OnePlus has finally decided to release some of its new cheap Nord series phones in the US.
With the announcement of the N10 5G and N100, OnePlus is having another stab at the cheaper end of the phone market and, in particular, the new iPhone SE and Google Pixel 4a with the sub-$500 N10 5G.
Let’s take a closer look at the phones and see how they stack up to the ever-growing low-to-mid-range competition.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G Specs, Features, Prices
The N10 5G is the first Nord-series phone to release in the US. However, OnePlus hasn’t specified when the N10 5G will release in the US, nor how much it will cost.
A UK and Europe release is expected in November, where the phone will cost £329 or €399, respectively. A quick currency conversion will show a number less than $500 and, frankly, we’d be amazed if OnePlus released the N10 5G for any more than that.
Anyway, let’s take a look at the specs.
The N10 5G comes packing a 6.5-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 1080×2400 resolution. However, the fact that the N10 5G comes with an LCD display, rather than an OLED (like the Pixel 4a), is a shame. It won’t be as sharp nor as bright.
However, like the Pixel 4a, the N10 5G comes with a plastic frame to help keep cost and weight down. Sadly, the phone still manages to be on the heavy side at 190g — the Pixel 4a 5G and iPhone SE both weigh significantly less (although they do have smaller screens).
The N10 5G also loses out to the Pixel 4a 5G and iPhone SE when it comes to performance. While the OnePlus phone packs a Snapdragon 690 processor, the Google phone comes with the faster Snapdragon 765G chip. The iPhone SE blows them both out of the water, though, with its A13 Bionic chip.
When it comes to cameras, the N10 5G has four rear-facing lenses, including a 64Mp main sensor. However, we’d be pretty surprised if the OnePlus phone can get anywhere near the picture quality of the Pixel 4a. It seems even less likely that the OnePlus could challenge the iPhone when it comes to video, to boot.
However, the N10 5G claws one back when it comes to charging speeds. The Google and Apple phones both manage 18W charging while the N10 5G comes with mega fast 30W charging.
While the N10 5G looks good in isolation, compared to the Pixel 4a 5G and iPhone SE it becomes clear that OnePlus hasn’t really done much to push the cheap phone game forward.
OnePlus Nord N100 Specs, Features, Prices
The OnePlus Nord N100, on the other hand, is a thoroughly low-end phone. It’s expected to cost around $235 when it also goes on sale “at a later date” in the US — this puts it right in the firing line of Nokia’s 5.3.
The N100 has a large 6.5-inch LCD display with a 720×1600 resolution. The Nokia 5.3 has a similar 6.55-inch LCD with a 720×1600 resolution. The display isn’t bad but, on occasion, it can look a bit pixel-y.
When it comes to processors, the OnePlus phone has a Snapdragon 460 while the Nokia has the faster Snapdragon 665 chip. While there isn’t night-and-day between the two chipsets, the Nokia will have a performance edge which will make day-to-day use easier.
When it comes to cameras, the N100 has three rear lenses, while the Nokia has four. There’s not a lot to choose between them, though the OnePlus doesn’t have an ultrawide lens which, arguably, is the most important after a high-resolution main sensor.
Round the front, both phones get a single 8Mp lens, though the OnePlus’ camera comes with HDR tech.
The OnePlus phone does have a larger 5000 mAh battery and faster charging compared to the Nokia 5.3 but, as ever for phones with low-resolution screens and low-power processors, battery life isn’t a concern with the Nokia.
All told, the OnePlus Nord N100 is a completely middle-of-the-road cheap phone. For a company that supposedly “never settles,” OnePlus seems to be pretty content in offering a fairly forgettable mid-tier phone this time out.
