OnePlus Nord N300 vs Samsung Galaxy A23 5G: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the OnePlus Nord N300 and the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G. Both promise a solid experience, but which one truly delivers?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G edges out the Nord N300 thanks to its superior battery life and 5G connectivity. While the Nord N300 boasts a brighter display and slightly faster chipset, the A23 5G's longevity and broader appeal make it the better overall choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus Nord N300 Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands2, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat13 390/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, October 242022, August 05
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, November 03Available. Released 2022, September 02
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions163.8 x 75.1 x 8 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.31 in)165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90HzPLS LCD, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Adreno 619
OSAndroid 12, OxygenOSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2-
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED 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
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)-
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)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
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioUnspecifiedFM radio (market/region dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging33W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight JadeBlack, White, Peach, Blue
ModelsCPH2389SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL
PriceAbout 230 EUR$ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000
SAR-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 114h Endurance rating 138h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1506:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 335440 (v9) GeekBench: 1780 (v5.1) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 318821 (v9) GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OnePlus Nord N300

  • Brighter Display
  • Slightly Faster Chipset
  • Clean Software Experience

  • Shorter Battery Life
  • No 5G Connectivity
  • Camera Details Limited

Samsung Galaxy A23 5G

  • Excellent Battery Life
  • 5G Connectivity
  • Reputable Brand
  • Likely Better Camera Processing

  • Lower Peak Brightness
  • Slightly Slower Chipset
  • Samsung's UI can be polarizing

Display Comparison

The OnePlus Nord N300 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 623 nits compared to the A23 5G's 508 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (1506:1 vs 1328:1), ensuring vibrant colors and deep blacks. However, the Nord N300's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities (specific details are missing), the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G generally benefits from Samsung's image processing expertise. Expect slightly more refined photos and videos from the A23 5G, although the Nord N300's camera is still perfectly adequate.

Performance

The OnePlus Nord N300's Mediatek Dimensity 810 chipset offers a slight edge in raw processing power over the Snapdragon 695 5G in the A23 5G. Both chipsets are capable of handling everyday tasks and light gaming smoothly, but the Nord N300 might feel a bit snappier. 5G connectivity is a clear advantage for the A23 5G.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G dominates in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 138 hours compared to the Nord N300's 114 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, making the A23 5G a more practical choice for heavy users.

Buying Guide

The OnePlus Nord N300 is ideal for users prioritizing a vibrant display and a responsive experience for everyday tasks. The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is a better fit for those who need extended battery life, 5G connectivity, and a reliable brand reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better performance for gaming?
The OnePlus Nord N300 has a slightly faster chipset, potentially offering a smoother gaming experience, but both are suitable for casual gaming.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G support 5G?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G supports 5G connectivity, while the OnePlus Nord N300 does not.