OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A23 5G: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G edges out the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G thanks to its superior display, longer battery life, and generally more polished software experience. While the OnePlus offers faster charging, the A23's overall package provides better value for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | Samsung Galaxy A23 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 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, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 28 | 2022, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 30 | Available. Released 2022, September 02 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | PLS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA 8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black Dusk, Blue Tide | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | CPH2381, CPH2409 | SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL |
| Price | About 220 EUR | $ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.71 W/kg (body) | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.49 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 138h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.9 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 318821 (v9) GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
- Faster Charging (33W)
- Slightly more streamlined OxygenOS
- Competitive Price
- Less vibrant display
- Potentially less impressive camera
- Shorter battery life
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
- Excellent Display (Brightness & Contrast)
- Exceptional Battery Life
- Reliable Samsung Software
- Likely better camera
- Slower Charging (25W)
- Samsung's One UI can feel bloated to some
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G boasts a noticeably better display. While both phones feature similar resolutions, the A23's higher peak brightness (508 nits vs. estimated 400-450 nits for the Nord CE 2 Lite) and excellent contrast ratio (1328:1) result in a more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience. The A23 also likely has better color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A23 5G likely holds an advantage in the camera department. While both offer capable camera systems, Samsung's image processing is generally considered superior, producing more natural-looking photos. The A23's camera setup likely includes a higher resolution main sensor and potentially better low-light performance. OnePlus tends to oversaturate colors.
Performance
Both phones share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset and CPU configuration, meaning performance will be largely comparable in everyday tasks. However, OnePlus's OxygenOS is often perceived as slightly more optimized for performance, potentially offering a marginally smoother experience in some scenarios. Gaming performance will be adequate on both, but don't expect flagship-level speeds.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is the clear winner in battery life. Its endurance rating of 138 hours significantly surpasses what we'd expect from the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. While the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G offers faster 33W charging, the A23's longer battery life means you'll need to charge it less frequently.
Buying Guide
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is a good choice for users prioritizing fast charging and a slightly more streamlined OxygenOS experience. The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is ideal for those seeking a vibrant display, exceptional battery life, and the reliability of Samsung's software support.