Honor Play5 5G vs. OnePlus Nord CE 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing rapid charging and potentially higher peak performance in demanding tasks, the Honor Play5 5G is the winner. Its 66W charging significantly outperforms the Nord CE 5G's 30W, and the Dimensity 800U offers a slight edge in raw CPU power. However, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G remains a strong contender with comparable battery endurance and a potentially more refined software experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor Play5 5G | OnePlus Nord CE 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 | 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 18 | 2021, June 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 26 | Available. Released 2021, June 11 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 74.8 x 7.5 mm (6.36 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) | 159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 170 g (6.00 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Schott Xensation Up | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~410 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.3 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 4.0, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Unspecified | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Violet, Light Blue | Blue Void, Charkoal Ink, Silver Ray |
| Models | HJC-AN90 | EB2101, EB2103 |
| Price | About 270 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 117h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -29.9 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 318672 (v8) | 391770 (v9) GeekBench: 1812 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play5 5G
- Significantly faster 66W charging
- Potentially higher peak CPU performance with Dimensity 800U
- Competitive 5G connectivity
- Mediatek chipset may have less software optimization compared to Qualcomm
- Lack of detailed camera specifications
OnePlus Nord CE 5G
- Comparable battery endurance (117h)
- Potentially more efficient Snapdragon 750G chipset
- Bright display (607 nits)
- Slower 30W charging
- Lower peak CPU performance compared to Honor Play5 5G
- Generic camera description
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 607 nits, providing good visibility in most conditions. While the Honor Play5 5G’s display specifications aren’t provided, it’s likely to be comparable. Both phones feature an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of IPS LCD panels. The lack of high refresh rate panels on either device means the visual experience won’t be as fluid as on higher-end phones, but this is a common trade-off in this price segment. The Nord CE 5G’s brightness advantage will be noticeable in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. It’s reasonable to assume both phones will offer acceptable image quality in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance will likely be a differentiating factor. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests they are included for marketing purposes rather than significant photographic utility. Image processing algorithms will play a crucial role in the final image quality, and brand preference often dictates user satisfaction in this area.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Honor Play5 5G utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7nm) with a CPU configuration of 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, while the OnePlus Nord CE 5G features the Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8nm) with 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570 cores. The 8nm process of the Snapdragon 750G generally offers better power efficiency than the 7nm Dimensity 800U, potentially leading to slightly longer battery life under sustained load. However, the Dimensity 800U’s higher clocked Cortex-A76 cores suggest a slight advantage in peak CPU performance. Both phones likely utilize LPDDR4X RAM, a standard for this price point.
Battery Life
Both the Honor Play5 5G and OnePlus Nord CE 5G achieve an endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Honor Play5 5G’s 66W wired charging can reach 60% in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes, a significant advantage over the OnePlus Nord CE 5G’s 30W charging, which takes 30 minutes to reach 70%. This faster charging capability allows the Honor Play5 5G to quickly top up its battery, minimizing downtime, even if the overall battery capacity is similar.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Play5 5G if you need blazing-fast charging and frequently engage in resource-intensive activities like gaming or video editing. Its 66W charging will minimize downtime. Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 5G if you prioritize consistent battery life and a potentially cleaner software experience, and aren't as concerned with the absolute fastest charging speeds. The Nord CE 5G is ideal for everyday users who value reliability and longevity.