A recent OnePlus 9 smartphone specs leak suggests a familiar approach in terms of upgrades, although a number of questions remain unanswered. Either way, OnePlus will likely need to come up with more than what's been leaked so far, if it hopes to compete with the current flagship models from competitors, including Apple and Samsung.

OnePlus has gone through some major changes in the past year, including an increase in price for its flagship phones. That said, many expect the OnePlus 8's successor to display even more upgrades now that the competition is becoming more capable and less expensive. Last month, an eBay listing provided consumers with an unofficial peek at what the next OnePlus flagship might look like, as well as the suggestion it will include 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a Snapdragon 888 processor.

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Overall, the leaks that have surfaced are starting to form a clearer picture of the OnePlus 9, along with information on the Pro variant as well. According to Android Authority, a known smartphone tipster recently leaked some of the OnePlus 9 and Pro specs on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo. The OnePlus 9 allegedly features a 6.55-inch flexible straight FHD+ display, while the OnePlus Pro boasts a larger 6.78-inch flexible curved QHD+ screen. Both phones are understood to feature a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The leak confirms that the new flagships will be utilizing the latest Snapdragon 888, and like the previous flagship, will be light, weighing no heavier than 200g. A 4,500 mAh battery capacity was also mentioned, although it is unclear if it applies to both variants. If that's the case, then it will be an upgrade from the OnePlus 8's 4,300 mAh, albeit slightly less than the OnePlus 8 Pro's 4,510 mAh capacity.

How OnePlus 9 Leaked Specs Compare To The Competition

OnePlus 9 prototype eBay listing side elevation

Although OnePlus is known for 'flagship killer' phones, is that still possible now that the smartphone market is becoming more fiercely competitive? Apple and Samsung's latest premium phones both have solid selling points, with the iPhone 12 featuring a crisp 6.1-inch OLED display and the fast A14 processor, while the Galaxy S21 has a slightly larger 6.2-inch OLED screen with an adaptive refresh rate. Google's flagship Pixel 5 has a more dated processor and hardware, but it does come with software advantages over other Android models. Huawei's Mate 40 Pro flagship has a 6.76-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While that's virtually as large as the OnePlus 9 Pro's display, Huawei's phone also comes with cameras that are regarded as some of the best on the market.

As OnePlus phone prices begin to rise, and the cost of flagship phones from competitors start to lower, OnePlus is likely to need to come up with more than just the typical screen tech and processor upgrades to win consumers over. If the screen size information is accurate, including the punch-hole selfie camera that's reportedly still in the same position, these phones are likely to look relatively identical to the previous versions. Of course, there's still no word on the pricing, camera specs, IP-ratings, or new sensors, so there's still a chance for OnePlus to prove its latest is worth buying over any of the other 2021 flagship phones.

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Source: Android Authority