The mid-range 5G smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G and OnePlus Nord 2 5G represent compelling options. The nova 9 SE 5G aims to deliver 5G connectivity and fast charging at an accessible price, while the Nord 2 5G leverages MediaTek’s Dimensity 1200 to offer a more powerful processing experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 1200 chipset provides a significant performance advantage over the Snapdragon 695 in the nova 9 SE 5G, translating to smoother multitasking and gaming. While both offer comparable 65W charging, the Nord 2’s overall processing power justifies its slightly higher price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 20 | 2021, July 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 23 | Available. Released 2021, July 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) | 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.3 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) - unconfirmed | Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) | - |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.3, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Auto HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Unspecified | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, SBAS, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 100% in 35 min | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Pearl White, Crystal Blue | Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, Green Wood, Pac-Man Edition |
| Models | - | DN2101, DN2103 |
| Price | About 370 EUR | € 189.00 / $ 219.99 / £ 148.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 102h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.3 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 512164 (v8) | 598022 (v9)
GeekBench: 2792 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 9 SE 5G
- 66W fast charging (35 min to 100%)
- Sleek and modern design (assumed based on Huawei's aesthetic)
- Competitive 5G connectivity
- Less powerful Snapdragon 695 chipset
- Limited display brightness information
- Potential software restrictions due to Huawei's situation
OnePlus Nord 2 5G
- Powerful MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset
- 65W fast charging with PD (30 min to 100%)
- Higher display brightness (633 nits)
- May run warmer under sustained load
- OxygenOS can be divisive among Android purists
- No expandable storage
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 633 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the nova 9 SE 5G, for which brightness data is unavailable. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. Without specific panel technology details for the nova 9 SE 5G, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy or potential for features like LTPO, which the Nord 2 5G lacks. The Nord 2’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor usability.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. Without specifics on sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the Nord 2 5G, if equipped, would provide a significant advantage in low-light photography and video recording. The 2MP macro cameras found on many phones in this price range, including likely both of these, offer limited practical benefit due to their low resolution and fixed focus. Image processing style will also play a role, but without sample images, this remains speculative.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G’s MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (6nm) features a powerful octa-core configuration with a prime Cortex-A78 core clocked at 3.0 GHz, alongside three additional Cortex-A78 cores at 2.6 GHz and four efficiency cores. This contrasts with the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm), which utilizes a dual-core Kryo 660 Gold setup at 2.2 GHz and six Kryo 660 Silver cores at 1.7 GHz. The Dimensity 1200’s more aggressive core configuration and higher clock speeds translate to significantly better CPU and GPU performance, making the Nord 2 5G the clear winner for demanding tasks and gaming. The Snapdragon 695 is geared towards efficiency and 5G connectivity, but sacrifices raw power.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G and OnePlus Nord 2 5G achieve an impressive endurance rating of 102 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life. However, the charging speeds differ slightly. The nova 9 SE 5G supports 66W wired charging, reaching 100% in 35 minutes, while the Nord 2 5G utilizes 65W wired charging with PD (Power Delivery), achieving a full charge in 30 minutes. The slightly faster charging speed of the Nord 2 5G, combined with its potentially more efficient chipset, gives it a slight edge in overall usability.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G if you prioritize a sleek design and extremely fast 66W charging, and your primary use case revolves around social media, light browsing, and casual gaming. Buy the OnePlus Nord 2 5G if you demand a more responsive and capable processor for demanding apps, gaming, and future-proofing, and value a consistently smooth user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 in the OnePlus Nord 2 5G suffer from overheating issues during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 1200 is a powerful chip, it can generate heat under sustained load. OnePlus has implemented thermal management solutions, but some throttling may occur during extended gaming. However, the Nord 2 5G generally handles demanding games well, and the throttling is typically not severe enough to ruin the experience.
❓ How does Huawei's current situation (US sanctions) affect the software experience on the nova 9 SE 5G, specifically regarding Google Mobile Services (GMS)?
The Huawei nova 9 SE 5G does not come with Google Mobile Services (GMS) pre-installed due to ongoing US sanctions. Instead, it utilizes Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and the AppGallery. While the AppGallery has a growing number of apps, it may not have all the apps you're accustomed to from the Google Play Store. Workarounds exist, but they are not officially supported and may pose security risks.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the nova 9 SE 5G compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?
Huawei's 66W SuperCharge protocol is proprietary and may not be fully compatible with all PD chargers. While it might charge with a PD charger, it may not reach the full 66W charging speed. It's best to use the charger included in the box for optimal charging performance.
