This is the best $500 phone deal you'll find for Prime Day 2022

OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro
(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Looking to buy a phone? There's no shortage of deals live right now, but there is one in particular that's noteworthy: the OnePlus 9 is selling for just $499, which is an insane 32% off its launch price of $729. This isn't the first time the phone went on sale, and while we've seen it go down as low as $579, the fact that you can get your hands on it for $499 makes it a standout value.

I used the OnePlus 9 for a while last year, and coming back to it in 2022 made me realize just how good it is — particularly at $499. The design is gorgeous, and I like the minimalist look to the chunky camera housing on this year's 10 Pro. The hardware still has a lot to offer, and it doesn't feel any sluggish in day-to-day use; whether that's reading long-form content or playing intensive games.

Save a massive 32% on the OnePlus 9

OnePlus 9: $729 $499 at Amazon

OnePlus 9: $729 $499 at Amazon

The OnePlus 9 continues to be a stellar phone in 2022, and it becomes a much more attractive option with the latest discount. This is one of the fastest phones in this category, and you get a smooth 120Hz AMOLED screen with excellent color vibrancy, bloat-free software, Hasselblad-tuned cameras that take great photos in challenging conditions, and you get all-day battery life combined with 65W charging and 15W wireless charging.

OnePlus 9 Pro:$1,069$699 at Amazon

OnePlus 9 Pro: $1,069 $699 at Amazon

If you want the absolute best that OnePlus has to offer, then the 9 Pro at $699 is an absolute steal. You get the same caliber of hardware as the standard OnePlus 9, but the cameras are on another level entirely. Oh, and this is for the 12GB/256GB option. 

The camera is fantastic as well — it isn't on the same level as the Pixel 6 Pro, but for the mid-range category, you're not going to find many phones that take better photos.

There isn't a whole lot missing here, and the caliber of hardware combined with the value you're getting makes the OnePlus 9 a very enticing deal. The device will get three Android OS updates, so it will be updated to Android 14 once that becomes available. 

In short, if you want a new phone and are looking at the $500 category, this is the one to get. If you need more recommendations, be sure to take a look at all the best Prime Day phone deals.

Harish Jonnalagadda
Senior Editor - Asia

Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia at Android Central. He leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, contributing to reviews, features, and buying guides. He also writes about storage servers, audio products, and the semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.