Hey everyone,
In 2021, OnePlus diversified its device portfolio, with the R series falling under the budget flagship category. OnePlus 9R soon became one of the most popular and easy to recommend smartphones of 2021. With the roaring success of 9R, OnePlus launched its successor in the form of the OnePlus 9RT 5G.
Unlike the minimal transition from 8T to 9R, OnePlus decided to cast the 9RT in a new body with a finish similar to the pro lineup. On paper, the OnePlus 9RT 5G seems to be the perfect budget flagship. The initial positive reviews from the China launch urged me to review this device and I applied for the Lab. Very few products have managed to ring my bells of excitement, and 9RT was one such product.
OnePlus 9RT 5G Unboxing
The packaging hasn’t changed over the years. The design of the box is minimal yet classy. The soft-touch matte finish cardboard material gives a premium feel. OnePlus ticks all the right places when it comes to the packaging of their phones. Inside the box, the OnePlus 9RT 5G lies with its full glory on a white bed with Never Settle engraved on it. The phone is wrapped in a plastic sheet and comes with a pre-applied screen protector.
Inside the box, OnePlus has bundled a silicon TPU case, a type C to type A USB cable and a 65W charging adaptor. Along with them, the packaging also includes a quick start guide, safety information booklet, an RCC card, OnePlus stickers, a sim ejector pin and a welcome note. While other companies are ditching the charging adaptor, I am really happy that OnePlus hasn’t jumped on to that trend.
The transition from a transparent silicon case to an opaque soft-touch TPU case is a good decision. Transparent cases often turn yellowish with time. I am hoping this case will be free from any such issues. The glossy “Never Settle” text gives it a unique look. The raised edge around the corner offers better protection.
Design
OnePlus has launched the 9RT in two different colour options: The hacker Black and Nano Silver. I received the hacker Black variant. With 9RT, OnePlus decided to ditch the simple matte finish from the 9R in favour of a more premium, satin-like looking texture.
As per OnePlus, this texture was engineered using the second generation matte-frosted glass treatment process. The glass produces a glitter effect when light falls on it. This effect resembles the brightly lit starry night sky.
Honestly, I loved this texture. It looks great and has a premium in-hand feel. However, this texture makes it too slippery to hold, and I wouldn’t recommend using it without a case.
The 9RT boasts a triple camera setup with a dual-LED flash and a Flick-detect sensor. There is metallic ring protection on each camera lens which enhances the beauty of the phone. The phone is free from the “Hasselblad” branding. OnePlus has embraced the camera bump, and the result is a beautifully crafted camera module.
The addition of the shiny metallic ring gives this phone a character of its own. In my opinion, this module looks better than the one present in the OnePlus 9 pro. OnePlus did a commendable job in designing the camera module of the OnePlus 9RT 5G.
On the front, 9RT has a flat 6.62 inches120Hz E4 AMOLED display with a hole punch cutout for the selfie camera. The top bezel houses the earpiece and proximity sensor. OnePlus has been pursuing the hole-punch design since 2020. OnePlus has added a metal frame to the 9RT.
You can purchase the OnePlus 9RT directly from our store by clicking this link
–Alonz
