OnePlus Nord vs. Nothing Phone (1): A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Nothing Phone (1) is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 778G+ chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the Nord’s Snapdragon 765G, and the inclusion of wireless charging adds convenience. While the Nord remains a strong contender, particularly at its lower price points, the Phone (1)'s modern features justify the price premium.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord | Nothing Phone (1) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 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 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| 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 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 21 | 2022, July 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, August 04 | Available. Released 2022, July 16 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 2.89 x 0.32 in) | 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~408 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.44 inches, 100.6 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, OxygenOS 12 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, live HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.5, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | - |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), NavIC | GPS (L1), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) |
| 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min | 33W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 50% in 30 min, 100% in 70 min 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4115 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh (17.42 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue Marble, Gray Onyx (Gray Ash) | White, Black |
| Models | AC2001, AC2003 | A063 |
| Price | € 101.45 / £ 119.99 | $ 539.00 / £ 234.77 / € 249.95 / ₹ 17,990 |
| SAR | - | 1.29 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | $ 299.00 | - |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | $ 329.99 | - |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | C$ 865.00 | - |
| RENEWED | £ 172.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 100h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -29.6 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 315641 (v8) GeekBench: 7844 (v4.4), 1953 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
OnePlus Nord
- Lower price point, especially for base configurations.
- Slightly brighter display (measured peak nits).
- Proven reliability and software support from OnePlus.
- Older Snapdragon 765G chipset offers less performance.
- Lacks wireless charging.
- Less future-proof compared to the Nothing Phone (1).
Nothing Phone (1)
- More powerful Snapdragon 778G+ chipset.
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- Unique and eye-catching design with Glyph interface.
- Higher price compared to the OnePlus Nord.
- Lower peak display brightness (measured).
- Newer brand with less established software track record.
Display Comparison
The Nothing Phone (1) features a 6.55-inch OLED display with a measured peak brightness of 663 nits, while the OnePlus Nord boasts a 6.49-inch AMOLED panel reaching 756 nits. While the Nord technically wins on peak brightness, the difference is unlikely to be dramatically noticeable in everyday use. Both displays offer an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Nothing Phone (1)'s display utilizes a flat panel, potentially reducing glare compared to any curvature the Nord might have (though this isn't specified in the data).
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the Nothing Phone (1)'s newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 778G+ likely provides superior image processing. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. The absence of details on OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either phone suggests reliance on electronic image stabilization, which can introduce artifacts. The focus should be on real-world image samples to assess quality, as the hardware alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Nothing Phone (1) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-A78 core clocked at 2.5 GHz. This is a significant upgrade over the OnePlus Nord’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm), which has a Kryo 475 Prime core at 2.4 GHz. The 6nm process node of the 778G+ translates to improved power efficiency and thermal performance, meaning sustained performance will be higher on the Nothing Phone (1). The Phone (1)'s CPU architecture, with its more modern Cortex-A78 cores, also contributes to faster processing speeds. While both phones offer ample RAM options, the chipset difference is the dominant factor.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (1) boasts an endurance rating of 108 hours, slightly exceeding the OnePlus Nord’s 100-hour rating. This suggests marginally better battery life, despite the Nord’s potentially more efficient chipset due to the larger process node. The Nothing Phone (1) offers a more versatile charging solution with 33W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes, 100% in 70 minutes), 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Nord is limited to 30W wired charging (70% in 30 minutes) and lacks wireless charging capabilities. The addition of wireless charging on the Phone (1) is a significant convenience factor.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Nord if you prioritize maximizing value and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. It’s ideal for users who primarily browse, use social media, and occasionally game. Buy the Nothing Phone (1) if you demand smoother performance for demanding apps and games, appreciate a unique design, and value the convenience of wireless charging. It’s geared towards users who want a more future-proof experience.