The OnePlus Nord CE 5G was launched in India today as a stripped-down version of the first-generation OnePlus Nord in the brand’s lineup. However, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G and the original Nord match closely with each other in terms of prices in India and specifications. In fact, the former is actually better than the latter in a few areas. So, the question is, should you spend your money on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G or get the OnePlus Nord? Well, let us find out the answer in this comparison.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G vs OnePlus Nord prices in India
| Model | Variant | Price in India |
| OnePlus Nord CE | 6GB + 128GB | Rs 22,999 |
| 8GB + 128GB | Rs 24,999 | |
| 12GB + 256GB | Rs 27,999 | |
| OnePlus Nord | 6GB + 64GB | Rs 24,999 |
| 8GB + 128GB | Rs 27,999 | |
| 12GB + 256GB | Rs 29,999 |
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G price in India is Rs 22,999 for the base variant, which has 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Its 8GB + 128GB and 12GB + 256GB options are priced at Rs 24,999 and Rs 27,999, respectively. The phone is up for pre-orders starting June 11th at 12pm via Amazon.in and OnePlus.in, with customers getting benefits worth Rs 2,699 on advance bookings.
The original OnePlus Nord, on the other hand, costs Rs 24,999 for the base version that has 6GB RAM + 128GB storage. So, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is Rs 2,000 more affordable than the OnePlus Nord for the same configuration. Similar is the case for the other two variants: 8GB + 128GB at Rs 27,999 and 12GB + 256GB at Rs 29,999. However, it seems the Nord has been discontinued in India as the phone is not available to purchase on the OnePlus website or Amazon.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G vs OnePlus Nord specifications
Display
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G comes with a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a left-mounted punch-hole. The original model has a similar display but with a few minor changes. The phone has a 6.44-inch screen, a tad bit larger than that of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G. Plus, the display of the OnePlus Nord has a wider punch-hole compared to that of the CE because of its two front-facing cameras. The rest of the specifications remain the same including the AMOLED technology and a 90Hz refresh rate.
The display of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G might be 0.01-inch smaller. However, in our opinion, the screen of the new phone is better compared to that of the OnePlus Nord, mainly because the former’s display has a smaller punch-hole that not only looks better aesthetically but it also doesn’t create as much obstruction on the screen as that of the first-gen smartphone.
Camera
While the OnePlus Nord CE 5G features a triple-camera setup at the rear comprising of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor, the OnePlus Nord has a quad-camera setup at the rear with a 48MP primary sensor featuring optical image stabilisation (OIS), 8MP ultra-wide camera, 5MP depth sensor, and 2MP macro lens.
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G uses a better sensor for the primary camera. However, it does not feature OIS like the primary camera of the OnePlus Nord does. When you compare a 48MP non-OIS camera with a 64MP non-OIS camera, the latter usually offers a better image quality. However when you compare a 48MP OIS-equipped sensor with a 64MP non-OIS camera, the former undoubtedly offers better image quality. So, the OnePlus Nord still holds its ground when it comes to the rear camera setup.
Coming to the front cameras, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G has a 16MP sensor, whereas the Nord has a 32MP main camera and 8MP ultrawide lens for selfies. Considering the primary selfie sensor of the latter is larger, expect it to offer a better image quality in most scenarios than the 16MP sensor in the latter. Moreover, the ultra-wide selfie camera of the older phone is very useful when you want more people to fit in the frame. Therefore, the OnePlus Nord takes the crown for the selfie camera performance as well.
Performance and software
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, whereas, the OnePlus Nord has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G under the hood. While both smartphones have enough power to handle heavy tasks and graphics-intensive games with ease, the OnePlus Nord comes ahead in the race as it has a more powerful chipset. Having a more powerful SoC ensures that your phone will not slow down for a longer period of time. As for the software, both devices ship with the Android 11 OS and Oxygen OS 11.1 customisation. So, it is a tie between the both in terms of the software experience.
Battery
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G packs a 4,500mAh battery, which is significantly larger than the 4,115mAh unit in the original smartphone. Since the two have similar display panels and processors, they both will have a similar power consumption. However, as the OnePlus Nord CE 5G has a larger battery pack, it will undoubtedly offer a longer battery backup. When it comes to charging speed, both phones have 30W charging.
Connectivity
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G and the OnePlus Nord have dual-SIM 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth v5.1, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. However, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G does one better. It comes with a 3.5mm audio jack as well.
People buying a smartphone around Rs 25,000 are usually tight on budget and it doesn’t make much sense for them to spend extra money on wireless earphones. This is where the OnePlus Nord CE 5G shines. People can just take advantage of its inbuilt 3.5mm audio jack and use their existing earphones with the device. Sure, you can do that with the OnePlus Nord too, by using an adapter, but the inbuilt 3.5mm audio jack in the CE model is much more convenient to use. Due to this one factor, the latter wins the connectivity round.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G vs OnePlus Nord: conclusion
In spite of being Rs 2,000 more affordable, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G beats the OnePlus Nord in terms of display, battery life, and connectivity. However, the latter still holds its own when it comes to imaging and performance, which are some of the most important aspects when buying a smartphone. In our opinion, if you have the money to spend, you should go with the OnePlus Nord. We think that having better cameras and faster performance is more important than having a slightly better display, battery life, and connectivity. That being said, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is also an excellent smartphone for its price.
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