Oppo Reno5 F vs. OnePlus Nord CE 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Contenders

The Oppo Reno5 F and OnePlus Nord CE 5G both target the competitive mid-range smartphone market, but approach it with different philosophies. The Reno5 F leans on Oppo’s established camera expertise and aesthetic design, while the Nord CE 5G prioritizes 5G connectivity and a streamlined OnePlus experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the most compelling package.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and future-proofing, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 750G chipset, built on a more efficient 8nm process, offers a noticeable advantage in sustained performance and 5G capabilities, despite both phones sharing the same 30W charging.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno5 F OnePlus Nord CE 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -78 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2021, March 172021, June 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, March 17Available. Released 2021, June 11
Body
Build-Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions160.1 x 73.2 x 7.8 mm (6.30 x 2.88 x 0.31 in)159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight172 g (6.07 oz)170 g (6.00 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~410 ppi density)
Size6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.43 inches, 99.3 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 800 nits (peak)Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570)
ChipsetMediatek MT6779V Helio P95 (12 nm)Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm)
GPUPowerVR GM9446Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, ColorOS 11.1Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm
Triple-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging30W wired30W wired, 70% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 4310 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsFluid Black, Fantastic PurpleBlue Void, Charkoal Ink, Silver Ray
ModelsCPH2217EB2101, EB2103
PriceAbout 250 EURAbout 250 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 117h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -29.9 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 318672 (v8) | 391770 (v9) GeekBench: 1812 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Oppo Reno5 F

  • Potentially more vibrant camera processing (subjective)
  • Oppo’s ColorOS offers a feature-rich experience
  • Competitive price point

  • Less efficient Helio P95 chipset
  • Likely lower sustained performance
  • Uncertain 5G capabilities

OnePlus Nord CE 5G

  • More efficient Snapdragon 750G chipset
  • Superior 5G connectivity
  • Smoother overall user experience

  • May prefer more natural camera processing
  • OnePlus’ OxygenOS is less feature-rich than ColorOS
  • Potentially slightly higher price

Display Comparison

Both devices lack detailed display specifications beyond the Nord CE 5G’s measured 607 nits peak brightness. While both likely employ IPS LCD panels, the Nord CE 5G’s higher peak brightness translates to better outdoor visibility. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio claim on the Nord CE 5G is typical marketing hyperbole for IPS LCDs. Without knowing the Reno5 F’s brightness, the Nord CE 5G has a clear advantage in usability under direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific sensor details. Without knowing sensor sizes or apertures, a direct comparison is difficult. However, OnePlus generally prioritizes natural image processing, while Oppo often employs more aggressive sharpening and color boosting. The Reno5 F may appeal to users who prefer vibrant, immediately shareable photos, while the Nord CE 5G may be favored by those seeking more realistic results. The absence of detailed camera specs makes this a largely subjective area.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8nm) significantly outperforms the Oppo Reno5 F’s MediaTek Helio P95 (12nm) in both CPU and GPU benchmarks. The 8nm process node of the Snapdragon 750G provides superior thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. While both CPUs feature a 2x2.2 GHz core configuration, the Snapdragon’s Kryo 570 cores are architecturally more advanced than the Helio P95’s Cortex-A75 cores. This translates to faster application loading and smoother multitasking on the Nord CE 5G.

Battery Life

Both the Oppo Reno5 F and OnePlus Nord CE 5G share an endurance rating of 117 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities (not specified). Both support 30W wired charging, with the Nord CE 5G claiming a 70% charge in 30 minutes. The Snapdragon 750G’s superior efficiency may slightly offset any capacity differences, potentially giving the Nord CE 5G a marginal edge in longevity, but the 30W charging speeds will likely deliver comparable top-up times.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno5 F if you prioritize a potentially more refined camera experience within a budget and appreciate Oppo’s ColorOS interface. Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 5G if you value a smoother, more responsive user experience, better 5G performance, and a chipset designed for longer-term software support. The Nord CE 5G is the better pick for gamers and power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Helio P95 in the Reno5 F struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
The Helio P95 can run these games, but you'll likely need to lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The Snapdragon 750G in the Nord CE 5G offers significantly better GPU performance, allowing for higher settings and smoother gameplay with less thermal throttling.
❓ How much faster is the 5G connectivity on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G compared to a phone with an older 5G modem?
The Snapdragon 750G integrates a more modern 5G modem, offering faster download and upload speeds, improved network stability, and better power efficiency when connected to 5G networks. This is particularly noticeable in areas with congested 5G coverage.
❓ Does the OnePlus Nord CE 5G receive software updates for a longer period than the Oppo Reno5 F?
OnePlus generally provides longer software support for its devices compared to Oppo. The Nord CE 5G is likely to receive more Android version updates and security patches over its lifespan, ensuring continued functionality and security.
❓ Is the 30W charging on both phones equally fast in real-world use?
While both support 30W charging, the Nord CE 5G claims 70% charge in 30 minutes. The efficiency of the Snapdragon 750G may contribute to slightly faster charging times, but the difference is likely minimal in practical use.