OnePlus 9 series to arrive with LTPO screen, QHD+ resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate

16 March 2021
That’s the very same panel, used on the Oppo Find X3 series.

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OnePlus is the new Apple:

"I no longer recommend OnePlus

I often avoid talking about brands because no brand is perfect. Some in the Android community are also loyal to a brand no matter what they do, while I'm loyal to good products, so discussions often lead to heated arguments that go nowhere. I'm making an exception here because I've been recommending OnePlus for a while and I think they're no longer the best option if you want to use GCam.

To give you an idea of where I'm coming from, I can use all cameras and use full resolution (48MP in my case) with GCam (and other camera apps) on my Asus Zenfone 6 without root or any special GCam version.

GCam support for most OnePlus phones is "okay", but OnePlus is adding artificial limitations and breaking features via software updates, and there are no indications that they'll improve.

Auxiliary cameras:
Until not long ago, the OnePlus 7/7T, 8/8T, and Nord series couldn't use all cameras without root. This by itself was already bad, but when a developer found a way of accessing all cameras, OnePlus decided to block his method with the Android 11 update.

Android 11 users now have to use a specific app package name. This means that users have less choice, can only use 1 version if they want to use the extra cameras and end up losing some GCam features not available with this package name. It also forces modders to do extra work to support OnePlus devices and not everyone is inclined to do so.

I've heard a few reasons for this "block". From OnePlus being worried about possible security issues, to them wanting people to use their own app instead, and even because they didn't like the negative feedback from users when they found out that the sensors used on the wide/macro/telephoto cameras are far worse and cheaper than the main sensor.

I don't know what's the true reason, but from a user point of view, this is not acceptable. I'm not aware of any other "dev friendly" brand being so aggressive when it comes to the auxiliary cameras.

Full sensor resolution:
This is not exclusive to OnePlus - Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme, etc, do the same at least on some of their phones - but on top of the auxiliary cameras limitation, OnePlus also blocks access to the full sensor resolution. Your phone might have a 48MP, but you can only use 12MP with 3rd party cameras.

It's another artificial limitation. Using the full resolution (48MP, in this case) instead of the binned resolution (12MP) doesn't always make sense (especially in low light), but it can improve details a lot when there's enough light (eg: outdoors).

Two samples from my Zenfone 6, which has the same Sony IMX586 sensor as the 7/7T, 8/8T, and Nord series. Look at the text, for example. 12MP on the left, 48MP on the right:

GCam 48MP

GCam 48MP

I can't think of any good reason to stop 3rd party apps from using the full resolution when the sensor supports it and the stock camera can use it.

Reasons behind this post:
I have been recommending OnePlus to people for a while, however I don't agree with what they're now doing when it comes to 3rd party camera apps. I don't want people to buy something based on my previous recommendation just to find out things are not as good as I said they were. This is the main reason.

The second reason comes down to what I expect from certain brands. For example, I might expect good custom ROM support from a "development friendly" brand, but not from others. Some people buy OnePlus and not a Samsung for this reason.

While it's true that OnePlus strategy changed since the OnePlus One days, they still advertise on XDA, send phones to developers, etc. They don't do this because they are nice, but because they want us to buy their phones (and I'm fine with that). My problem is when they present themselves as (still) being a development friendly brand and then act like a Samsung or Huawei.

On one hand, they send phones to GCam modders and some of their staff, on their own forums, suggest GCam to users unhappy with the stock camera performance. On the other, new phones come out with limitations and when someone finds a way to go around said limitations, software updates quickly break things again. There's no internal communication at OnePlus or are just trying to gaslighting us all?

It's not my intention to tell you what to buy. We all have different preferences, budgets, and brands we want to avoid, so doing that would be a hard task, but be aware that GCam and OnePlus are no longer the best match and that there are cheaper phones out there with less limitations.

Celso."

    This is the same LTPO display from Oppo but, the question is did oneplus get the cheap leftovers with defects from Oppo's production line to bring the price down or not considering they're sister companies from BBK. And we might see last year's Oneplus 8 pro sub par green tint, screen banding defective displays in the name of cost cutting? I would wait for actual user reviews I'm becoming to trust Oneplus less & less

      And what part about 2K+ is mislabeled?

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • ygB
        • 16 Mar 2021

        12 bit displays or GTFOH

          • D
          • AnonD-986036
          • Kx9
          • 16 Mar 2021

          Oppo Find X2 Pro and Oneplus 8 Pro already have 10 nit displays. There is no need to get hyped about them. Oppo Is just hyping the Find X3 Pro up. Oneplus will do similar with their 9 Pro, even though the 8 Pro and Find X2 Pro already has it

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • ygB
            • 16 Mar 2021

            AnonD-986036, 16 Mar 2021Can anyone tell me what's the advantage of LTPO screen... moreLTPO are 5% more efficient at average brightness and up to 12% more efficient at very high peak brightness

              When 10bit display gonna be mainstream.
              Also do something for pwm

                • D
                • AnonD-989007
                • p%B
                • 16 Mar 2021

                Lol, everybody wants 1440p display at 120Hz refresh rate, but nobody uses it to save battery. But hey, is good that is there no, people mentality.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • gDe
                  • 16 Mar 2021

                  AnonD-986036, 16 Mar 2021Can anyone tell me what's the advantage of LTPO screen... moreI read something about it consuming 30% less power while also being brighter

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                    • AnonD-986036
                    • Kx9
                    • 16 Mar 2021

                    Can anyone tell me what's the advantage of LTPO screens? If you guys said it is an mere 5% more efficient than it is minimal, so why did they make a big deal about it. And it is adaptive refresh rate, but even manufacturers can do adaptive refresh rate without even needing an LTPO panel like Mi 10T Pro, P40 PRO, MATE 40 Pro and MI 11. They are adaptive, and yet they don't have LTPO panel. So what's the pointof LTPO panels? Marketing and price increase?