OnePlus Nord 2 5G vs. Nord CE 5G: Which Mid-Range Champion Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is the superior choice. Its significantly faster Mediatek Dimensity 1200 processor and 65W SuperVOOC charging provide a noticeable performance and convenience boost, justifying the slightly higher price. However, the Nord CE 5G remains a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers who prioritize battery endurance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord CE 5G | OnePlus Nord 2 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 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 78 SA/NSA - India | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 10 | 2021, July 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 11 | Available. Released 2021, July 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.3 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~410 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.3 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | - |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.3, 120˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Auto HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, SBAS, NavIC |
| 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 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, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue Void, Charkoal Ink, Silver Ray | Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, Green Wood, Pac-Man Edition |
| Models | EB2101, EB2103 | DN2101, DN2103 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | € 189.00 / $ 219.99 / £ 148.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 117h | Endurance rating 102h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.9 LUFS (Average) | -24.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 318672 (v8) | 391770 (v9) GeekBench: 1812 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 512164 (v8) | 598022 (v9) GeekBench: 2792 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus Nord CE 5G
- Longer battery endurance (117h)
- More affordable price point
- Sufficient performance for everyday tasks
- Slower processor (Snapdragon 750G)
- Slower charging speed (30W)
OnePlus Nord 2 5G
- Significantly faster processor (Dimensity 1200)
- Faster charging (65W, 100% in 30 min)
- Brighter display (633 nits)
- Shorter battery endurance (102h)
- Higher price
Display Comparison
Both the Nord 2 5G and Nord CE 5G feature displays with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical for OLED panels. However, the Nord 2 5G edges out the CE 5G with a measured peak brightness of 633 nits compared to 607 nits. While both are perfectly usable outdoors, the Nord 2 5G’s display will offer better visibility in direct sunlight. Both devices lack high refresh rate panels, which is a notable omission in this price bracket, and neither specifies PWM dimming rates, leaving users sensitive to flicker without specific data.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer a 'Photo / Video' camera experience, but details are limited. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the Nord 2 5G’s processor advantage likely contributes to faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the Nord 2 5G, if present (not specified in the data), would further enhance its photographic capabilities. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are likely to offer limited utility, serving primarily as filler specs.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Nord 2 5G boasts the Mediatek Dimensity 1200, fabricated on a 6nm process, featuring an octa-core configuration with a high-clocked Cortex-A78 prime core at 3.0 GHz. This contrasts with the Nord CE 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8nm). The Dimensity 1200’s architecture and smaller node translate to significantly higher CPU and GPU performance, making the Nord 2 5G the clear winner for gaming and demanding applications. The Snapdragon 750G is still capable, but will exhibit more noticeable slowdowns under heavy load. While both phones likely utilize LPDDR4X RAM, the chipset difference will be the dominant factor in real-world responsiveness.
Battery Life
The Nord CE 5G holds a slight endurance advantage with a rating of 117 hours, compared to the Nord 2 5G’s 102 hours. However, this is offset by the Nord 2 5G’s significantly faster 65W SuperVOOC charging, capable of a full charge in just 30 minutes. The Nord CE 5G’s 30W charging reaches 70% in 30 minutes. This means the Nord 2 5G can quickly top up its battery, minimizing downtime, even with a slightly smaller overall capacity. The efficiency of the 6nm Dimensity 1200 may also contribute to comparable real-world battery life despite the lower endurance rating.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 5G if you need extended battery life and a more affordable price point, and are willing to compromise on raw processing power. It’s ideal for everyday tasks, social media, and light gaming. Buy the OnePlus Nord 2 5G if you prioritize performance for demanding apps, gaming, and faster charging, and are willing to spend a bit more for a smoother, more responsive experience.