Motorola Moto E7 vs. OnePlus Nord N100: A Deep Dive into Budget Smartphone Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord N100 is the better choice. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 chipset, built on an 11nm process, provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Moto E7’s MediaTek Helio G25. The 18W charging is a significant benefit, offsetting the slightly higher price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Moto E7 | OnePlus Nord N100 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Europe, Asia | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - Europe | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat13 400/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Asia | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, November 24. Released 2020, December 09 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 11 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.9 x 75.7 x 8.9 mm (6.49 x 2.98 x 0.35 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 | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5.9 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | 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 | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | 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 | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mineral Gray, Aqua Blue, Satin Coral | Midnight Frost |
| Models | - | BE2013, BE2015, BE2011, BE2012 |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 80 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 125.00 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 129.00 |
Motorola Moto E7
- Potentially lower price point
- May offer slightly longer battery life (depending on capacity)
- Reliable brand reputation for basic smartphones
- Inferior chipset performance (Helio G25)
- Slower 10W charging
- Likely less refined software experience
OnePlus Nord N100
- More powerful Snapdragon 460 chipset
- Faster 18W charging
- Better multitasking and app loading speeds
- Slightly higher price ($125)
- May have slightly shorter battery life (depending on capacity)
- OnePlus's software support can be inconsistent
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Both likely utilize LCD panels, a common cost-saving measure in this segment. While specific display specs (resolution, brightness) are missing, the focus here is on internal processing. The difference in chipsets will have a greater impact on perceived smoothness of scrolling and animations than any minor display variations.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely to be similar, given the budget nature of both devices. Both will likely feature a primary camera and potentially depth/macro sensors of limited utility. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner. Image processing will play a crucial role, and OnePlus generally offers more refined software algorithms. Expect acceptable results in good lighting conditions, but struggles in low light.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord N100’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 (11nm) is architecturally superior to the Motorola Moto E7’s MediaTek Helio G25 (12nm). The 11nm process generally translates to better power efficiency and thermal management. While both CPUs feature octa-core configurations, the Snapdragon 460’s Kryo 240 cores offer a performance edge over the Cortex-A53 cores in the Helio G25. This means faster app loading times and a more fluid multitasking experience on the Nord N100. The 4GB of RAM in the N100's $125 configuration is standard, and sufficient for basic tasks.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified for the Moto E7, but typical budget phones in this class range from 4000-5000mAh. The Nord N100’s battery capacity is also unspecified, but the key advantage is its 18W wired charging. The Moto E7 is limited to 10W charging, meaning significantly longer charge times. While a larger mAh rating on the Moto E7 *could* translate to longer battery life, the Snapdragon 460’s efficiency in the Nord N100 may mitigate that difference, and the faster charging is a major convenience factor.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Moto E7 if you absolutely need the lowest possible price and prioritize basic functionality like calls, texts, and light social media use. It’s a solid option for first-time smartphone users or as a reliable backup device. Buy the OnePlus Nord N100 if you value smoother performance for multitasking, occasional gaming, and faster charging. The extra $25 delivers a more future-proof experience and a more responsive user interface.