OnePlus 9R 5G review: The global smartphone brand OnePlus recently launched the latest addition to its OnePlus 9 Series that is specially crafted for the demands of gaming enthusiasts – the OnePlus 9R 5G. The new OnePlus 9R 5G smartphone was much needed to bridge the gap between the OnePlus 9 5G and the OnePlus 9 Pro 5G, both in terms of price and features offered.

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The OnePlus 9R 5G comes in two storage variants -- 8GB+128GB and 12GB+256GB -- at Rs 39,999 and Rs 43,999, and it is available in two colour options -- carbon black and lake blue. I reviewed the (12GB+256GB) Lake Blue model for more than two weeks and ​here's what I have to say about this beautiful smartphone from OnePlus.

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Priced at Rs 39,999 for the base variant, the OnePlus 9R has only one competition in the Indian market right now– Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro – which is also available in a similar price range. Despite serious competition from Xiaomi, the OnePlus 9R 5G is in a very comfortable position in terms of its pricing. The reason why the OnePlus 9R 5G can be a perfect choice for gaming enthusiasts because it comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, OxygenOS 11 and offers smooth scrolling, amazing gaming controls with solid features, and a better viewing experience.

In terms of design and outlook, the OnePlus 9R 5G smartphone looks incredibly beautiful and gives a premium look.  The device comes with a beautiful design however, the device is very slippery. The front and back of the OnePlus 9R had Corning's Gorilla Glass and the glass on the back panel is curved at the sides.

At 189 grams in weight and 8.4mm in thickness, this OnePlus mobile is actually comfortable to hold and use but please note that it attracts fingerprint marks too. Even after holding the device for long hours, you won't face any disappointment, Overall, this OnePlus smartphone has a trendy look, and it might attract young buyers.

On the right side of the device, the OnePlus 9R 5G has a power button and a dedicated button to switch your phone mode to - silent, general and vibration. Both the buttons worked perfectly fine during the review. On the left edge, you will see volume rockers and at the bottom there, the device features Type-C USB charging port, Dolby Atmos dual stereo speakers and a dedicated space for a SIM tray.

 

The connectivity options on the OnePlus 9R 5G include Wi-Fi 2×2 MIMO, Support 2.4G/5G, Support WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax ​Bluetooth 5.1, NFC enabled and GPS. The OnePlus 9R 5G also comes with sensors such as In-display Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Electronic Compass, Gyroscope, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, and Flicker-detect Sensor. It also comes with Face Unlock, HDR, Screen Flash and Face Retouching features.

OnePlus 9R 5G Camera Performance

On the rear side of the device, the OnePlus 9R 5G comes with a powerful quad-camera setup with a 48MP main camera with a Sony IMX586 sensor - that ensures faster focus speeds, greater color accuracy, cleaner daytime, and night shots, and reduced motion blur in the video, 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens with 123 degrees of Field of View, 5MP macro lens and a 2 MP monochrome sensor. The main camera also features enhanced OIS for greater image stability. The OnePlus 9R 5G also has a 16MP front camera with an f/2.4 aperture for video calls and selfies.

The OnePlus 9R comes with many camera features including - Cyberpunk style filter, CINE Aspect Ratio Video Recording, Video Portrait, UltraShot HDR, Nightscape, Macro, Portrait, Pro Mode, Panorama, Smart Pet Capture, AI Scene Detection, RAW Image, Filter, Video Focus Tracking, Super Stable, Video Nightscape and more.

I checked most of the features mentioned above during the review period, and I found that pictures in Portrait and Nightscape modes came out pretty brilliant. The device captured sharp, high-resolution images and detailed images in bright lighting conditions. Nightscape Mode, featuring intelligent multi-frame processing, adds clarity and detail to the images at night.

The OnePlus 9R 5G’s ultra-wide camera uses a 16MP Sony IMX4811/3.09 sensor and a 123-degree ultra-wide-angle that allows you to capture some good panoramic shots.  With a wide f/2.2 aperture, you are able to snap detailed images in low-light conditions. Video captured during the review period was smooth, thanks to EIS. Also, the images from the front camera came out sharp and colorful. In terms of overall camera performance, the OnePlus 9R 5G has justified its pricing.

 

One of the major USPs of the device is its display performance. The OnePlus 9R 5G’s 6.55-inch Fluid AMOLED Display offers ultra-smooth scrolling in every frame. With its crisp 120 Hz panel, the flat display offers an amazing visual experience. It also emits less blue light so users can safely enjoy their favorite multimedia content for longer.  Also, the in-display fingerprint sensor worked fast and the overall experience while using the screen was smooth and responsive. I didn't face any issues even during heavy usage. The colors came out good on the screen in the direct sunlight as well.

In terms of performance, the OnePlus 9R 5G is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 mobile platform, offering processing speeds that are 12.6 percent faster than the previous generation and transforming the device into a gaming powerhouse. It runs OxygenOS 11, optimised to work seamlessly with the OnePlus 9R 5G. With ‘Turbo Boost 3.0' technology, the device enables users to have 25 percent more apps opened in the background than before.

The OnePlus 9R 5G takes mobile gaming one step further, with a state-of-the-art multi-layer cooling system. The system uses a graphite and copper lined vapor chamber, keeping the device cool and guaranteeing stable performance, whether plugged in while gaming or pushing the most demanding mobile titles on the road. The OnePlus 9R 5G also has 14 temperature sensors constantly monitoring the temperature of the device, keeping the internals and the back of the device cool even when the action heats up.

Finally, the Pro Gaming Mode optimizes the OnePlus 9R 5G’s system resources and minimizes unwanted distractions, so that games perform at their best. While enabled, Pro Gaming Mode restricts background apps, reduces lag, and improves the overall gaming experience. Advanced DND features to block calls and notifications so you can have a smooth gaming experience.

While playing games like Battlegrounds Mobile India and Call of Duty: Mobile on the OnePlus 9R 5G, we witnessed lag-free gaming. The graphic quality on the advanced setting was up to the mark. Overall, the OnePlus 9R 5G was fast, smooth, switching between the apps and using multiple social media platforms was easy and the experience was up to the mark.

In terms of battery performance, the OnePlus 9R comes with a massive 4,500mAh battery with OnePlus’ powerful Warp Charge 65 technology gives you a day’s charge in 15 minutes, and fully charges from 1-100 per cent in just 39 minutes. On less than normal usage, the OnePlus 9R 5G lasted for more than a day on a single charge. While watching videos on YouTube, movies, web series on OTT platforms on the device during the review period, it took the viewing experience to the next new level at this price range. We didn't face heating issues while using this device. However, the battery drained very fast on heavy usage.  

Verdict: Available at the starting price of 39,999, the OnePlus 9R 5G is one of the best gaming smartphones in the Indian market from the OnePlus so far. OnePlus 9R 5G is competing with Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro and falls under a similar price range. The device has a very beautiful display, cameras, and design along with power-loaded performance. OnePlus 9R 5G has ticked most of the right boxes in our review. This OnePlus phone can be the right choice for buyers looking for a smartphone at around Rs 40,000.