OnePlus 9RT review: Super-smooth performance, but at a price

We are always excited about using OnePlus smartphones and the latest by the company, OnePlus 9RT, was no exception. It looks absolutely amazing and is available at a starting price of Rs 42,999. Read the rest of our review to know if the OnePlus 9RT is worth buying.

OnePlus 9RT review: Design and Display

We were really impressed by the design of the OnePlus 9RT. The smartphone has a metallic curved frame which makes it easy to hold and also enhances one-handed usage. The ‘silk glass’ rear panel of the device comes with a matte frosted finish that sort of gives a sandish texture to the surface. In total, it gives a very premium look to the handset, which is available in Hacker Black and Nano Silver colour options. 

Speaking further about the back panel of the OnePlus 9RT, it houses the camera module that comes with three lenses, and the company branding lies right in the centre. The right edge of the smartphone houses the alert slider and the Power button, while the left one has the volume rocker key. The USB Type-C port, speaker grille, microphone, and SIM tray are on the bottom edge while the top only has the secondary microphone. 

Flip over and you’ll see the 6.62-inch AMOLED full HD+ display that is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The screen has a fingerprint scanner towards the bottom and it houses a selfie camera on the top-left. The bezels that outline the screen of the device are rather thin and even the relatively thicker chin cannot be termed as thick. 

The colours showcased on the display of the smartphone are vibrant and they remain consistent at different viewing angles. The images projected are sharp and clear and the brightness level is just apt. The sunlight readability of the device is decent too. We watched a number of videos on the OnePlus 9RT and we have to say that the experience was an enjoyable one. In a nutshell, the design and display were both positive aspects of the smartphone and we were really impressed by both. 

OnePlus 9RT review: Performance and Cameras

Before we speak about the performance of the OnePlus 9RT, let’s take a minute to discuss its specifications. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC and it packs an 8GB/12GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of internal storage. The handset has support for 5G and comes with three Wi-Fi antennas, besides the usual connectivity options. The smartphone also comes with a vapour chamber cooling system for heat dissipation but lacks an IP rating and wireless charging. It runs Android 11 skinned with OxygenOS 11.3 and houses a 4,500mAh battery. With the said software, one can find a number of customizations in the phone, just like other devices from the company. 

OnePlus 9RT offers a great experience when it comes to performance. You can switch between multiple apps and tabs of Chrome like it’s a cakewalk and the fingerprint scanner works wonderfully every time. No matter how heavy an app you use on the phone, it works very seamlessly and is quick to launch. We often watched Netflix while using navigation (we weren’t the ones driving), and not once did the device heat up. 

Playing games was not an issue either. Even games like Asphalt 9: Legends that come with heavy graphics could be played without any hiccups on the handset. The sound output of the OnePlus 9RT was good too, and so was the battery life. The 4,500mah battery lasted a day and a half with usage involving watching videos, using social media apps and phone calls.    

Coming to the cameras of the device, they were certainly another aspect that left us impressed. OnePlus 9RT comes with a 50MP sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro lens. On the front panel too, there is a 16MP selfie snapper.

The camera app comes with a button for AI scene enhancement and dual view video recording. It also comes with a Hi-Res mode for a 108MP photo. As expected, the primary sensor did a good job during the day, especially outdoors. The colours were vibrant, but some may find them to be a little too saturated in a few pictures. The results were a little inconsistent with the Portrait mode.

A lot more area gets fitted into the picture with the ultra-wide camera, but the image quality drops. The macro lens did a good job too, but only when lighting conditions were favourable.

If there was a camera that performed well under low-lit conditions, it was the main camera of the smartphone. It did a good job even without the Night Mode enabled, and we consider this to be a big plus. The selfie camera’s performance was decent in well-lit conditions. 

Verdict

At a starting price of Rs 42,999, the OnePlus 9RT definitely makes a great buy. With a beautiful design, vibrant display, super-smooth performance, a lasting battery life, and a great main camera, it can easily be called an all-rounder. The other two cameras could be better and an IP rating and wireless charging could have been accommodated, given the price point. But if these aren’t a big deal to you, you would not be disappointed.

OnePlus 9RT Pros

• Beautiful design
• Vibrant display
• Amazing primary camera

OnePlus 9RT Cons

• Ultra-wide and macro cameras could be better
• No IP rating
• No support for wireless charging

For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.