OnePlus Nord N300 vs Google Pixel 6a: Which Budget Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and rapid charging, the OnePlus Nord N300 emerges as the winner. Its significantly longer endurance rating (114h vs 94h) and 33W charging outweigh the Pixel 6a’s superior processor and camera software. However, the Pixel 6a remains a strong contender for those deeply invested in the Google ecosystem and camera quality.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord N300 | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) |
| 5G bands | 2, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat13 390/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 24 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, November 03 | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 75.1 x 8 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.31 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 12, OxygenOS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.2 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Jade | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | CPH2389 | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | About 230 EUR | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 114h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1506:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 335440 (v9) GeekBench: 1780 (v5.1) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
OnePlus Nord N300
- Exceptional battery life (114h endurance)
- Faster 33W charging
- More affordable price point
- Less powerful processor than Pixel 6a
- Potentially inferior camera image processing
Google Pixel 6a
- More powerful Google Tensor chip
- Superior camera software and image quality
- Timely software updates from Google
- Shorter battery life (94h endurance)
- Slower 18W charging
- Higher price compared to Nord N300
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a boasts a higher peak brightness of 876 nits compared to the Nord N300’s 623 nits, making it more visible outdoors in direct sunlight. While the Pixel 6a claims an 'infinite' contrast ratio, this is typical of OLED panels and doesn't necessarily translate to a visually superior experience over the Nord N300’s 1506:1 contrast ratio. Both displays are adequate for media consumption, but the Pixel 6a’s brighter panel provides a noticeable advantage in challenging lighting conditions.
Camera Comparison
While both phones lack detailed camera specifications in the provided data, the Pixel 6a benefits from Google’s renowned computational photography algorithms. This means superior image processing, particularly in low-light conditions. The Pixel 6a’s image processing excels at dynamic range and detail preservation. The Nord N300 will likely offer a decent camera experience, but it won’t match the Pixel 6a’s consistently high image quality. The absence of OIS information for either phone makes it difficult to assess video stabilization capabilities.
Performance
The Google Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip, built on a 5nm process, offers a clear architectural advantage over the Nord N300’s Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6nm). The Tensor’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.80 GHz) significantly outperforms the Nord N300’s Cortex-A76 (2.4 GHz) in single-core tasks. This translates to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking on the Pixel 6a. However, the Dimensity 810 is still capable for everyday use, and the Nord N300’s performance will be sufficient for most users. The 5nm process of the Tensor also implies better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord N300’s endurance rating of 114 hours significantly surpasses the Pixel 6a’s 94 hours, indicating a substantial advantage in battery life. This difference is likely due to a combination of the more efficient Dimensity 810 chipset and potentially a larger battery capacity (not specified in the data). The Nord N300 also supports 33W wired charging, considerably faster than the Pixel 6a’s 18W charging with PD3.0. This means the Nord N300 can replenish its battery much quicker, minimizing downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Nord N300 if you need exceptional battery life for all-day use, value fast charging speeds, and prioritize a smooth experience for everyday tasks. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prefer a more powerful processor for demanding apps, prioritize Google’s camera software and AI features, and appreciate timely software updates directly from Google.