OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Today, we're pitting two popular mid-range contenders against each other: the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite and the Samsung Galaxy A54. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior display, camera, and significantly longer software support. While the Nord CE 3 Lite offers faster charging, the A54's consistent performance and Samsung's ecosystem make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite	Samsung Galaxy A54

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International	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 - International	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
	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India	25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2023, April 04	2023, March 15
Status	Available. Released 2023, April 11	Available. Released 2023, March 24

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions	165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 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	195 g (6.88 oz)	202 g (7.13 oz)
	-	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak)	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)	Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 619	Mali-G68 MP5
OS	Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1	Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 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	-	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple	108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	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	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS

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

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

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

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

Battery
Charging	67W wired, 80% in 30 min	25W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Pastel Lime, Chromatic Gray	Lime, Graphite, Violet, White
Models	CPH2467, CPH2465	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	£ 169.98 / € 209.99	€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR	1.17 W/kg (head) 0.70 W/kg (body)	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: 412006 (v9) GeekBench: 2052 (v5) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite

Superior Display
Excellent Camera
Long Battery Life
Samsung Ecosystem
Long Software Support

Slower Charging
Higher Price

Samsung Galaxy A54

Fast Charging (67W)
More Affordable
Decent Performance

Lower Display Quality
Less Versatile Camera
Shorter Software Support

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display (980 nits peak) with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Nord CE 3 Lite's display is adequate but lacks the same level of quality and brightness. The A54's display is a clear winner.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy A54's camera system is more versatile and generally produces better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. While the Nord CE 3 Lite's camera is decent, it doesn't match the A54's capabilities. Samsung's image processing is also generally preferred.

Performance

The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 generally provides smoother and more consistent performance than the Snapdragon 695 in the Nord CE 3 Lite. While both have octa-core CPUs, the A54's Cortex-A78 cores offer a performance edge. Gaming and multitasking will feel more fluid on the A54.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Galaxy A54 demonstrating exceptional endurance (119h endurance rating). The Nord CE 3 Lite's 67W charging is faster, but the A54's longevity compensates for the slower charging speed.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite? Users prioritizing fast charging and a slightly more affordable price point. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A54? Those seeking a premium display, a versatile camera system, and long-term software updates with Samsung's reliable ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is expected to receive longer software updates and security patches compared to the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, thanks to Samsung's commitment to long-term support.

❓ Is the Nord CE 3 Lite worth it if I need fast charging?

Yes, the Nord CE 3 Lite's 67W charging is significantly faster than the A54's 25W charging. However, consider if the faster charging outweighs the other advantages of the A54.