These are the Best OnePlus phones to buy in 2022

A lot is happening behind the scenes at OnePlus, and it may no longer be the same company that came on the scene back in 2014. But it’s still producing some great devices, and its portfolio has grown quite a bit. So to make your buying decision easier, we’ve compiled all the best OnePlus phones across all segments.

If you’re looking for other options, we’ve also collated lists of the best Android smartphones and the best Samsung Galaxy smartphones on the market. All of the smartphones on this list come with basic headlining OnePlus features such as high refresh rate panels, the latest version of OxygenOS, and decent cameras.

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Best Overall: OnePlus 9 Pro

The all-new OnePlus 9 Pro is the most well-rounded flagship smartphone from the company so far. It builds upon the foundation laid by the OnePlus 8 Pro and offers top-of-the-line hardware on all fronts. The device packs Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 chip, up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, up to 256GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage, and a respectable 4,500mAh battery with 65W wired fast charging support and 50W wireless fast charging support.

When compared with its predecessor, the OnePlus 9 Pro also offers a more premium quad-camera system. It features a 48MP IMX789 primary camera, a 50MP IMX766 wide-angle camera with a freeform lens, an 8MP 3.3x telephoto camera, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. Over on the front, it has a single 16MP selfie shooter. Along with better camera hardware, the OnePlus 9 Pro comes with software optimizations developed in partnership with Hasselblad that marginally improves the phone’s camera performance.

In our review, Mishaal found the OnePlus 9 Pro to be the “best phone that OnePlus has ever made”, featuring a camera system that “has improved where it matters”, “the best [display] you can find on an Android device”, and support for faster-charging speeds than any other smartphone available in North America. This makes the OnePlus 9 Pro a no-brainer for OnePlus fans and a great alternative for the Galaxy S21 Ultra for others.

Runner Up: OnePlus 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8 Pro is still a strong contender for the best OnePlus phone in 2021, even though the OnePlus 9 Pro is now available widely. That’s because the phone has received a significant price cut in North America, and it’s currently available for purchase on Amazon for under $700. At that price, you get a phone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chip, a brilliant 120Hz display, and a 4,150mAh battery with 30W fast charging support.

Although the OnePlus 8 Pro may not be as good as the company’s latest flagship in the camera department, it still offers a decent 48MP IMX 689 primary camera that can capture great shots. Along with that, it has an 8MP 3x telephoto camera, a 48MP wide-angle camera, a 5MP depth sensor, and a 16MP selfie camera.

At its discounted price, the OnePlus 8 Pro is still a great buy in 2021. If you’re looking for a phone that offers flagship performance, but you don’t want to shell out $1,000, the OnePlus 8 Pro is your best bet.

Best for the Average User: OnePlus 9

For those who want a great OnePlus device that offers most of the latest improvements and comes at a more affordable price, the all-new OnePlus 9 is a great option. The phone is almost as good as the OnePlus 9 Pro, as it features the same Snapdragon 888 SoC, up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, a 4,500mAh battery with 65W wired fast charging support, and 15W wireless charging support, and the same 16MP Sony IMX471 selfie camera.

But since the phone is a lot cheaper than the Pro variant, you won’t get the same display and rear camera system as the premium model. Instead of a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel, the OnePlus 9 features a smaller 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel. While it does support a 120Hz refresh rate, its peak brightness is limited to 1,100 nits and it doesn’t offer support for premium display features like MEMC and 10-bit color depth.

The camera system on the OnePlus 9 isn’t as great as the one on the 9 Pro either, as it features a 48MP IMX689 main camera and one fewer sensor. The 50MP IMX766 wide-angle camera and 2MP monochrome sensor remain unchanged. But as mentioned in Mario’s OnePlus 9 Camera Review, the device’s camera performance is a whole lot better than older non-Pro flagships from the company and it doesn’t have any of the recurring issues that we’ve seen in older models.

Best Affordable Flagship: OnePlus 9R

If the OnePlus 9 is still a bit too expensive for you, but you want a device that can keep up with modern flagships in terms of raw performance, then you should consider getting the OnePlus 9R. Sadly, the phone is limited to the Indian market, and OnePlus hasn’t revealed any plans to launch it in other regions. So you’ll probably have to import it if you’re in North America or Europe. While that will add a significant cost to the device, it should still end up being cheaper than the OnePlus 9.

Despite being cheaper than the other OnePlus 9 models, the OnePlus 9R promises to offer a well-rounded flagship experience. The device is essentially a redesigned OnePlus 8T with a Snapdragon 870 chip instead of the Snapdragon 865. Therefore, it’ll be able to keep up with most premium 2020 flagships in the performance department.

