OnePlus 9 Pro Review: Hasselblad Camera Tested
OnePlus 9 Pro Hasselblad Camera Analysis
After testing the OnePlus 9 Pro for several days, the Hasselblad partnership shows tangible but not revolutionary improvements. Daylight photos demonstrate significantly better color science than previous OnePlus models, with natural skin tones and 12-bit RAW support enabling greater editing flexibility. The 48MP Sony IMX689 main sensor captures excellent detail, though low-light performance still trails leaders like Google Pixel.
Compared to Vivo's Zeiss collaboration, Hasselblad's implementation focuses more on color calibration than lens hardware. The orange shutter button and signature shutter sound are nice touches, but don't equate to medium-format quality. For professional mobile photographers, this represents a meaningful step forward - for casual users, it's a solid upgrade.
Display and Design Evaluation
The 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display stands out as one of 2021's best screens with its QHD+ resolution and intelligent 1-120Hz adaptive refresh. During testing, the auto-adjustment effectively conserved battery during reading while delivering buttery-smooth scrolling in apps. The 197g weight feels premium without being cumbersome, and the matte glass back resists fingerprints remarkably well.
OnePlus retains its signature alert slider - a physical toggle that's still unmatched for quickly silencing your device. The under-display fingerprint scanner remains industry-leading, unlocking in 0.3 seconds consistently.
Performance and Gaming Tests
Powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset, the OnePlus 9 Pro handles intensive games like Genshin Impact at max settings. However, prolonged gaming sessions trigger noticeable thermal throttling after 25 minutes. Benchmark scores align with other 2021 flagships:
- Geekbench 5: 1120 single-core / 3650 multi-core
- 3DMark Wild Life: 5800 points
The Hyper Touch feature delivers tangible advantages in competitive shooters, reducing touch latency to 25ms. For non-gamers, OxygenOS 11 provides exceptional customization without bloat, including:
- Always-on display with signature designs
- Zen Mode for digital detoxing
- Parallel Apps for dual accounts
Battery Life and Charging
The 4,500mAh battery lasts 5-6 hours of screen time under mixed usage. While not class-leading, the 65W Warp Charge compensates dramatically - our test unit went from 0-100% in 42 minutes. The 50W wireless charging is equally impressive, fully charging in 43 minutes without cables.
Reverse wireless charging works reliably for earbuds, though it drains the battery quickly. For travelers, this charging system eliminates battery anxiety - a 15-minute plug-in delivers 60% charge.
Hasselblad Camera Samples Breakdown
Daylight photo samples showing color accuracy
Main camera (48MP)
- Excellent dynamic range in harsh sunlight
- Natural skin tones in portrait mode
- Noticeable noise reduction above ISO 800
Ultra-wide (50MP)
- Minimal edge distortion
- Freeform lens eliminates fisheye effect
- Struggles with moving subjects in low light
Telephoto (8MP)
- Serviceable 3.3x optical zoom
- Digital zoom degrades quickly beyond 10x
- Lacks OIS for stable long-range shots
The monochrome sensor primarily assists with contrast rather than functioning as standalone. Nightscape mode improves over OnePlus 8 Pro but still trails Google's Night Sight in shadow recovery.
Who Should Upgrade?
Consider buying if:
- You're coming from OnePlus 7 or older
- Wireless charging matters
- You edit mobile photos professionally
Wait if:
- You own a OnePlus 8 Pro
- Selfie camera quality is critical
- Budget is under $800
The Hasselblad partnership delivers noticeable improvements but not the revolutionary change marketing suggests. For $1,069, you're paying for the complete package: elite display, fastest charging, and refined software.
Actionable Takeaways
- Enable adaptive refresh in Settings > Display > Refresh Rate
- Shoot in 12-bit RAW when editing important photos
- Use 65W charger exclusively for maximum speed
- Disable 5G when not needed to extend battery
- Clean camera lenses before shooting - smudges affect Hasselblad calibration
"Which feature matters most to you - the Hasselblad cameras or 65W charging? Share your priority below!"
Pro tip: Pair with Hasselblad Phocus Mobile 2 for full RAW editing potential.
