Generally speaking, the closer a phone gets to release, the more leaks there are. This explains why there have been so many leaks of the Samsung Galaxy S21, which is nearing a January release.

However, this also makes this OnePlus 9 5G leak a pleasant surprise; PhoneArena expects the OnePlus 9 5G to not appear until spring, but we were sent photos of the OnePlus 9 5G in action.

From the front, the OnePlus 9 5G looks remarkably similar to its immediate predecessor, the OnePlus 8T: the 6.55-inch device has a hole-punch camera in the upper left corner, very thin bezels throughout, and a barely perceptible extension on the lower chin.

From the sides, one can see a metal frame with a USB-C port, speaker, and SIM card tray on the bottom. The site notes that the latter of these appears to have a rubber seal, and speculates that while the OnePlus 9 5G is unlikely to have an official IP rating, it is likely to have some water and dust resistance. In the past, the company has shied away from an official IP rating, reasoning that it would be an extra expense but not necessary to protect the device from water damage.

Turning the OnePlus 9 to the front, the first thing that jumps out at you is the strange logo in the center of the device; as PhoneArena points out, OnePlus tends to create logos exclusively for prototype devices.

The next thing you will notice is the huge camera bump in the upper left corner. It contains three camera sensors and a flash, but its specifications are open to speculation: the OnePlus 8T had camera specs on the bump, but this prototype has the word "ultrashot" embossed on it instead.

Speaking of specs, the screenshots in the settings menu say a lot. The OnePlus 9 5G appears to be powered by the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, although the camera details seem to be overwritten by more generic ones.

The leak also revealed 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, but it's worth noting that previous OnePlus phones have offered options with more RAM and more storage for a little more cash. Assuming that's an option here, it's definitely worth considering since again there's no option to expand storage via microSD.

Finally, there's the OnePlus 9's screen. With a reported resolution of 2,400 x 1,080, a pixel density of 401.64 ppi, and a refresh rate listed at 120 Hz, it could potentially achieve 120 fps in games (assuming such a frame rate is supported). Since higher refresh rates consume more power, the OnePlus 9 5G is listed as having a built-in 4,500 mAh battery.

All in all, there is much to be excited about, although the launch is still months away. And it will be interesting to see how similar this prototype will be to the finished product that will be available in the spring.