OnePlus 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
OnePlus 9 delivers flagship performance with Snapdragon 888, superior 65W fast charging, and an impressive 8K video capability, though it lacks official IP rating protection. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE offers better value with IP68 durability, brighter 1450-nit AMOLED display, telephoto zoom, and newer Android 13 software, but charges slower at 25W. Camera systems differ notably: OnePlus excels in ultrawide coverage with 50MP freeform lens, while Samsung provides optical zoom versatility. Display quality favors Samsung's Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology over OnePlus's standard AMOLED, delivering superior color accuracy and brightness. Battery capacity matches at 4500mAh, but OnePlus's warp charging advantage diminishes without water resistance. Processing power edges to OnePlus with dedicated flagship silicon. At $129 less, Galaxy S23 FE provides superior practical features for everyday users, though OnePlus 9 remains better for enthusiasts prioritizing raw performance and charging speed.
Who Should Buy
Buy the OnePlus 9 if…
- →65W Warp Charge fills battery in 29 minutes
- →Excellent main and ultrawide cameras
- →Hasselblad color calibration
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
OnePlus 9
Pros
- 65W Warp Charge fills battery in 29 minutes
- Excellent main and ultrawide cameras
- Hasselblad color calibration
- 120Hz AMOLED display
- Competitive pricing at $729
Cons
- No telephoto camera
- 2 MP monochrome sensor is useless
- No official IP rating for water resistance
- Plastic frame feels less premium
- Snapdragon 888 heating issues
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
Full Specifications
| Spec | OnePlus 9 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 11, OxygenOS 11 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 192 g | 209 g |
| Material | Plastic frame, Gorilla Glass 5 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | No official rating | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160 x 74.2 x 8.7 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.8, OIS (Hasselblad tuned) | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Mono | 2 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.4 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.2, freeform lens | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 65W Warp Charge wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.55 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1100 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Samsung Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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