OnePlus Nord vs Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range 5G Contenders
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset, built on a more efficient 6nm process, provides a noticeable performance boost and improved battery life (122h endurance vs 100h). While the Nord offers competitive pricing, the 11 Lite NE’s efficiency and slightly faster charging make it the more well-rounded device.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus Nord | Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE |
| 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 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 38, 41, 66, 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 | 2021, September 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, August 04 | Available. Released 2021, October 02 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 2.89 x 0.32 in) | 160.5 x 75.7 x 6.8 mm (6.32 x 2.98 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) | 158 g (5.57 oz) |
| - | IP53, dust and splash resistant | |
| 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 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | AMOLED, 1B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 90Hz, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, OxygenOS 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.2 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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 | - |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS |
| 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 | HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with dual speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2 (Global), 5.1 (India) |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, 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 (Global), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (India) |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min | 33W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4115 mAh | Li-Po 4250 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue Marble, Gray Onyx (Gray Ash) | Truffle Black (Vinyl Black), Bubblegum Blue (Jazz Blue), Peach Pink (Tuscany Coral), Snowflake White (Diamond Dazzle) |
| Models | AC2001, AC2003 | 2109119DG, 2107119DC, 2109119DI |
| Price | € 101.45 / £ 119.99 | About 200 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.95 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 | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.6 LUFS (Average) | -23.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 315641 (v8) GeekBench: 7844 (v4.4), 1953 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 527663 (v9) GeekBench: 2832 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus Nord
- More affordable base price ($299 for 128GB/8GB)
- Strong peak display brightness (756 nits)
- Established OnePlus software experience
- Less efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Shorter battery life (100h endurance)
- Potentially slower app loading times
Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
- More efficient Snapdragon 778G chipset (6nm)
- Longer battery life (122h endurance)
- Faster charging (33W)
- Slightly higher price point
- Software experience can be more heavily customized
- No official peak brightness data
Display Comparison
Both the OnePlus Nord and Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Nord boasts a measured peak brightness of 756 nits, which is a strong figure for outdoor visibility. While the 11 Lite NE’s peak brightness isn’t explicitly stated, the similar panel technology suggests comparable performance. Both devices lack high refresh rate panels, which is a common omission in this price bracket. The lack of specific information on PWM dimming rates makes it difficult to assess which device is better for users sensitive to flicker.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the market positioning suggests the 11 Lite NE likely benefits from Xiaomi’s more advanced image processing algorithms. The presence of a dedicated Night Mode and AI scene detection on the 11 Lite NE, common features in Xiaomi phones, would give it an edge in low-light photography. The usefulness of any included 2MP macro cameras on either device is questionable, as image quality is typically limited.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm), a significant upgrade over the OnePlus Nord’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 778G’s 6nm process offers improved power efficiency and thermal performance. Architecturally, the 778G features a Cortex-A78 prime core, offering a performance advantage over the Nord’s Kryo 475 Prime. This translates to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. While both phones offer 5G connectivity, the 778G’s modem is likely more efficient. The Nord’s 6GB/64GB base configuration is also less appealing than the 11 Lite NE’s options.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving a 122-hour rating compared to the OnePlus Nord’s 100 hours. This difference is largely attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 778G chipset. While the Nord supports 30W wired charging, reaching 70% in 30 minutes, the 11 Lite NE’s 33W charging is slightly faster. The combination of a more efficient chipset and faster charging gives the 11 Lite NE a significant edge in real-world usability.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus Nord if you prioritize maximizing value and are comfortable with potentially shorter battery life. Its lower price points, particularly the 128GB/8GB RAM model at $299.00, make it ideal for budget-conscious buyers. Buy the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE if you value performance, battery efficiency, and a slightly more premium feel. The Snapdragon 778G offers a smoother experience for demanding apps and games, and the longer battery life is a significant advantage for all-day use.