Lenovo K12 Pro vs OnePlus Nord N10 5G: Which Budget Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing future-proofing and faster charging, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 690 chipset offers 5G support and a performance edge, while the 30W charging significantly reduces downtime. However, users on a tighter budget who don't need 5G will find the K12 Pro a capable alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Lenovo K12 Pro | OnePlus Nord N10 5G |
| 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 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 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 | 172.1 x 76.8 x 9.7 mm (6.78 x 3.02 x 0.38 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.1% 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 (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (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 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired 2.5W reverse wired | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Electric Violet, Metallic Sage | Midnight Ice |
| Models | XT2091-8, XT2091-7 | BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028 |
| Price | About 130 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 Pro
- Potentially lower price point
- 2.5W reverse wired charging
- Solid overall performance for basic tasks
- Lacks 5G connectivity
- Slower 20W charging
- Limited display information
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing
- Faster 30W wired charging
- Brighter and higher contrast display
- Potentially higher price
- No reverse wireless charging
- Software update support may be limited
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 Pro, for which display specs are not provided. While the K12 Pro's display details are missing, the Nord N10's contrast ratio indicates deeper blacks and a more immersive viewing experience. The absence of refresh rate information for both phones suggests they likely utilize standard 60Hz panels, common in this price bracket.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the market positioning of OnePlus typically prioritizes camera performance, suggesting the Nord N10 5G may offer slightly better image quality and processing. The absence of details on the K12 Pro's camera system makes it hard to assess its capabilities beyond basic smartphone photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Lenovo K12 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm), while the OnePlus Nord N10 5G features the Snapdragon 690 5G (8nm). The 8nm process node of the 690 offers improved power efficiency and thermal performance compared to the 662's 11nm node. The Nord N10's CPU configuration (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) provides a slight advantage over the K12 Pro's (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver), particularly in multi-threaded tasks. Crucially, the 690 includes an integrated 5G modem, a feature absent in the 662.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 99 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G’s 30W wired charging significantly outperforms the Lenovo K12 Pro’s 20W charging. This translates to faster top-ups, reducing downtime. The K12 Pro does offer 2.5W reverse wired charging, a niche feature for topping up accessories, which the Nord N10 5G lacks.
Buying Guide
Buy the Lenovo K12 Pro if you need a reliable, all-around smartphone with a focus on value and don't require 5G connectivity. It's ideal for users who prioritize a stable experience over cutting-edge features. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if you want faster charging, 5G capabilities for future network access, and a slightly more responsive user experience, even if it means potentially sacrificing a bit of long-term software support.