The phone isn’t a slouch on the camera front either, as it packs a respectable quad-camera setup with a 48MP IMX586 main camera, a 16MP IMX481 wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP monochrome camera. Over on the front, it has the same IMX471 selfie shooter as the other two models. Other specifications include a 6.55 inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and a 4,500mAh battery with 65W wired fast charging support.

Best Mid-Range: OnePlus Nord 2 5G

The OnePlus Nord marked the company’s successful reentry into the budget segment. After such an excellent smartphone, everyone wondered whether OnePlus would be able to repeat the same with Nord 2 5G, and it has indeed managed to achieve what it wanted to. The OnePlus Nord 2 is a fantastic mid-range smartphone that focuses on providing the essentials. In fact, one can even argue it’s a flagship, but one that approaches the spec sheet with more practicality than just for boasting numbers.

From a full-HD+ 90Hz display to 65W fast charging support, the Nord 2 has all the right things in all the right places. OnePlus’s gamble with a MediaTek chip has also paid off, and the new smartphone pips its predecessor on the performance front.

Another significant change that comes with the Nord 2 is on the software front. It’s the company’s first smartphone after OxygenOS was merged with Color OS. This change is visible in the phone’s interface, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It still feels like a OnePlus phone, and the software performs well.

If you’re in the market for a capable OnePlus smartphone that doesn’t cost a fortune, the Nord 2 is the one to get.

Also Great: OnePlus Nord CE 5G

The OnePlus Nord CE was launched in India as a mid-range offering that sat below the original OnePlus Nord. OnePlus is regarded as quite a premium brand in the country and the Nord CE takes advantage of that to make way for itself in the budget segment. While the OnePlus Nord CE doesn’t have the best specifications for the price, it combines everything that it has into a premium package, especially in its price range.

The Snapdragon 750G gives it a performance boost, making it good for day-to-day tasks as well as some casual gaming. Heavy games also run pretty fine, albeit not at the highest frame rate. OnePlus hasn’t compromised in the display department either with the Nord CE. It’s got a 90Hz OLED display measuring 6.43-inches diagonally. If you consume a lot of media on your phone, the OnePlus Nord CE’s display will not disappoint you. Given that it’s 5G enabled, the phone is also pretty much future-proof.

There’s a 64MP primary camera on the rear with an 8MP ultra-wide shooter. A 4,500mAh battery is what runs the show with 30W fast charging. If you’re in the market for a Oneplus phone and have a strict budget of ₹25,000, you can surely consider the OnePlus Nord CE. Note that the cameras on the device are quite average so if you don’t really care about that, it’s a pretty decent phone.

Best Budget: OnePlus Nord N10 5G

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G may not have a lot of the DNA that makes OnePlus devices special, but as a standalone device, it’s a good budget phone. The Nord N10 5G removes things like the long-loved alert slider and replaces the AMOLED display with a more conservative LCD panel, things that a OnePlus device has never lacked since the very first model was launched. But if you’re on a budget, then it’s worth a look mainly because the performance it provides is okay for the price. A Snapdragon 690 with 5G support runs things behind the scenes and manages to provide a nice performance on a tighter budget.

If you’re looking for a device that does the job and doesn’t cost that much (and comes with 5G), the Nord N10 5G still holds its ground as a phone that serves those needs.

Also Great: OnePlus Nord N200

The new OnePlus Nord 200 is the successor to the company’s Nord 100 that debuted in 2020. Nord 200 also replaces Nord 100 in this guide, thanks to a number of improvements, including support for 5G. However, the Nord N200 only supports T-Mobile’s 5G network. So if you’re on Verizon or AT&T, you’ll only get 4G support on the phone. Having said that, 5G isn’t really that big a deal right now. But as the situation improves over the coming years, and if you’re still using N200, the lack of 5G can become a drawback.

5G aside, the Nord N200 has a number of things going for it. You get a large 6.5-inch full-HD+ display that supports a 90Hz refresh rate. Also, the phone packs a decent 5,000mAh battery that will easily be able to last more than a day on average usage. The Snapdragon 480 SoC present in the phone is also a newer chipset. Additionally, the phone features a triple rear camera setup, headlined by a 13-megapixel shooter, and it seems to be the same setup as N100. So it isn’t going to capture any amazing pictures but it should be enough to scrape by.

Nord N200 is one of the cheapest OnePlus phones to date, and it’s worth a look if you’re on a tight budget and want a OnePlus device. If branding is not as important to you, there are other great options for cheap Android phones.

This list encompasses OnePlus’ different offerings pretty well. The best OnePlus phone currently available in terms of features is the OnePlus 9 Pro, with sheer premium quality, with the OnePlus 8 Pro reaching a close second. The OnePlus 9 is probably the best for most people because it provides the best balance between performance and price. The OnePlus 9R is a great pick for those looking for an affordable flagship, but you’ll have to import it from India. Lastly, we have the many other OnePlus releases taking up the best spots for mid-range and budget devices.