It might not be the most powerful of the OnePlus 9 series, but the OnePlus 9R 5G (referred to as “OnePlus 9R” henceforth) is perhaps the most talked about of the lot. Simply because of its price. Should you go for it? We bring you seven points to help you make up your mind:
1. It is the most affordable new OnePlus
At its starting price of Rs 39,999, the OnePlus 9R is the most affordable of the OnePlus 9 series. It is well below the Rs 49,999 for the OnePlus 9 and the Rs 64,999 for the OnePlus 9 Pro.
2. It looks a lot like the OnePlus 8T…and looks good
In terms of design, the OnePlus 9R does look very similar to the OnePlus 8T. Both phones are almost the same size and weight, and both have 6.55 inch displays and Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back as well as an aluminium frame. The OnePlus 9R is slightly taller than the OnePlus 9 but is still impressively slim at just 8.4 mm and weighs a relatively slim 189 grammes. We think it is a very good looking phone, although it will not stand out in a crowd.
3. It has a different processor
The OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor which at this time is supposed to be the most powerful processor out there. The OnePlus 9R comes with a Snapdragon 870 processor, which is a level below the 888, but is ahead of the Snapdragon 865, which was used in flagships last year, including the OnePlus 8T.
4. It has some similarities…and some differences with the other OnePlus 9 devices
The processor is the most noticeable difference between the OnePlus 9R and its 9 series siblings, but there are similarities too. It also has a 120 Hz refresh rate fluid AMOLED display (6.55 inches) and stereo speakers. And it also runs on Oxygen UI on top of Android 11, for a clean, clutter-free experience. And it comes with 8 GB /128 GB and 12 GB/ 256 GB variants too. Apart from the processor, the big difference (apart from visible changes in design) is the fact that none of its cameras come with the Hasselblad branding that the cameras on the 9 and 9 Pro do. It also has the least powerful cameras of the three phones – a 48 megapixel main, a 16 megapixel ultrawide, a 5 megapixel macro lens and a 2 megapixel monochrome camera. Unlike the 9, it does come with optical image stabilisation. It also has a 16 megapixel selfie camera, similar to the ones on the 9 and 9 Pro. It does not come with dust and water resistance (like the OnePlus 9 pro), but supports 5G like the other phones in the series.
5. It charges blazingly fast
Although it does not support wireless charging (the OnePlus 9 Pro does), the OnePlus 9R has a similar 4500 mAh battery as the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro. It also comes with a 65W charger in the box and supports Warp Charge 65, like the others. However, the charger will charge it just a little slower than the others because the 65W charger has a USB not a USB Type C connector. You will still get very fast charging though.
6. It is supposed to be focused on gaming
The OnePlus 9R comes with a focus on gaming as per its positioning. No it does not LOOK like a gaming phone (like the Asus ROG for example), but it comes with a lot of gaming friendly features. It lets you use all five fingers on the display at the same time while playing games. It has a special motor for producing different vibrations as per the situation in the game, and has OnePlus’ special Pro Gaming mode, which optimises the phone for gaming and also restricts background apps and also lets you turn off notifications if you wish, letting you focus on the game. It also comes with a special cooling system. These features are also available on the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, but the OnePlus 9 brings them at a much lower price.
7. It is the best budget option for anyone wanting a new OnePlus
At its price, the OnePlus 9R is easily the best option for anyone looking for a new OnePlus on a tight budget. You get better performance than the 8 series, good cameras (not as good as the 8 Pro, but better than the 8T and 8), a clean interface and very fast charging (battery lasts a day easily). The design is not spectacular but this is very steady performing phone. If you cannot afford the 9 Pro, or want to save money and are not impressed by Hasselblad or the Snapdragon 888, this is the new OnePlus for you.