The sub-$150 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. Both the HTC Wildfire E5 Plus and the OnePlus Nord N100 aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at an accessible price point. However, they take different approaches, with HTC opting for a Unisoc chipset and OnePlus leveraging Qualcomm's Snapdragon series. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and faster charging, the OnePlus Nord N100 is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 460, while not a powerhouse, offers a more refined experience than the Unisoc T606 in the Wildfire E5 Plus, and the 18W charging is a significant advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat13 400/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71 - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, February 15 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 11 | Available. Released 2020, November 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 168.4 x 77.9 x 9.5 mm (6.63 x 3.07 x 0.37 in) | 164.9 x 75.1 x 8.5 mm (6.49 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.75 inches, 110.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T606 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5.9 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF
2 MP, f/2.4 | - |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | - |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue | Midnight Frost |
| Models | - | BE2013, BE2015, BE2011, BE2012 |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 80 EUR |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 125.00 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 129.00 |
HTC Wildfire E5 Plus
- Potentially longer battery life with light usage
- Lower price point (potentially)
- Unisoc chipset may offer decent efficiency
- Less powerful processor
- Slower charging speeds
- Limited software support
OnePlus Nord N100
- More responsive performance with Snapdragon 460
- Faster 18W charging
- Better software optimization and potential for updates
- Potentially shorter battery life under heavy load
- Slightly higher price
- Limited RAM (4GB)
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Both likely utilize LCD panels, a common cost-saving measure in this segment. Specifics like resolution and refresh rate are missing, but we can assume 720p+ resolution is standard. The focus here isn't on visual fidelity, but on basic usability. Without detailed brightness data, it's difficult to declare a winner, but OnePlus's history suggests slightly better color calibration.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely to be similar on both devices, leaning towards basic functionality. Details on sensor size and aperture are absent, but given the price point, expect 12MP or 13MP main sensors. The OnePlus Nord N100 likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP), which generally delivers better image processing and noise reduction. The inclusion of a dedicated night mode on the OnePlus, a common feature in Snapdragon-powered devices, is also probable. Avoid placing too much weight on any secondary cameras (like macro lenses) on either device, as their quality will be limited.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord N100’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 (11nm) benefits from a more mature architecture and optimized software support compared to the HTC Wildfire E5 Plus’s Unisoc T606 (12nm). While both are octa-core, the Snapdragon 460’s Kryo 240 cores, clocked at 1.8 GHz, offer a performance edge over the T606’s Cortex-A75 (1.6 GHz) and A55 cores. This translates to snappier app loading times and smoother multitasking on the OnePlus. The 11nm process node on the Snapdragon also contributes to better power efficiency, potentially offsetting the slightly larger battery capacity of the Wildfire E5 Plus in real-world usage. The Snapdragon's Adreno GPU will also provide a better gaming experience.
Battery Life
Battery life is a complex equation. The HTC Wildfire E5 Plus likely has a larger battery capacity, but the OnePlus Nord N100’s more efficient Snapdragon 460 and 18W wired charging provide a significant advantage. While the Wildfire E5 Plus may last longer on a single charge with light usage, the Nord N100’s faster charging will minimize downtime. A full charge on the Nord N100 will be considerably quicker, potentially going from 0-100% in under 2 hours, while the Wildfire E5 Plus will likely take significantly longer.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Wildfire E5 Plus if you prioritize a potentially longer-lasting battery due to the less power-hungry Unisoc chipset and are comfortable with a more basic user experience. Buy the OnePlus Nord N100 if you prefer a smoother, more responsive interface, faster charging speeds, and a brand with a stronger track record of software updates, even if those updates are limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Unisoc T606 in the HTC Wildfire E5 Plus struggle with demanding apps like social media or video streaming?
The Unisoc T606 is a budget chipset and will exhibit noticeable slowdowns when running multiple demanding apps simultaneously. While it can handle basic tasks like web browsing and calls, expect longer loading times and occasional stuttering with resource-intensive applications. The OnePlus Nord N100's Snapdragon 460 will provide a smoother experience in these scenarios.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the OnePlus Nord N100 with the 18W charger?
With the included 18W charger, the OnePlus Nord N100 should fully charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on usage during charging. This is a significant improvement over the likely slower charging speeds of the HTC Wildfire E5 Plus.
❓ Is 4GB of RAM enough for the OnePlus Nord N100 in 2024?
4GB of RAM is becoming increasingly limiting, but for basic smartphone usage – calls, texts, social media, and light web browsing – it's still functional. However, multitasking will be constrained, and you may experience app reloading more frequently. If you're a heavy user, consider this a potential bottleneck.
