Why is now a good time to buy?

Okay, so the OnePlus 10 Series has been a bit of a disappointment for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Even the newest OnePlus 10T hasn’t shaken off what has been a bit of a blind year for the once brave underdog. But do not despair; there’s never been a better time to pick up a OnePlus smartphone. Just turn your attention to the previous generation OnePlus 9 Pro.

Admittedly the handset was not a flawless ten back then we reviewed it last year. OnePlus never quite holds the landing at launch, but the OnePlus 9 Pro has matured well over the past twelve months, especially after a few software patches and the fact that it’s now sold with a significantly cheaper price tag. Did you know that you can get the OnePlus 9 Pro for only $599 through the official US store? That’s a big discount from the launch price of $969 and cheaper than the subsequent $799 revaluation. You can even find international models with T-Mobile 5G support for under $500 new on eBay and the like. That’s a pretty good deal in anyone’s book.

In terms of hardware, there is still a lot to do for the OnePlus 9 Pro and the smaller OnePlus 9 for that matter. The screen remains as excellent today as it was last year, the Snapdragon 888 processor performs just as well as the current-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 for most everyday needs, it sports lightning-fast wired and wireless charging, and there’s a IP68 rating — something neither OnePlus 10 phones have. It’s also an attractive phone and retains the signature alert slider that you won’t find on this year’s models either.

That’s all pretty competitive with the OnePlus 10 Pro, but it’s only two-thirds of its price. Yes, the OnePlus 10T is newer and quite tempting at $649, but it is suffers a few too many compromises in an effort to cut costs, such as a weaker IP54 rating (and even that is limited to the US), no alert slider, no wireless charging, and a cheaper design. Fans may lament that the newer models haven’t meaningfully built on the legacy of the 9 Pro.

The Hasselblad-branded camera array of the OnePlus 9 Pro (part of a collaboration that appears to have moved to Oppo for the time being) is still pretty solid, outperforming the cameras in the newer 10 series in some areas. For example, the OnePlus 10T has taken a big step backwards in ultra-wide image quality; a large mark against the handset. Sure, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera array will best camera phones out of the water, but there’s a reliable main and ultra-wide duo here that stands its ground. There are also robust selfie imaging and video recording capabilities; it’s not like 4K/60fps or 8K/30fps will go out of style anytime soon.

Perhaps even better, OnePlus has its . refreshed long term update policy since the phone’s launch. There are still two OS upgrades and three years of security patches to come, which isn’t bad considering you’d be a year late. You could of course buy a cheap mid-range model from Google or Samsung that has four to five years of support left, but the OnePlus 9 Pro is a nicer piece of kit overall. It was an excellent phone at launch, still great six months later, and remains a good buy today. That said, there are one or two caveats to make.

The ongoing concern is what OnePlus’ software will look like in the future. The brand has been renewed OxygenOS UI, now built on the same codebase as sister brand Oppo’s Color OS, has led to twist and tangible problems equally. Things have gradually improved with incremental updates to Oxygen OS 12, but the fruits of Oppo’s collaboration won’t be fully felt until the next update with Oxygen OS 13, which will shaping it to look completely different. OnePlus has responded, trying to win back longtime fans with a promise to “provide an experience long-time OnePlus users will be familiar with.” Unfortunately, the OnePlus 9 series is in the midst of a major OS transition that could fundamentally change the look of the handset’s core identity in the coming years.

Even at $599, there are other good buys to consider. The Samsung Galaxy S22 ($799) might be worth stretching in terms of newer hardware and longer-term support that will last through 2027. At a more comparable price, the Google Pixel 6 ($599) is a solid shooter, offers streamlined software and has a long-term update promise that makes it hard to beat for the money. However, these phones don’t have the same charm as a classic OnePlus phone. Yes, they’re well-built all-rounders, but neither Google nor Samsung flaunt the little eccentricities that have kept OnePlus fans with the series for so long, whether that’s blazing fast charging, the tiny alert slider or a software favorite feature.

Despite its quirks and controversies, the OnePlus 9 Pro still embodies that sought-after signature marriage of hardware and software. Based on the turn of events, might this be a fan’s last chance to get their hands on a real OnePlus flagship?