Capable Stills with Good Video

The OnePlus 9 is an affordable flagship with an impressive spec sheet that falls within our Premium category of devices priced between $600 – $799. It features a Snapdragon 888 chipset and a 6.55 inch, FHD+ OLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate.

For photography, the OnePlus 9 features a camera configuration with primary module, ultra-wide and monochrome camera. The primary camera uses a 48 MP sensor linked to a 23mm-equivalent f/1.8-aperture lens. The ultra-wide features a 50 MP sensor and 14mm-equivalent, f/2.2-aperture, Freeform lens and a 2 MP monochrome sensor concludes the camera array.

For video, the OnePlus 9 captures up to 8K footage at 30 fps and 4K at 60 fps. Let’s see how the device performed in our DXOMARK Camera tests.

Key camera specifications:

Primary: Sony IMX689 48 MP 1/1.43″ sensor, 1.12μm, 23 mm-equivalent f/1.8-aperture lens
Ultra-wide: Sony IMX766 50 MP 1/1.56″ sensor, 14 mm-equivalent f/2.2-aperture freeform lens
Monochrome: 2 MP sensor
Dual LED flash
All pixel omni-directional PDAF+CAF Multi Autofocus
4320/30 fps, 2160p/60 fps (tested), 1080p/240 fps, 720p/480 fps video

About DXOMARK Camera tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone camera reviews, DXOMARK engineers capture and evaluate over 3000 test images and more than 2.5 hours of video both in controlled lab environments and in natural indoor and outdoor scenes, using the camera’s default settings. This article is designed to highlight the most important results of our testing. For more information about the DXOMARK Camera test protocol, click here. More details on how we score smartphone cameras are available here.

Test summary

Pros

Accurate target exposure in most photos and videos
Reliable autofocus for photos
Neutral and repeatable white balance in outdoor photos
Well-controlled noise in indoor and outdoor photos
Nice detail in ultra-wide photos and most videos
Pleasant color in most videos
Generally effective video stabilization

Cons

White balance errors and unnatural skin tones in indoor and low light photos and videos
Slightly limited dynamic range in high contrast photos
Visible noise in low light photos and videos
Low detail in long-range zoom shots
Underexposed high-contrast ultra-wide photos and low-light videos
Video autofocus and exposure instabilities

With an overall score of 115, the OnePlus 9 occupies a mid-table position in our Premium ranking. Compared to similarly priced devices, the OnePlus 9 is a little behind pace setters like the Apple iPhone 12 (122), Google Pixel 5 (120) and Xiaomi Mi 11 (120), achieving a score closer to the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (116) and Oppo Find X3 Neo (115).

The OnePlus 9 is capable of capturing great images with accurate target exposure and neutral white balance.

For stills, the OnePlus 9 offers similar exposure and color performance to last year’s OnePlus 8 Pro and achieves a respectable Photo score of 123. Target exposure is a strength, but dynamic range isn’t quite on par with the best Premium devices. Although white balance is generally neutral, skin tones are often inaccurate. Texture is acceptable, with only very fine details lost, noise is well-controlled outdoors, and although autofocus is reliable for sharp images, it can be a little slow in challenging light.

In the Zoom department, the OnePlus 9 scores a fairly low 46, which is predominantly due to the lack of a dedicated tele-lens and the resulting low-quality zoom images. The ultra-wide performs well though, with nicely detailed images if you can live with a bit of noise.

Effective stabilization, good detail, as well as generally accurate target exposure and color helped the OnePlus 9 on to a very respectable Video score of 104, too. Video autofocus and white balance can be a little unstable though.

Below you can find a detailed analysis and image samples for all Photo, Zoom, and Video sub-attributes, as well as comparisons with two of the OnePlus 9’s competitors, the Google Pixel 4a and the Xiaomi Mi 11, as well as the more expensive OnePlus 9 Pro.

Photo

The OnePlus 9 achieves a Photo score of 123. In this section, we take a closer look at each sub-attribute and compare image quality against competitors.

Exposure and Contrast

Huawei P50 Pro

Best: Huawei P50 Pro (111)

In these tests we analyze target exposure, contrast, and dynamic range, including repeatability across a series of images. Tests are undertaken in a wide range of light conditions, including backlit scenes and low light down to 1 lux. The score is derived from a number of objective measurements in the lab and perceptual analysis of real-life images.

These samples show the OnePlus 9’s exposure performance in a high contrast scene.

OnePlus 9, acceptable target exposure with some highlight clipping

Google Pixel 4a, acceptable target exposure with strong highlight clipping

Xiaomi Mi 11, acceptable target exposure with better highlight preservation

Color

Huawei P50 Pro

Best: Huawei P50 Pro (106)

In these tests we analyze color rendering, skin tones, white balance, and color shading, including repeatability across a series of images. The score is derived from a number of objective measurements in the lab and perceptual analysis of real-life images.

These samples show the OnePlus 9’s color performance in an outdoor setting.

OnePlus 9, greenish skin tones

Google Pixel 4a, neutral skin tones

Xiaomi Mi 11, neutral fair skin tones with a blueish cast on darker skin

Autofocus

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Best: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (109)

In these tests we analyze autofocus accuracy and shooting time, including repeatability, in the lab. We test focus failures, depth of field, and tracking of moving subjects using perceptual analysis of real-life images.

