OnePlus 9RT Unveiled: A Strong Contender That Struggles to Stand Out

The OnePlus 9RT is a fresh addition to the company’s 9 series, likely marking the final entry in this lineup. If your enthusiasm for it is lukewarm, we understand your perspective. Typically, ‘T’ models from OnePlus introduce only subtle enhancements in both design and functionality. The OnePlus 7T (Review) stood out as an exception, yet the 9RT follows the same pattern. As I previously mentioned in my initial impressions of this device, the modifications primarily focus on the aesthetics, chipset, and main rear camera. For current users of the OnePlus 9R, the upgrade isn’t significant, but if you’re using an older OnePlus model and have been contemplating an upgrade, is the 9RT the right choice? Let’s explore.

OnePlus 9RT pricing in India

The OnePlus 9RT is positioned between the 9R and 9 in terms of pricing. It begins at Rs. 42,999 in India for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, while the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model, which is what I’m reviewing, is priced at Rs. 46,999. Even if 12GB of RAM isn’t your priority, you might opt for this version because it offers double the storage of the base model, and lacks a microSD card slot.

The OnePlus 9RT comes in two color options: the sleek Hacker Black and the more eye-catching Nano Silver. As usual, various cashback deals are available during the launch period, depending on the retailer, allowing you to snag a solid discount.

Design of the OnePlus 9RT

We’ve detailed the revamped design in our initial impressions of the OnePlus 9RT, and after a week’s use, I believe the Hacker Black variant is the superior choice. The matte, sandstone-like texture of the glass back gives it a premium look and feels smooth to handle. It can attract minor smudges if you scratch lightly with your fingernail, but these are easily cleaned. The redesigned camera array is attractive, fitting nicely into the phone’s overall design. I consider this to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing OnePlus models since the 8 Pro (Review).

Carrying the OnePlus 9RT feels good in hand, even with its weight of 198.5g. The rounded contours of the aluminum frame ensure it’s pleasant to hold. It features a sizable 6.62-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Full-HD+ resolution, akin to the OnePlus 9R and OnePlus 9 (Review), although it lacks the LTPO display featured in the 9 Pro (Review). Nevertheless, it is an excellent display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, providing scratch resistance, just like the rear panel. A slight color shift (blue tint) can be observed on a white background when viewed at an angle, but it’s hardly noticeable in most situations.

The OnePlus 9RT has an attractive appearance from every angle, particularly in this Hacker Black finish

 

OnePlus has not adhered to the trend of minimizing included accessories. The 9RT comes with a protective case, USB cable, and a 65W charger in the box, along with other items like stickers.

Specifications and software of the OnePlus 9RT

One of the primary upgrades is the performance aspect of the phone. The OnePlus 9RT incorporates the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, which is on par with the OnePlus 9. The notable aspect is that it’s the only device in the 9 series that supports up to eight bands of 5G, enhancing its longevity. OnePlus has also incorporated three Wi-Fi antennas instead of the standard two for improved gaming stability. Additionally, a new, larger vapor chamber cooling system ensures better thermal management. The touch responsiveness of the 9RT’s screen has also been enhanced, allowing it to increase to 600Hz (from 300Hz) in select games.

However, the 9RT does not come with an IP rating or wireless charging, which can be disappointing. Samsung includes these premium features in its FE series phones, which have been quite competitive lately with aggressive pricing, particularly for the still-relevant Galaxy S20 FE 5G.

My OnePlus 9RT review unit ran on OxygenOS 11.3, based on Android 11. An upcoming version based on Android 12 is in the works and should be released via OTA, though the timeline for this remains uncertain. In the meantime, you can expect a user experience similar to other recent OnePlus smartphones. The interface is streamlined with minimal bloatware. You receive Google’s SMS app and a stock dialer app, which supports call recording. There are numerous customization options for accent colors, fonts, and wallpapers.

The OnePlus 9RT experiences a significant increase in processing capacity due to the Snapdragon 888 SoC

 

Performance and battery longevity of the OnePlus 9RT

Throughout the review phase, the OnePlus 9RT functioned reliably as a daily driver, providing the sought-after OnePlus experience—durable build and responsive software. The in-display fingerprint sensor is impressively fast, allowing for quick authentication, and navigating through menus is smooth. App transitions felt seamless, and I never encountered any performance hiccups regardless of the tasks I undertook.

