OnePlus Nord 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and rapid charging, the OnePlus Nord 5 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and 80W charging significantly outperform the S23 FE’s Exynos 2200 (International) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA) and 25W charging. However, the S23 FE remains a compelling option for those deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem and prioritizing camera versatility.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord 5 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
| 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, July 08 | 2023, October 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, July 08 | Available. Released 2023, October 05 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), glass back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 77 x 8.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 211 g (7.44 oz) | 209 g (7.37 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1272 x 2800 pixels (~450 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.83 inches, 113.3 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Swift AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1400 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - InternationalOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - USA |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - USA |
| GPU | Adreno 735 | Xclipse 920 - InternationalAdreno 730 - USA |
| OS | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF | - |
| Features | LED flash, Ultra HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama | - |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 10 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 100% in just 54 min 5W reverse wired Bypass charging | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Market-dependent versions:· 5200 mAh (Europe)· 6800 mAh (Global) | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Grey, Dry Ice, Marble Sands | Mint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, Tangerine |
| Models | CPH2709 | SM-S711B, SM-S711B/DS, SM-S711U1, SM-S711U, SM-S711W, SM-S7110, SM-S711N |
| Price | £ 339.00 / € 294.97 / ₹ 31,998 | $ 219.95 / C$ 327.90 / £ 248.99 / € 272.00 / ₹ 34,999 |
| SAR | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) | 0.80 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.76 W/kg (head) 1.04 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 49:12h endurance, 1200 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class B | - |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class B | - |
OnePlus Nord 5
- Significantly faster charging (80W)
- More powerful processor (Snapdragon 8s Gen 3)
- Longer battery life (49:12h endurance)
- Camera specifications unknown
- Less established brand reputation than Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Samsung ecosystem integration
- Potentially superior camera image processing
- Wider availability and support network
- Slower charging (25W)
- Older/Less efficient processor (Exynos 2200/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
- Shorter battery life (8:28h active use)
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 5 boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 1330 nits compared to the S23 FE’s 985 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize 4nm chipsets, the display brightness difference is significant. Neither specification details refresh rate or panel type, but given the Nord series history, a 120Hz AMOLED is expected on the Nord 5, likely matching the S23 FE’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X. The higher peak brightness of the Nord 5 will be particularly noticeable for HDR content consumption.
Camera Comparison
The context data for the S23 FE mentions 'Photo / Video' but lacks specifics. Samsung typically excels in image processing, and the S23 FE likely benefits from this expertise. However, without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. The Nord 5’s camera specs are also missing, making it impossible to assess its capabilities. It’s reasonable to assume the S23 FE will offer a more versatile camera system with features like advanced zoom capabilities and refined portrait modes, given Samsung’s history. The absence of detail on both sides makes this a difficult area to definitively judge.
Performance
The chipset is where the most significant divergence occurs. The OnePlus Nord 5’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm) is architecturally more modern than the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE’s Exynos 2200 (International) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA) – both 4nm. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 features a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, offering a performance advantage over the Cortex-X2 in the Exynos and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Nord 5’s CPU configuration (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4, 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) is optimized for sustained performance, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions compared to the S23 FE’s (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710, 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510).
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord 5 demonstrates superior battery endurance with a 49:12h rating, and an active use score of 13:47h, compared to the S23 FE’s 8:28h active use score. While the S23 FE’s battery capacity is unknown, the Nord 5’s significantly longer endurance suggests a more efficient combination of hardware and software. Crucially, the Nord 5’s 80W wired charging is dramatically faster than the S23 FE’s 25W charging – achieving 100% charge in just 54 minutes versus 30% in 30 minutes. The Nord 5 also offers 33W PPS and 18W PD, alongside 5W reverse wired charging, providing greater charging flexibility.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Nord 5 if you need a phone for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, or heavy multitasking, and value incredibly fast charging speeds. You’ll benefit from a smoother, more responsive experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you prefer a more polished software experience, a well-regarded camera system, and seamless integration with other Samsung devices, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power and charging speed.