OnePlus 9 Pro in review: Unboxing and first impression

The new OnePlus 9 Pro has now arrived. Compared to its predecessor, a lot has changed, especially in terms of the cameras, because the Chinese manufacturer from the BBK Group worked together with Hasselblad to provide customers with even better results. 

The rest of the technical data is also more than impressive. Under the hood is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, which is supported by up to 12 GB of RAM, the large 4.500 mAh battery can be charged extremely quickly with up to 65 watts and, of course, not to be forgotten is the 6,7 inch OLED display with sharp WQHD+ resolution and 120 Hertz. This equipment is definitely impressive, but you will find out in a few weeks in my detailed test report whether the OnePlus 9 Pro can convince not only on paper but also in everyday life. Now I'm unpacking the smartphone and reporting on my first impressions after a few days of use.

Unboxing

In typical OnePlus fashion, the smartphone comes in a long red box that gives a very high-quality impression. After removing the lid, a red box appears containing the usual paper stuff, a SIM needle and a case. The latter is not transparent, however, but grey, at least in the version I tested in the color Morning Mist. Directly underneath is the OnePlus 9 Pro, which is still in a film to protect it from scratches. Otherwise, there is also a 65 watt power supply and a matching cable from USB-C to UCB-C on board. While Samsung and especially Apple make themselves extremely ridiculous on this point, OnePlus customers not only get extremely fast charging, but also the matching power supply is included in the delivery.

OnePlus 9 Pro first impression

After doing both that OnePlus 7 Pro as well as that 8 Pro When I used it privately in everyday life, the first thing I noticed was the reduced weight and the slightly more compact size. It is still a large smartphone and if you have not been a fan of large smartphones in the past, you probably shouldn't go for the OnePlus 9 Pro, but I still see clear improvements compared to recent years. In addition, the edges on the front have been reduced, which means that the device is no longer as sharp and bulky in the hand as its predecessor. Overall, I really like holding the OnePlus 9 Pro and can still operate it reasonably well with one hand.

I was a little disappointed with the Morning Mist color at first, because OnePlus has been known for matte colors since the 7 Pro. Morning Mist is high-gloss again, which I wasn't a huge fan of at first, because glass backs with a high-gloss look are very susceptible to fingerprints. It's no different with this color, but I would have imagined it to be much worse. I also have to say that I really like the color now. It is characterized by a unique color gradient. The bottom could be used as a mirror, so it is very susceptible to fingerprints, and the top looks matte.

The performance has been great so far, how could it be otherwise with OnePlus. This is mainly due to the Snapdragon 888, but the smooth refresh rate of 120 Hertz also plays a major role here. Apps start and close very quickly, you won't find any jerks here, and overall it's just fun to use this smartphone in everyday life. Another strength of the manufacturer's devices from last year were the built-in screens, and so it is this year as well. The panel is razor-sharp, the color representation looks nice and realistic and the viewing angle stability doesn't make a bad impression after a few days of use. I have to take a closer look at the brightness, but from the first impression, the maximum brightness could be a little higher.

Last but not least, I would like to praise the vibration motor and the stereo speakers, which are definitely among the best of the current high-end smartphones. So far, these have been my first impressions after a few days of use. I can't say too much about the camera and especially the battery at the moment. In a few weeks' time we will be taking a closer look at these points and much more in my test report.