The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is the latest addition to the OnePlus lineup and will appeal to people on a budget since it is now the most affordable model. OnePlus promises to provide the core OnePlus experience with the Nord CE 5G, as it covers all the basics one would look for. However, the higher variants are priced similarly to the original OnePlus Nord, which is meant to cater to a higher tier in the market. So is the new Nord CE 5G worth your money, or was the original Nord a better device? I compare the Nord CE 5G to the original Nord.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G vs OnePlus Nord price
The Nord CE 5G is more affordable by starting prices, but things begin to overlap if you look for more RAM and storage. The new OnePlus Nord CE 5G starts at Rs. 22,999 for the base variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The higher variants with 8GB RAM/ 128GB storage and 12GB RAM/ 256GB storage are priced at Rs. 24,999 and Rs. 27,999, respectively. The OnePlus Nord, on the other hand, was priced at Rs. 24,999 for the 6GB RAM 64GB storage variant, though this was not easily available. The 8GB RAM/ 128GB storage variant was priced at Rs. 27,999, while the 12GB RAM/ 256GB storage variant was priced at Rs. 29,999. This model has just been discontinued, but a refresh could be coming soon, based on leaks and rumors.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G vs OnePlus Nord design
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G and the OnePlus Nord take slightly different approaches to design. Pick the two smartphones up, and you’ll notice that the OnePlus Nord feels more premium thanks to its Corning Gorilla Glass 5 rear glass panel. The Nord CE 5G has to settle for a plastic back. You might confuse one device for the other, but an easy way to distinguish them is by the design of their camera modules. While both smartphones have pill-shaped modules, the Nord has a quad-camera setup, while the Nord CE 5G has only three cameras.
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is slightly taller than the older Nord, but both felt comfortable for one-handed use. The buttons on both devices are placed low enough on the sides to be within reach. The Nord has an alert slider like all other premium OnePlus phones, but the new Nord CE 5G misses out on it. On the other hand, the Nord CE 5G sports a 3.5mm headphone jack which is quite handy.
The Nord CE 5G (right) and the Nord (left) look similar.
Both these smartphones have a single speaker and a USB Type-C port at the bottom. The Nord has its SIM tray at the bottom, while the Nord CE 5G has it on the left side of the frame. These two smartphones only have a secondary microphone at the top. The display on the OnePlus Nord measures 6.44 inches, and the one on the Nord CE 5G is roughly the same at 6.43 inches.
Both phones’ displays have 90Hz refresh rates. However, the OnePlus Nord gets Corning Gorilla Glass protection, while the Nord CE 5G gets Asahi Dragontrail protection. Both smartphones feature embedded front cameras, with the Nord has a dual-camera setup at the front, while the Nord CE 5G has a single one. The Nord is noticeably heavier at 184g than the Nord CE 5G, which weighs 170g. This is surprising considering that the Nord CE 5G has a bigger 4,500mAh battery than the 4,115mAh battery in the original Nord.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G vs. OnePlus Nord specifications and software.
OnePlus offers AMOLED displays on both of these smartphones. These panels have full-HD+ resolutions and 90Hz refresh rates. Both also have in-display fingerprint scanners that are easy to reach and work well. The spec sheet shows significant differences; the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor powers the Nord CE 5G, while the Snapdragon 765G powers the OnePlus Nord. The latter is based on a 7nm process and has a slightly higher clock speed. Both these OnePlus smartphones come in 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB RAM options. The new Nord CE 5G offers 128GB and 256GB storage options, while the older Nord offers 64GB on the (now discontinued) base model.
