The sub-$150 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Motorola One Fusion and OnePlus Nord N100 represent two distinct approaches to delivering value. The Fusion, leveraging the older but more powerful Snapdragon 710, aims for performance. The N100, with the newer Snapdragon 460, prioritizes efficiency and affordability. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing smoother multitasking and slightly better gaming performance, the Motorola One Fusion is the better choice, despite its slower charging. However, the OnePlus Nord N100 offers a compelling package for those on a strict budget, especially at its $125 price point, and benefits from faster charging capabilities.
| 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 66 | 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, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71 - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 02. Released 2020, July 02 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165 x 75.9 x 9.4 mm (6.50 x 2.99 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 202 g (7.13 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.5% 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 (2x2.2 GHz 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM710 Snapdragon 710 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 616 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5.9 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 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, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 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, gyro, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Emerald Green, Deep Sapphire Blue | Midnight Frost |
| Models | XT2073-2 | BE2013, BE2015, BE2011, BE2012 |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 80 EUR |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 125.00 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 129.00 |
Motorola One Fusion
- More powerful Snapdragon 710 chipset
- Better CPU and GPU performance
- Potentially superior image processing
- Slower 10W charging
- Potentially shorter battery life
- Likely higher price than N100
OnePlus Nord N100
- Faster 18W wired charging
- More affordable ($125)
- Efficient Snapdragon 460 chipset
- Less powerful Snapdragon 460 chipset
- Slower CPU and GPU performance
- Potentially lower camera quality
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. While specific display specs are missing, both likely feature LCD panels common in this price bracket. The focus here is on the internal hardware. The difference in chipsets will impact UI smoothness more than display quality.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the chipset plays a role in image processing speed. The Snapdragon 710’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is more advanced than the 460’s, potentially leading to faster image capture and better low-light performance. It's reasonable to assume both phones will feature a primary camera and depth/macro sensors, but image quality will likely be heavily reliant on software optimization. The N100's lower price point suggests compromises in camera sensor quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Motorola One Fusion’s Snapdragon 710 (10nm) features a more sophisticated CPU configuration – octa-core with 2x2.2 GHz cores – compared to the OnePlus Nord N100’s Snapdragon 460 (11nm) with 4x1.8 GHz cores. While the 460 benefits from a newer 11nm process, the 710’s higher clock speeds and more powerful core architecture translate to noticeably faster performance in CPU-intensive tasks. This means quicker app launches and smoother multitasking. The Snapdragon 710 also has a more capable GPU, offering a better gaming experience, though neither phone is a gaming powerhouse. The N100's 4GB of RAM, paired with the 460, is sufficient for basic use, but will struggle with numerous open apps.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord N100’s 18W wired charging is a significant advantage over the Motorola One Fusion’s 10W charging. This translates to a much faster 0-100% charge time. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Snapdragon 460’s efficiency should provide good battery life on the N100. The Snapdragon 710, being more powerful, will consume more power, potentially resulting in shorter battery life on the Fusion, despite any potential capacity differences. The faster charging on the N100 mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola One Fusion if you need a phone capable of handling more demanding apps and occasional gaming without significant slowdowns. It's ideal for users who value performance over the latest features. Buy the OnePlus Nord N100 if you prioritize affordability and longer battery life with quicker top-ups, and your usage primarily revolves around basic tasks like calling, texting, and social media. It's the perfect choice for first-time smartphone users or those seeking a reliable backup device.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 460 in the Nord N100 struggle with popular apps like TikTok or Instagram?
While the Snapdragon 460 is an entry-level chipset, it's generally sufficient for running social media apps like TikTok and Instagram. However, expect some occasional slowdowns when multitasking or using the apps for extended periods. The 4GB of RAM is the limiting factor here.
❓ Is the Motorola One Fusion a good choice for playing mobile games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile?
The Motorola One Fusion, with its Snapdragon 710, offers a better gaming experience than the Nord N100. You'll be able to play PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. However, don't expect a flagship-level gaming experience; you may need to lower graphics settings for smoother gameplay.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the OnePlus Nord N100 with the 18W charger?
With the 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 significantly faster than the Motorola One Fusion's 10W charging.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 710 in the Motorola One Fusion offer any future-proofing benefits?
The Snapdragon 710 is a slightly older chipset, but it still provides a more robust platform than the 460. This means it will likely handle software updates and new app versions more smoothly for a longer period, offering a degree of future-proofing.
