OnePlus has released the OnePlus 9, its latest and greatest flagship phone. But how does the phone compare to the Samsung Galaxy S21, which has a similar price?
Phone companies have been getting hip to the fact that not everyone wants to spend $1,000 on a phone, but those who spend $800 should still be able to get a flagship experience. After all, $800 is a ton of cash. For instance, while the Galaxy S20 started at $1,000, the Galaxy S21 cuts the cost down to $800. Of course, OnePlus has been playing in that space for years. While its phones have been getting increasingly expensive, the new OnePlus 9 still costs just $730, which is only a little less than the Galaxy S21 — in fact, it’s around the same price when you factor in the Galaxy S21’s routine discounts. Given the similar pricing, you might be wondering which device you should go for. That’s why we’ve put together this guide. Here’s how the OnePlus 9 stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy S21. To me, the second biggest difference between the Galaxy S21 and the OnePlus 9 is the design, with the first being the camera. We’ll get into the camera a little later, but for now let’s talk design. For a long time, it was assumed that glass phones were more premium than plastic ones. And generally, they are. Glass phones usually have a little more heft to them, feel stronger, and have other benefits. But the OnePlus 9 bucks that trend a little. I’m not sure why it feels so cheap to me. It could be the fact that the actual frame is plastic, not metal. Or, perhaps it’s the fact that the device is quite a bit lighter than the OnePlus 9 Pro. Regardless, I thought the OnePlus 9, which is made of glass, was made of plastic. The Galaxy S21 is made of plastic, though, and it still feels premium to me. Now, let’s be clear — the Galaxy S21 does feel like plastic. But at first glance, and even first feel, it could be mistaken for a frosted glass similar to that on the higher-end Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro. It’s just a little more dense, plus its metal frame helps make it a bit easier to pick up and hold. None of that is to mention the actual look of the phones, and the Galaxy S21 wins in this area too.
