OnePlus Nord CE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A54: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is the better choice, offering a significantly brighter and more vibrant display alongside a more refined software experience. However, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G provides excellent value, particularly for those prioritizing affordability and a clean Android experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord CE 5G | 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 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 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 |
| 78 SA/NSA - India | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 10 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 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 | 159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 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 | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~410 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.3 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | 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 | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) 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 | 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/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC | 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 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 | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue Void, Charkoal Ink, Silver Ray | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | EB2101, EB2103 | 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 | About 250 EUR | € 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 117h | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.9 LUFS (Average) | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 318672 (v8) | 391770 (v9) GeekBench: 1812 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus Nord CE 5G
- Faster 30W charging
- More affordable price point
- Near-stock Android experience
- Dimmer display (607 nits)
- Less powerful chipset (Snapdragon 750G)
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Brighter display (980 nits)
- More powerful chipset (Exynos 1380)
- Potentially better camera performance
- Slower 25W charging
- Higher price
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 immediately pulls ahead in the display department with a measured peak brightness of 980 nits, nearly double the 607 nits offered by the OnePlus Nord CE 5G. This translates to significantly better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both devices feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, a marketing term indicating deep blacks, but the A54’s superior brightness makes a tangible difference in everyday use. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the A54’s higher brightness suggests a more advanced panel generation. The Nord CE 5G’s display, while adequate, feels comparatively dim and less vibrant.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer a 'Photo / Video' camera experience, but details are limited. Without specific sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, Samsung generally prioritizes image processing for vibrant, shareable photos, while OnePlus tends towards a more natural look. The A54’s likely larger sensor (based on Samsung’s typical mid-range strategy) will perform better in low-light conditions. The presence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the A54, if present, would further enhance low-light performance and video stabilization. The Nord CE 5G’s camera is likely competent, but the A54 has the potential to deliver more consistently impressive results.
Performance
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts the Exynos 1380, fabricated on a more efficient 5nm process, compared to the OnePlus Nord CE 5G’s Snapdragon 750G (8nm). This process node difference is crucial; the 5nm Exynos should exhibit better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to sustained performance during demanding tasks. The A54’s CPU configuration – a combination of 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores – offers a performance advantage over the Nord CE 5G’s 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570 setup. While both phones are capable of handling everyday tasks, the A54 is better equipped for gaming and multitasking.
Battery Life
Both the OnePlus Nord CE 5G and Samsung Galaxy A54 exhibit remarkably similar endurance ratings, with 117 hours and 119 hours respectively. However, the way these phones achieve that endurance differs. The A54 achieves 11:15h of active use, suggesting efficient power management despite its brighter display and more powerful processor. The Nord CE 5G relies on a larger battery (implied by the endurance rating) and a less demanding chipset. The A54 supports 25W charging, while the Nord CE 5G offers faster 30W charging, reaching 70% in 30 minutes. This faster charging speed gives the Nord CE 5G a slight edge in convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 5G if you need a reliable 5G phone on a tight budget and prefer a near-stock Android experience with fast charging. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prioritize a stunning display, a more polished camera system, and Samsung’s robust software features, even if it means spending a bit more.