OnePlus’s OxygenOS has long been hailed for offering a near-stock Android feel paired with thoughtful customizations—and version 11 (based on Android 11) reaffirms that standing. The interface is clean and uncluttered: you won’t find bloatware titling up your app drawer, and system animations remain fluid at 120 Hz. OnePlus has added “Canvas AOD” (an ambient display that sketches your favorite photo as a line-drawing silhouette), deeper Dark Mode options, and refined gesture navigation so that swiping between last-used apps feels more intuitive.

Privacy controls directly built into system settings let you quarantine app permissions for location, camera, and microphone with a few taps—something OnePlus handles more gracefully than many other OEM skins. And while some brands push heavy theme engines or third-party storefronts, OxygenOS 11 focuses on subtle UI refinements: accent color pickers, icon shape controls, and a customizable “Shelf” panel for your most-used widgets and contacts.

OnePlus promises two major Android version upgrades and three years of monthly security patches for the 9 Pro—modest compared to Google’s own Pixel lineup but strong for an OEM. Updates arrive promptly; since day one, my Pine Green sample has received three incremental security and performance patches, improving camera stability and smoothing out minor interface quirks. For anyone who values a fast, reliable, and lightly tweaked Android experience, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s software layer stands out as one of the most polished in 2021.

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Connectivity & Extras: Hitting Every Mark

Connectivity on the OnePlus 9 Pro is comprehensive. It supports:

• 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave on compatible carriers)

• Wi-Fi 6 for low-latency, high-throughput home networking

• Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC and aptX HD support for high-fidelity wireless audio

• NFC for seamless Google Pay and transit passes

• Dual SIM (nano + nano) with standalone eSIM support on select carriers

• GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou for pinpoint navigation accuracy

Audio aficionados will note the inclusion of stereo speakers (bottom-firing plus ear-piece channel) tuned by Dolby Atmos—offering surprisingly rich, three-dimensional sound for a phone of this size. There’s no 3.5 mm headphone jack, but the OnePlus Buds Z (or any USB‐C headphone adapter) integrate seamlessly for wired listening. Face unlock and an under-display optical fingerprint scanner both work quickly—sub-0.3-second unlocks in bright and dim lighting alike.

The 9 Pro also leans into the broader OnePlus ecosystem: if you pair it with the OnePlus Watch, Bullets Wireless Z earphones, or OnePlus TV, you can toggle shared features like systemwide mute, incoming call notifications, and one-tap file sharing. While the OnePlus ecosystem remains smaller than some competitors’, it’s gradually maturing with every generation.

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Who Should Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro?

The OnePlus 9 Pro sits firmly in the premium flagship category, competing head-to-head with devices that often cost a few hundred dollars more. At its launch price (roughly $969 USD for the 12 GB/256 GB model), it undercut many direct rivals while offering nearly identical hardware in several key areas. As such, it’s an especially appealing choice for:

• Performance-Hungry Users: Gamers, power users, multitaskers—anyone who demands the fastest possible Snapdragon 888 performance paired with a smooth 120 Hz display.

• Mobile Photographers & Videographers: Hasselblad-tuned cameras, UHD/8K recording, and Nightscape low-light modes all deliver results that rival many iPhone and Samsung flagships.

• Frequent Chargers or Travel-Heavy Lifestyles: With Warp Charge 65 (30 minutes to ~90 percent) and optional 50 W wireless charging, you can avoid being tethered to an outlet all day.

• Android Purists Who Crave Customization: OxygenOS 11 offers an uncluttered interface with just enough extra refinement—no heavy skins, no bloat, but plenty of customization if you want it.

Conversely, if your priorities are ultimate camera versatility (periscope zoom beyond 3×), IP68 waterproofing with complete submersion confidence (the 9 Pro’s IP68 is genuine but sometimes touted as IP-rated “up to 1.5 m” rather than 2 m for 30 minutes), or if you simply prefer the familiarity of Samsung’s One UI or Apple’s iOS ecosystems, you may find those alternatives more appealing. But for anyone seeking top-tier Android performance, a world-class display, and a truly polished user experience at a slightly lower cost than other flagships, the OnePlus 9 Pro stands as one of 2021’s most compelling choices.

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Final Verdict: A Flagship That Balances Speed, Beauty, and Practicality

OnePlus has historically marketed itself as the “Flagship Killer,” and with the OnePlus 9 Pro, it comes closer than ever to living up to that label. The Pine Green 12 GB/256 GB configuration embodies the brand’s core strengths: a stunning 120 Hz Fluid AMOLED display, industry-leading charging implemented gracefully, a Snapdragon 888 powerhouse, and a Hasselblad-tuned camera system that delivers excellent images in nearly any lighting scenario. OxygenOS 11 remains one of the smoothest and most customizable Android skins available, and water and dust resistance help this phone keep up with real-world demands.

If you want a phone that rapidly scorches through everything you throw at it—gaming, editing photos, toggling between dozens of apps—yet never feels like a hulking brick in your pocket, the OnePlus 9 Pro fits perfectly. It doesn’t chase every “extra” spec nor compromise core fundamentals, resulting in an experience that feels polished, robust, and thoroughly flagship-worthy—making it one of the best overall Android smartphones in 2021.