(UPDATED) OnePlus 9 release date, specs, design rumors
OnePlus has been releasing quite a few smartphones in the past few months, including the new OnePlus 8T, as well as the new, more affordable Nord series. Despite this, we still got rumors flying around about the new device that is predicted to arrive in the first half of 2021: OnePlus 9. Even though it is still early, there are quite a few details that we already know about the upcoming series, so here is everything we know so far about the 9.
OnePlus 9 Specs
We are expecting to see two devices as a part of the 9 Series as we have been seeing for a few years now, that is the standard and Pro models. When it comes to the specs, we can almost be certain that both devices will feature the most recent Qualcomm process as it has been in the past few years which would be Snapdragon 875 expected to be revealed in December 2020. When it comes to the storage and RAM, rumors stick to what we have seen before too including 128GB and 256GB storage options, as well as 8GB and 12GB RAM options. Based on the trend among the flagships this year, we will see both devices with a 5G network option, as well as a 40W fast charging feature. The software is most likely going to be Android 11, which is OxygenOS 11.
Camera
Based on the rumors, OnePlus is going to stick with a punch-hole front camera setup, but it is still not known whether it will be centered or moved to aside. The back camera housing is going to feature three lenses, two of which are expected to be a bit larger which would explain a larger, rectangular housing.
OnePlus 9 Design
We don’t really see many grand design changes on the new devices as they used to be a few years back, but rather some detail refinement that improves the overall user experience. For the OnePlus 9, we don’t expect to see a big step away from the model released this year, but there will be a few changes. Based on the rumors, both devices will have a flat-screen combined with curved back housing. The AMOLED display for both is rumored to be larger than the previous 6.5 inches, but the details have not been known yet except for the 120Hz refresh rate. The standard model will have a Full HD+ resolution, while the Pro model will have a Quad HD+ resolution. Both are rumored to have HDR10+ support too. Some rumors mention IP68 water resistance, but if the feature does get released that would probably be exclusive for the Pro model. Other than this, we do not have enough details to draw a more concrete conclusion at what we might be seeing, but as more rumors and hopefully leaks appear, we will add them to the list.
OnePlus 9 Release Date & Price
It is a bit too soon to pinpoint a specific date for the release of the OnePlus 9, but we do have certain expectations when the release might happen based on the previous launches. We do know that the release date will take place in the first half of 2021, most likely in the 2nd quarter as it has been done similarly in the past three years. Practically, this means that 9 and 9 Pro would be released around April or May, with more details to be known in the following months. Some sources have referred to a mid-March launch, but that would be very out of the ordinary and a bit too early compared to what we have seen in the previous years. When it comes to the price, there has not been anything definitive yet, but the price would be generally close to the price of the 8 Series, which is around $700 and $900 for the standard and Pro model respectively.
UPDATE /26 November 2020/
UPDATE /28 November 2020/
UPDATE /30 November 2020/
At first, OnePlus used to release only one device in each of its flagship series, which was later on expanded with the additional Pro model. Now, thanks to a few rumors, we can expect a third model as well that would be a part of the OnePlus 9 Series: the 9E. There is barely any actual information about the device, but based on the name, we can assume that this device will have a bit weaker specs than the standard model, or maybe be a bit smaller perhaps? The idea that has been attributed to the existence of the never seen before E model explains that this addition is perhaps an attempt by OnePlus to cover a gap between the highest tier Nord models, and lowest tier flagships. Basically, it serves the purpose to cover the missing price ranges and make OnePlus accessible and an actual choice for a wider target group which is currently taken by other big companies such as Apple, Samsung, etc.
UPDATE /3 December 2020/
Even though there is quite a lot of time left before the expected launch of OnePlus’ new flagship, we already got to see a leaked render. Video created by Jermaine Smit and LetsGoDigital is just a visual representation of the devices based on the rumors that have been leaked before, and it shows the punch hole selfie camera and the rectangular back camera located in the top left corner. It also shows a curved display, even though the display design has been reported differently over the past few months. The video contains the OnePlus 9 Pro model which is expected to have a 6.7 Quad HD+ AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate as expected. The standard model is probably going to have a very similar design with the biggest difference being the number of sensors in the back camera setup. We are still waiting to see what the rumored 9E might be like.
