Xiaomi Mi 9 vs OnePlus 6T: comparison, which one is the best?

You’ve got your eye on the Xiaomi Mi 9, but consider the OnePlus 6T still a good choice as well. In this dossier we propose to examine everything point by point to make the most informed choice possible. Let’s go !

Comparison of technical data sheets

The two smartphones are less alike than it seems when you look at their technical sheets. First, the Xiaomi Mi 9 is powered by a Snapdragon 855 SoC versus a Snapdragon 845 for the OnePlus 6T. The difference is not the least, as the Snapdragon 855 has a 45% more efficient CPU and 20% more efficient GPU than the previous generation. It is also engraved as 7nm versus 10nm at 845.

In practical terms, this means the 855 is significantly faster and more energy efficient – it can do more for each mAh battery. Internal storage and RAM options are close, with 128/256GB and 6/8/12GB RAM for the Mi 9 and 128/256GB and 6/8GB RAM for the OnePlus 6T.

Note that either way, the screens are AMOLED with a drop-shaped notch. As for the Mi 9 display, the size is still noticeably smaller (6.39″ vs. 6.41″). We mention in passing that only Mi 9 is HDR 10 compatible. There are also significant differences in photo modules. In Mi 9 48 + 16 + 12 MP we have triple sensor vs 16 + 20 Mp dual sensor.

Finally, the battery capacities are pretty close: 3300 mAh versus 3700 mAh for the OnePlus 6T, knowing that the latter should be less energy efficient than the Mi 9 – but you’ll see, this turns out to be a clear advantage for the OnePlus 6T.

Display: almost a tie

The screens of these two smartphones are very similar. And yet, they are more different than they seem. First, the size that isn’t the same: the Mi 9 has a 6.39-inch screen versus a 6.41-inch screen for the OnePlus 6T. A difference that isn’t too big and shouldn’t go largely unnoticed. Both can display the DCI-P3 color space, but only the Mi 9’s display is HDR 10 compatible.

For the rest, they’re covered with the same Gorilla Glass 6 coating and display close definition, with the same 19.5:9 ratio and roughly the same pixel density of 402ppi. Both have fingerprint sensors under the optical display.

Design: first and foremost a matter of taste

The design of the two smartphones is very similar overall. Either way, we have real glass sandwiches with almost the same overall shape, particularly rounded corners and edges. This is especially true when the smartphone is placed on its back: the front of the two smartphones is almost like a copy and paste, and you have to have a keen eye to spot the differences.

As such, it’s the rear where the two smartphones stand out the most. Mi 9 has a triple photo sensor arranged in the upper left corner with a flash on its extension. The OnePlus 6T has dual sensors centered on the upper back of the device, with flash and the brand logo extending from it.

But they have so many different colors. The OnePlus 6T has glossy or matte black, or the Mi 9 has beautiful iridescent colors. Choosing one or the other is a matter of taste.

Performances: Mi 9 winner by KO

It’s obviously difficult, but a few months apart, the difference is significant. To give you an idea, OnePlus scores a Geekbench score of 2401/8941 single-core/multi-core for the Xiaomi Mi 9 against 3428/10828. And quite logically, the OnePlus 6T pays off the SoC generation difference – one component. greatly conditions benchmark results. Snapdragon 855 is among the best of 2019.

To make things worse when it comes to the OnePlus 6T, the Mi 9 is available in an awesome version with 12GB of RAM. Before you hit buy though, we recommend reading our file to find out how much RAM you really need. It is also worth noting that the McLaren Limited Edition, which we are not comparing here, is a more powerful OnePlus 6T.

Photo: A slight advantage over the OnePlus 6T in our tests

Here’s what we said in our OnePlus 6T review: “With OnePlus 6, the manufacturer has taken a big leap forward in photography without reaching the level of competitors. Unfortunately, the 6T doesn’t help matters, quite the contrary. The latest version from OnePlus is still effective in good light conditions. Shots are of high quality with excellent color rendering, very good sharpness and pronounced contrasts. However, in the backlight, the smartphone tends to overexpose”.

And now our opinion during the test of the Xiaomi Mi 9: “Unfortunately, in use, the Xiaomi Mi 9 does not keep its promises. Far from being a bad photophone, it doesn’t depend on its rivals either. Honor View 20 or OnePlus 6T do better. Google Pixel 3 is way ahead. We seriously question DxO’s rating […] At 12MP, the photos taken with the Xiaomi Mi 9 are pretty average even in good light conditions. Colors are dull and contrasts lack sharpness. Sharpness drowns in very noticeable smoothing which spoils the overall result: details are grossly lacking. By choosing to shoot photos at 48MP, these imperfections are partially corrected, especially the more balanced contrasts. But the smoothing issue is still there. ”

Either way, keep in mind that even if they’re not the best on the market, they’re still excellent photo phones.

Battery: clear advantage for OnePlus

During our tests, we did not manage to beat the day of use of our Mi 9. However, the latter makes up for it with its charging system. Xiaomi provides 27W wired charger and promises 34% faster charging than traditional 18W charger. In fact, 20 minutes of wired charging is required for the Xiaomi Mi 9 to achieve 46% autonomy.

In comparison, the OnePlus 6T is among the most durable smartphones on the market, with autonomy of up to a day and a half for a normal user and up to two days for a more reasonable user. The Warp Charge fast charging system should convince you on this point: 20 minutes gives you a day’s autonomy.

However, it’s worth noting that wireless charging is also available on the Mi 9 while the OnePlus 6T doesn’t.

OS and overlay: “AOSP” or “iOS”?

The OnePlus 6T adopts Android 9.0 Pie and dresses it in its in-house skin, Oxygen OS 9.0. The new version adopts the aesthetic codes of the pure version of Android. As usual, OnePlus perfectly combines the authenticity of Google’s operating system with software knowledge.

Xiaomi Mi 9 comes with MIUI 10, the latest version of the in-house software based on Android 9.0 Pie. Although it has its roots in the Google operating system, MIUI has clearly taken its aesthetic inspirations from iOS. There is no app drawer, so all apps are collected on the home page. Lines are rounded and animations are fluid. To find the root of Android, you should go through the settings.

Again, it’s a matter of taste – but if you’re looking for something close to AOSP right out of the box, OnePlus is the place to go.

Price

The Xiaomi Mi 9 is slightly more expensive at 469 € and the OnePlus 6T at 559 €.

Buy Xiaomi Mi 9 at the best price

Buy OnePlus 6T at the best price

Solution

As you can see, the two smartphones are ultimately very close options, except for three points: performance (Xiaomi Mi 9 advantage), photography (OnePlus 6T advantage) and autonomy (OnePlus 6T advantage). Prices are also close, so the choice between the two smartphones will mainly depend on your need for performance (in this case, choose Mi 9) or a smartphone built for autonomy (OnePlus 6T). Of course, more subjective aspects such as colors can also affect balance.