This graph shows the OnePlus 9’s autofocus performance in the lab, handheld at a light level of 1000 lux and a brightness range of 7 EV.

Slower autofocusing speed in challenging conditions were observed on the OnePlus 9, but with higher levels of acutance compared to the Xiaomi Mi 11.

Texture

Xiaomi Mi 11

Best: Xiaomi Mi 11 (111)

In these tests we analyze texture on faces and objects, including objects in motion, in a range of light conditions, using several lab test setups and perceptual analysis of real-life images.

These samples show the OnePlus 9’s texture performance in outdoor light.

OnePlus 9, outdoor texture rendering

OnePlus 9, crop: fine details are lost

Google Pixel 4a, outdoor texture rendering

Google Pixel 4a, crop: fine details are lost

Xiaomi Mi 11, outdoor texture rendering

Xiaomi Mi 11, crop: excellent detail

Noise

Huawei P50 Pro

Best: Huawei P50 Pro (99)

In these tests we analyze noise on faces and objects, including objects in motion, in a range of light conditions, using several lab test setups and perceptual analysis of real-life images.

This graph shows the OnePlus 9’s noise performance under different lighting conditions in the lab.

The OnePlus 9 displays similar performance to the Xiaomi Mi 11 overall, aside from slightly more visible noise in very low light, and improved results compared to the Google Pixel 4a in all conditions.

Bokeh

Huawei P50 Pro

Best: Huawei P50 Pro (80)

For these tests we switch to the camera’s bokeh or portrait mode and analyze depth estimation, bokeh shape, blur gradient, and repeatability, as well as all other general image quality attributes mentioned above. The score is derived from perceptual analysis of real-life images.

These samples show the OnePlus 9’s bokeh simulation indoors.

OnePlus 9, crop: slight depth estimation artifacts

Google Pixel 4a, bokeh mode

Google Pixel 4a, crop: strong depth estimation artifacts

Xiaomi Mi 11, crop: depth estimation artifacts

Night

Huawei Mate 40 Pro+

Best: Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ (82)

In these tests we shoot a selection of images in pitch-black darkness as well as with city lights in the background providing some illumination. We shoot sample images with the camera at default settings in both flash-auto and flash-off modes. We analyze all image quality attributes but we pay particular attention to exposure, autofocus, and color. We do not test night modes that have to be activated manually.

These samples show the OnePlus 9’s night performance in auto-flash mode.

OnePlus 9, auto-flash: acceptable detail

Google Pixel 4a, auto-flash: slightly low detail

Xiaomi Mi 11, auto-flash: low detail

Artifacts

Google Pixel 4

Best: Google Pixel 4 (75)

In these tests we check images for optical artifacts such as vignetting, flare, lens softness in the corner, distortion, and chromatic aberrations, as well as for processing artifacts such as ghosting and fusion errors, hue shift, and ringing.

This sample shows fusion artifacts in a high-contrast image.

OnePlus 9, crop: strong fusion artifacts

Preview

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Best: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (77)

In these tests we analyze the image quality of the preview image and the differences between preview images and captured images, particularly in terms of exposure, dynamic range, and bokeh effect. We also check the smoothness of the field-of-view changes on the preview image when zooming with both buttons or when using the pinch-zoom gesture.

This graph shows the OnePlus 9’s difference between face exposure in preview compared to capture.

The OnePlus 9 offers more consistent face exposure between preview and capture in most lighting conditions.

Zoom

The OnePlus 9 achieves a Zoom score of 46. The Zoom score includes the tele and wide sub-scores. In this section, we take a closer look at how these sub-scores were achieved and compare zoom image quality against the competitors.

Wide

Huawei P50 Pro

Best: Huawei P50 Pro (57)

In these tests we analyze the performance of the ultra-wide camera at several focal lengths from 12 to 20 mm. We look at all image quality attributes, but we pay particular attention to such artifacts as chromatic aberrations, lens softness, and distortion.

These samples show the performance of the OnePlus 9’s ultra-wide camera in indoor conditions.

OnePlus 9, ultra-wide indoor scene

OnePlus 9, crop: good detail with strong noise

Xiaomi Mi 11, ultra-wide indoor scene

Xiaomi Mi 11, crop: lower detail with less noise

Tele

Huawei P50 Pro

Best: Huawei P50 Pro (140)

In these tests we analyze all image quality attributes at focal lengths from approximately 40 to 300 mm, paying particular attention to texture and detail. The score is derived from a number of objective measurements in the lab and perceptual analysis of real-life images.

These samples show the OnePlus 9’s tele performance in the lab at 1000 lux and using a long zoom setting.

OnePlus 9, long-range zoom, 1000 lux

OnePlus 9, crop: low detail with strong aliasing

Google Pixel 4a, long-range zoom, 1000 lux

Google Pixel 4a, crop: low detail

Xiaomi Mi 11, long-range zoom, 1000 lux

Xiaomi Mi 11, crop: low detail with strong aliasing

Video

In our Video tests we analyze the same image quality attributes as for still images, such as exposure, color, texture or noise, but we also include such temporal aspects as speed, and smoothness and stability of exposure, white balance and autofocus transitions.

NOTE: The sample video clips in this section are best viewed at 4K resolution.

The OnePlus 9 achieves a Video score of 104. A device’s overall Video score is derived from its performance and results across a range of attributes in the same way as the Photo score. In this section, we take a closer look at these sub-scores and compare video image quality against competitors.