OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A54. Both offer compelling features at accessible prices, but which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior display, longer software support, and excellent battery life. While the Nord CE 2 5G boasts faster charging, the A54's consistent performance and camera quality make it the more well-rounded choice.

PHONES
Phone Names	OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G	Samsung Galaxy A54

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, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe	1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India	25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2022, February 17	2023, March 15
Status	Available. Released 2022, February 22	Available. Released 2023, March 24

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions	160.6 x 73.2 x 7.8 mm (6.32 x 2.88 x 0.31 in)	158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	173 g (6.10 oz)	202 g (7.13 oz)
	-	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm)	Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPU	Mali-G68 MC4	Mali-G68 MP5
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13	Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 2.2	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1.0µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)	50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1.0µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	Unspecified	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	65W wired	25W wired
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Gray Mirror, Bahama Blue	Lime, Graphite, Violet, White
Models	IV2201	SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
Price	£ 99.00 / € 182.18	€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR	-	0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 119h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G

Faster Charging (65W)
More Affordable
Decent Performance for the Price

Less Bright Display
Weaker Camera
Shorter Software Support

Samsung Galaxy A54

Excellent Display
Longer Battery Life
Better Camera
Longer Software Support
Water and Dust Resistance (IP67)

Slower Charging (25W)
Slightly Higher Price

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 takes a clear lead in the display department. Its 980 nits peak brightness and infinite contrast ratio provide a stunning visual experience, especially outdoors. The Nord CE 2 5G's display is decent but lacks the vibrancy and brightness of the A54. Both use AMOLED panels, offering excellent color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 consistently delivers better camera performance, particularly in various lighting conditions. Its image processing is more refined, resulting in more natural-looking photos. The Nord CE 2 5G's camera is adequate, but it can struggle in low light and tends to oversaturate colors. Video recording is also generally better on the A54.

Performance

While both phones feature octa-core processors, the Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 (5nm) generally offers smoother performance and better efficiency compared to the Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6nm) in the Nord CE 2 5G. The A54's Cortex-A78 cores are also slightly faster. However, for everyday tasks, both phones are capable.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A54 shines with its exceptional battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 119 hours. Active use yields around 11 hours and 15 minutes. The Nord CE 2 5G offers respectable battery life, but it doesn't match the A54's longevity. The Nord CE 2 5G's 65W charging is a significant advantage, allowing for much faster top-ups.

Buying Guide

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a slightly more budget-friendly price. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those seeking a vibrant display, reliable performance, a great camera, and long-term software updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?

The Samsung Galaxy A54 offers significantly longer software support, with guaranteed updates for several years, providing better long-term value.

❓ Is the Nord CE 2 5G worth it if I need fast charging?

Yes, the Nord CE 2 5G's 65W charging is a major advantage if quick top-ups are a priority. However, consider if the trade-offs in display and camera are acceptable.