UPDATE /7 December 2020/
https://twitter.com/StationChat/status/1335823084683714562?s=20
Last week we got to see a video render of OnePlus’ upcoming flagship, but now we also got access to some leaked schematics that show the design we can expect. Leaked on Twitter by Digital Chat Station, the image confirms the expectations thus far and reveals back-camera housing with two larger and two smaller sensors. The front side confirms a punch-hole selfie camera shifted to the side. Based on the tweet, it appears that the standard model will actually have a triple rear camera construction while the Pro model will have one sensor more.
UPDATE /13 December 2020/
With the release date approaching fast and rumors referring to an earlier launch, we get to see more leaked images of the actual devices from the upcoming OnePlus 9 series. Now, images of a standard model in the pre-production phase have been leaked and they show the design and the camera setups we were eager to see. PhoneArena shared the images they were sent, showing a front punch-hole selfie camera with a single sensor located in the top left corner of the flat OLED display. Furthermore, the back revealed that the camera setup will be in a rectangular housing, very similar to that seen on the 8T model which is not a big surprise. The buttons on the sides of the device were kept the same as in the models before, with the volume buttons on the left and the power button and alert slider on the right side. Finally, the leaks also confirmed that the new OnePlus 9 series is going to feature the latest Qualcomm chipset, that is the Snapdragon 888.
UPDATE /26 January 2021/
For a while, the rumors about the upcoming OnePlus 9 have settled down but have redeemed themselves with a few interesting bits and pieces. According to Max Jambor, one of the known smartphone leakers, the new OnePlus series will not come with a periscope zoom lens as a part of its camera setup. Even though OnePlus has been following the latest trends when it comes to flagship internals, its camera setup has been a bit behind for the past few generations compared to its closest rivals which is why the lack of the periscope lens sets it a bit behind. However, the company is focusing on the display and according to several sources, the standard model will have a 6.55-inch FHD+ flat display, while the Pro model will have a slightly bigger 6.78-inch QHD+ curved display.
UPDATE /7 February 2021/
According to the latest rumors, a potential OnePlus 9 Pro prototype showed a Hasselblad camera setup which would mean a significant improvement in the camera hardware. As we wrote in the last update, OnePlus has been lagging behind other top brands in the camera aspect of its flagships, and this would mean it is quickly catching up. A video posted by Dave2D on YouTube gives us a close-up of the mentioned prototype which does seem to differ from the previous ones we’ve seen, but the Hasselblad camera set-up really makes us hopeful that it will be the one we see at launch.
Hasselblad is well known in the industry for its camera production and this step would lead to a very significant jump in OnePlus camera quality. The video shows the quad-camera with a rectangular housing on the top left corner, with the Hasselblad written across. One very interesting feature shown is the Tilt-Shift mode which will allow you to somehow move the lens and avoid distorted images that we are pretty much used to in phone photography.
Despite the exciting potential partnership, it is still not safe to assume there will be this kind of improvement in the new flagship series, as it might also end up being just a simple change in hardware without the wanted results.
UPDATE /22 February 2021/
As Spring and the release of the upcoming OnePlus 9 is approaching, we have more rumors to share. The first refers to the battery as one of the quite frequent leakers for OnePlus, Max Jambor, revealed on Twitter that both phones are going to have the same 4500 mAh battery. The same battery was used in the 8T model too, as it is necessary for the 65W fast charging offered by OnePlus which means you can get a full battery in less than 40 minutes.
— Max Jambor (@MaxJmb) February 18, 2021
Jambor has also Tweeted that the Pro model is going to come with an LTPO display which would allow it to support adjustment of the dynamic fresh rate. We are yet to see whether this will work as we imagine, but it certainly could be useful for longer battery life.
