The OnePlus 9 Pro features a significantly improved camera, a display that dynamically adjusts refresh rates, ultra-fast charging technology, and a lower starting price than both the iPhone 12 Pro and Galaxy S21 Plus. But you'll be hard-pressed to find a new OnePlus flagship model right now.

The entry-level OnePlus 9 Pro costs $969 and comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This is a good value and a few dollars less than its $999 equivalent. However, OnePlus does not currently list the $969 version of the OnePlus 9 Pro in its online store.

Instead, the only option for the Pro model is a $1,069 version with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This is a decent price compared to phones in its class that cost $1,099, but it will frustrate would-be shoppers who may not want to have to spend four figures on a smartphone.

The $969 OnePlus 9 Pro model is MIA not only at OnePlus stores; we could not find it at Amazon or Best Buy, which sell unlocked versions of OnePlus' new devices. the only U.S. offering the OnePlus 9 series carrier, T-Mobile, currently sells only the OnePlus 9 Pro for $1,069.

Similarly, the less expensive OnePlus 9 will be available in two versions: a $729 model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and an $829 configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. At this time, only the $729 version is listed on OnePlus.com.

We contacted a OnePlus representative to find out if there is a description of the missing model. Our guess is that OnePlus may be another victim of the global semiconductor shortage. Chipmakers are struggling to keep up with demand for components, and the resulting supply shortages are affecting the supply of everything from new game consoles like the PS5 to cell phones.

It is unclear when a less expensive OnePlus 9 Pro model will be available. For now, shoppers intrigued by the OnePlus 9 Pro will have to either buy the $1,069 model, put off their purchase, or consider another phone altogether if the 9 Pro's asking price is a bit too high.