Multimedia playback was impressive, with standard and HDR videos displayed effectively. Streaming services like Netflix recognized the HDR capabilities of the display. The stereo speakers produced clear sound, and the Dolby Atmos settings provided various audio profiles. Gaming performance also excelled, thanks to the powerful SoC. Titles like Fortnite ran smoothly and looked appealing with high graphics configurations, as did Call of Duty: Mobile. The touch response during gaming was particularly notable, especially in competitive multiplayer scenarios. The OnePlus 9RT dissipated heat efficiently, with the back remaining moderately warm even after extended gaming bouts.

Battery performance was commendable as well. The 4,500mAh battery lasted 20 hours and 16 minutes in our internal testing, which involves looping an HD video until the device powers off. This runtime surpasses that of the OnePlus 9R and even the 9, indicating positive signs. During typical usage—comprising gaming, calls, camera use, and social media—I consistently achieved about a full day to a day and a half on a single charge. Recharging the battery is also rapid; the included Warp Charge 65T charger can refill it from zero to full in under 30 minutes.

While the OnePlus 9RT delivers performance on par with flagship devices, it lacks certain premium features such as an IP rating and wireless charging

 

Camera capabilities of the OnePlus 9RT

The OnePlus 9RT features an enhanced primary camera compared to its predecessor, the 9R. It incorporates a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor, which is also employed as the ultra-wide camera in the 9 and 9 Pro. A noteworthy feature of this sensor is its DOL-HDR capability, allowing it to capture high dynamic range video even when your subject is framed against bright background light. This feature previously appeared on the OnePlus 9 Pro’s main camera. Low-light photography is also said to have seen improvements.

Other sensors remain consistent with those on the 9R, including a 16-megapixel Sony IMX481 ultra-wide camera, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. The macro camera here has a lesser resolution than that of the 9R, and the selfie camera is the same one used across several generations, which means it’s average for stills with limited video recording capabilities (1080p only).

The camera application on the 9RT has been directly adapted from Oppo’s ColorOS. It features an AI scene enhancement toggle, dual-view video recording, and a Hi-Res mode that takes multiple frames from the primary camera to produce a 108-megapixel image.

Sample from the main camera of the OnePlus 9RT (tap to view full size)

Sample from the ultra-wide camera of the OnePlus 9RT (tap to view full size)

Sample from the portrait mode of OnePlus 9RT (tap to view full size)

 

The main camera performed admirably in daylight, capturing good detail. Colors appeared slightly artificial when the AI feature was activated. Portrait mode results varied, with some unintended parts of the subject occasionally getting blurred. The zoom capability is limited to digital up to 10X, yet the high resolution allows for reasonable cropping without compromising quality.

The ultra-wide camera provides an expanded view but has a noticeable decrease in quality. The macro camera can take acceptable photos in good lighting, but I wouldn’t recommend it for low-light conditions. The primary camera captured the best images in low light, even without Night mode, albeit with a noticeably processed look when enlarged. The ultra-wide camera produced unsatisfactory images in dim conditions, and AI didn’t trigger Night mode automatically. The selfie camera produced decent daytime selfies, although faces tended to appear soft and skin tones weren’t accurately represented.

Low-light sample from the main camera of OnePlus 9RT (tap to view full size)

Low-light sample from the ultra-wide camera of OnePlus 9RT (tap to view full size)

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Sample from the selfie camera of OnePlus 9RT (tap to view full size)

 

The OnePlus 9RT is capable of recording video at up to 4K 60fps. In optimal lighting, the video output is commendable, with effective stabilization. The DOL-HDR feature is advantageous for backlit scenarios, as it ensures stable exposure on the subject, although highlights in the background might be overexposed. However, low-light video fidelity is somewhat lacking, with noticeable grain and jitter during movement as a result of stabilization.

Conclusion

The OnePlus 9RT proves to be yet another reliable and powerful smartphone. It features quality construction and delivers impressive performance along with superb battery longevity. The primary camera presents a welcome upgrade compared to the 9R, while the other sensors fall short, particularly under low-light conditions. The 9RT effectively renders the OnePlus 9R and even the OnePlus 9 less appealing. Unless the 9R experiences drastic price cuts, it is not worth considering.

Though the OnePlus 9RT offers more competitive pricing than the OnePlus 9, I feel it’s still on the pricey side. OnePlus has introduced this updated model in India a tad late, and alternatives such as the Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G, Realme GT, and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G currently provide better value for money. If you are considering holding out for the OnePlus 10 series arrival in India, be aware that it could be a longer wait than anticipated. So far, OnePlus has only unveiled the 10 Pro, so it remains uncertain when the replacement for the 9RT will actually be introduced.

The OnePlus 9RT is a formidable flagship that would benefit from a price reduction of a few thousand Rupees to become a compelling offer. If you’re not in a hurry, Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung have equally appealing options at more competitive prices.

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