UPDATE /26 February 2021/
As time passes, more leaks and rumors are appearing about the upcoming 9 Series, but this time the focus falls on the “Lite” model. We expect that 9 and 9 Pro models are going to have flagship features, but now we also have more details about what 9 Lite or 9E packs. Thanks to Techmaniacs latest rumor, we now know that there will be a more affordable model, suggesting the following features will be included:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 processor
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB storage
- 6.5-inch display, 90Hz refresh rate
Considering the fact that we expect the other two models to have Snapdragon 888 processor, having a Snapdragon 690 in the same series seems far from logical as it puts the devices much lower than just a “lite” model of a flagship series. Could it be that device rumored by Techmaniacs actually belongs to the Nord series? Or is the rumor just not reliable enough?
On top of this, one of the more reliable leakers Evan Blass revealed that the 9 Series will include a OnePlus 9R device, hinting that it could be the name of the cheaper model in the lineup instead of being named Lite or 9E. He was almost immediately questioned by other leakers, leaving us to wonder what the device will even be called, what its features will be, and will OnePlus decide to blur the lines between the flagship and Nord lineups.
UPDATE /4 March 2021/
Finally, after months of rumors and excitement, we have an idea when the new OnePlus flagship lineup will be released! Based on several sources, the company is going to release 4 devices (3 smartphones and a smartwatch), and has tipped off that it will be announcing something on the 8th of March. We are not yet sure whether this will be the official launch, or they will take the time to announce the launch event, but either way, the new products are right behind the corner.
But, there is more good news. When the preorders open, those who register will receive a free pair of OnePlus Buds Z, the company’s latest pair of truly wireless earbuds. Those who preorder the OnePlus 9 are expected to get the standard white color edition, while those who opt for the Pro model would get a special Steve Harrington Edition of the buds.
UPDATE /8 March 2021/
As expected, OnePlus has officially announced the launch date for OnePlus 9 lineup. The series is going to be revealed on the 23rd of March, but the company did give us a bit of a teaser of what to expect. Finally, after a few models that somewhat disappointed in the camera department compared to other popular flagships, OnePlus announced its 3-year partnership with Hasselblad which will mark a significant step forward for the new and upcoming devices. The Pro model is going to have a quad-camera setup, one of which will be a Sony IMX789 sensor, but we will have to wait a few more weeks to see what the rest of the sensors are going to be and how will the setup translate to other two cheaper models.
It all begins with a simple thought. Discover the #OnePlus9Series, co-developed with Hasselblad, on March 23.
Get notified: https://t.co/8HQZu9LLbl pic.twitter.com/fIajmlM2Lg
— OnePlus_USA (@OnePlus_USA) March 8, 2021
Finally, the last bit of information refers to the charger which has been omitted in the packaging of the most recent Apple and Samsung flagships. However, OnePlus will be providing a charger to each new OnePlus 9 Series owner as the new and improved fast-charging features can be optimized only with specific charging hardware. The phones will probably hit the stores a week or so after the launch, but the preorders might be available starting the 23rd.
UPDATE /15 March 2021/
With only a week left before the big launch, we finally have our hands on 4K renders of the OnePlus 9 Pro model in all color options. Ishan Agarwal revealed on Twitter the render and color options with fancy titles. He also revealed that the screen will be slightly curved and the housing will have a matte coating.
We will be seeing the following color options (from left):
- Astral Black
- Morning Mist
- Pine Green
UPDATE /21 March 2021/
As you might remember, there was a discussion about the third device that will be included in the OnePlus 9 Series, whether it will be called 9E or 9R. Now, thanks to OnePlus itself, we know which one is true. OnePlus 9R is going to be a model intended for smartphone gaming but will also be the most affordable device in the series. The included image reveals two more details, the first being the shape of the shadow resembles a gaming controller which hints at a possibility of some kind of additional attachable accessories. The second one refers to the name: OnePlus 9R 5G, confirming that the device will indeed have 5G connectivity, a feature that is almost expected for a device with gaming in focus. We are excited to see what the new Series will bring, and what special features we will see on top of the highly improved camera setup.
