The Lenovo K12 (China) and OnePlus Nord N10 5G represent distinct approaches to the budget 5G smartphone market. The K12 prioritizes affordability, while the Nord N10 5G aims for a more balanced experience with faster charging and a more powerful chipset. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance and convenience, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 690 chipset and 30W charging significantly outperform the Lenovo K12’s Snapdragon 460 and 10W charging, justifying the potential price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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 | 2020, December 09. Released 2020, December 12 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 x 0.36 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 | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 619L |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| 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 |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
2.5W reverse wired | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Navy Blue, Gray | 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) |
Lenovo K12 (China)
- Extremely affordable price point
- 5G connectivity
- 2.5W reverse wired charging
- Slow 10W charging
- Less powerful Snapdragon 460 chipset
- Limited display information suggests lower quality
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- Faster Snapdragon 690 5G chipset
- 30W fast charging
- Brighter and higher contrast display
- Higher price than Lenovo K12
- No reverse wireless charging
- Software updates may be less frequent than flagship OnePlus models
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 440 nits and a 1447:1 contrast ratio, suggesting a more vibrant and visible display in bright conditions compared to the Lenovo K12, for which display specs are unavailable. While the K12’s display details are scarce, its market positioning suggests a lower-quality panel. The Nord N10 5G’s higher contrast ratio will deliver deeper blacks and a more immersive viewing experience. The absence of refresh rate information for the K12 further highlights the Nord N10 5G’s potential advantage.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited for the Lenovo K12. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 690, offering improved image processing. Without sensor size or aperture information for the K12, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The Nord N10 5G’s ISP and potentially larger sensor (based on market segment) will likely deliver superior image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of OIS on the Nord N10 5G (likely, given the brand's history) would further enhance image stability.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Lenovo K12 utilizes the Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm), while the OnePlus Nord N10 5G features the SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm). The 8nm process node of the Snapdragon 690 is more efficient, leading to better thermal management and sustained performance. The CPU configuration also favors the Nord N10 5G with its 2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold and 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver cores, compared to the K12’s 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 and 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the Nord N10 5G.
Battery Life
Both phones share an endurance rating of 99 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ dramatically. The Lenovo K12 is limited to 10W wired charging, while the OnePlus Nord N10 5G supports 30W wired charging. This means the Nord N10 5G can replenish its battery much faster – a significant convenience factor. The K12 also offers 2.5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Nord N10 5G, but its slow speed limits its practicality.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lenovo K12 (China) if you need an extremely affordable 5G phone and are willing to compromise on performance and charging speed. It’s ideal for basic tasks and users on a very tight budget. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if you prefer a smoother user experience, faster charging, and a more capable camera system, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 460 in the Lenovo K12 powerful enough for gaming?
The Snapdragon 460 is an entry-level chipset. While it can handle casual gaming, demanding titles will likely require reduced graphics settings and may experience noticeable lag. The Nord N10 5G’s Snapdragon 690 offers a significantly better gaming experience.
❓ How long does it *actually* take to fully charge the Lenovo K12 with its 10W charger?
With a 10W charger, fully charging the Lenovo K12 will likely take over 3 hours, potentially closer to 4, depending on the battery’s initial state. This is a substantial difference compared to the Nord N10 5G’s 30W charging, which can achieve a full charge in around an hour.
❓ Does the OnePlus Nord N10 5G support carrier aggregation for improved 5G speeds?
The Snapdragon 690 supports carrier aggregation, which allows the phone to combine multiple 5G channels for faster and more stable connections. This is a key advantage for users in areas with strong 5G coverage.
❓ What kind of storage does the Lenovo K12 use, and is it expandable?
Information on the Lenovo K12's storage type (e.g., UFS 2.1, eMMC) is currently unavailable. However, given its price point, it's likely to be eMMC, which is slower than UFS. Expandability via microSD card is probable, but unconfirmed.
