The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the BLU G40 and the OnePlus Nord N10 5G. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G emerges as the clear winner. While the BLU G40 boasts a powerful single core, the Nord N10 5G's 5G connectivity, superior chipset, better display, and impressive battery life make it a more well-rounded and future-proof choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 28, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 28, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1024/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, June | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, June | Available. Released 2020, November 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 78.8 x 10.8 mm (6.43 x 3.10 x 0.43 in) | 163 x 74.7 x 9 mm (6.42 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~72.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | - | Adreno 619L |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP
0.3 MP | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP | 16 MP, f/2.1 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with dual speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Cyan, Teal, White | Midnight Ice |
| Models | - | BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028 |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 99h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 279579 (v8)
GeekBench: 1848 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
BLU G40
- Potentially strong single-core performance
- Affordable price point
- Likely inferior display
- No 5G connectivity
- Less efficient chipset
- Unspecified camera quality
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- 5G connectivity
- Better display quality
- More efficient and balanced chipset
- Faster charging (30W)
- Generally better camera performance
- Slightly higher price than BLU G40
- Performance not as high as flagship phones
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G takes the display crown. Its 1447:1 contrast ratio and 440 nits brightness offer a significantly better viewing experience than the BLU G40, which likely has a standard, less vibrant display. Color accuracy and overall clarity are noticeably improved on the Nord N10 5G.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G generally offers a better camera experience. While both have 'Photo / Video' capabilities listed, the Nord N10 5G's Snapdragon 690 chipset typically includes a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) leading to better image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The BLU G40's camera is likely adequate but not exceptional.
Performance
While the BLU G40 has a powerful single core (2.0 GHz Cortex-A75), the OnePlus Nord N10 5G's Octa-core Snapdragon 690 5G chipset (8nm) provides a more balanced and efficient performance. The Nord N10 5G's chipset handles multitasking and demanding apps more smoothly, and the 5G modem is a significant advantage.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive battery life with a rated endurance of 99 hours. However, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G's 30W wired charging provides faster charging speeds, a practical advantage for daily use.
Buying Guide
The BLU G40 is best suited for users prioritizing raw processing power on a very tight budget and who don't need 5G. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is ideal for those seeking a reliable, feature-rich smartphone with 5G connectivity, a good camera, and long battery life, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the BLU G40 worth buying if I'm on a very tight budget?
The BLU G40 can be a viable option if your budget is extremely limited and you don't need 5G. However, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G offers significantly more value for a slightly higher price.
❓ Does the OnePlus Nord N10 5G support 5G in my area?
5G availability depends on your carrier and location. Check with your carrier to confirm 5G coverage in your area.
