The OnePlus 6 is already out in the wild, and the next most obvious thing to do is already being carried out with the utmost zeal, figuring out how good the latest flagship killer from China is compared to the more established brands such as the Samsung Galaxy S9.
We help sort things out a bit here by pointing out five key advantages the OnePlus 6 has over the Galaxy S9.
Price: That again is the whole point that defines the very existence of the OnePlus 6 phone, or for that matter the company itself. The Chinese start-up had started with the very basic tried but tested strategy of offering more for less. That for the OnePlus 6 stands at about $300, which is the amount one gets to save when opting for the latest OnePlus wonder. More specifically, the Galaxy S9 starts out at $729, compared to the $529 that the base model of the OnePlus 6 is priced at.
So for those who aren’t obsessed with the brand name, the OnePlus 6 does make a lot of monetary sense.
Design: Both the S9 and the OnePlus 6 are quite a looker in their own respect. While that is great, there sure is one key area of difference, the notch which the S9 lacks and OnePlus 6 boasts of. The notch again, whether users like it or not, seems to be here for some time given how Google plans to hard code the same on the upcoming Android P iteration. The presence of it also helps the OnePlus 6 nudge past the S9 with a better screen-to-body ratio even though the difference is only marginal at best.
So while the slightly larger display area for the OnePlus 6 is least likely to be perceptible to the naked eye, users of the device can still take solace from the fact that the display stretches right up to the edge. Not so with the S9. And just in case anyone isn’t fond of the notch, it can always be camouflaged via a software setting.
Software: The OnePlus 6 runs Oxygen OS which again is just another name for the Android Oreo with just some modifications introduced. In fact, there is less bloatware on tap with the Oxygen than what the S9 comes with even though the latter comes preinstalled with a proper Android Oreo OS.
With near stock Android experience, the OnePlus 6 again makes for a smart choice compared to the S9.
Specification and performance: Both the S9 and the OnePlus 6 sports similar internal build given that both the phones are built around the latest Snapdragon 845 chipset. However, the OnePlus 6 comes with a 6 GB RAM compared to 4 gigs of it on the S9. That again should allow for better performance credentials even for the base version of the OnePlus device while its more high-end model offers 8 GB of RAM. The S9+ in comparison comes with 6 GB RAM.
Standard Dual SIM support: The OnePlus 6 offers support for dual sims as standard across all model range. That makes for a great choice, more so for frequent travelers as they can always slip in a local sim relevant to the place they are in. That again is a great convenience though the S9 only offers the same on select models sold in specific regions.
However, while the above might make one feel the OnePlus 6 has got the Galaxy S9 completely covered, that again is far from being the real picture. In fact, the S9 still makes for a strong case for itself even with the advent of the OnePlus 6.
Here is how the S9 betters the OnePlus 6 in five key aspects.
Bigger brand: One of the obvious reasons one might be tempted to go for the S9 notwithstanding the availability of the cheaper OnePlus 6 is that it comes from the house of Samsung. And the latter has a far bigger brand recognition compared to OnePlus. So for the brand conscious types, the S9 is the one to go for, even if that comes at the cost of a few hundred bucks more.
Better camera: Both the OnePlus 6 and the S9 comes with great cameras though the S9 seems to have an edge here given its incorporation of a variable aperture feature. That coupled with AI backed software enhancements ensure images turn out better in a more diverse external lighting conditions, including extreme low lighting scenarios as well. The OnePlus 6 too is a great shooter but has some catching up to do here with the S9.
Expandable storage: Both the phones tops out at 256 GB of max storage. That is generous by any means though, for those who need more, they can always add extra storage via microSD cards on the S9. Unfortunately, not so with the OnePlus 6.
Wireless charging: While this might not be a deal breaker but is still a nice feature to have on any mobile device. And it isn’t the least bit surprising the S9 offers the same though the OnePlus 6 still does it the old school way, that of plugging into a wall outlet.
Weatherproof: The S9 again has the edge here, certified as it is for IP68 levels of water and dust proofing. Not so with the OnePlus 6, which means the device has to be used with care, lacking the go anywhere capability the S9 boasts of.
