Realme 9 5G Speed vs OnePlus Nord 2 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value and efficient performance, the Realme 9 5G Speed emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 778G 5G offers a strong balance of power and efficiency, and its lower price point makes it a more accessible option. However, users who heavily rely on fast charging or prefer OnePlus' OxygenOS will find the Nord 2 5G a worthwhile alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme 9 5G Speed | OnePlus Nord 2 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - International | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 10 | 2021, July 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 14 | Available. Released 2021, July 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.8 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.3 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 144Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.2 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | - |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.3, 120˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Auto HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, SBAS, NavIC |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 50% in 25 min | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 30 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Starry Glow, Azure Glow | Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, Green Wood, Pac-Man Edition |
| Models | RMX3461 | DN2101, DN2103 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | € 189.00 / $ 219.99 / £ 148.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 102h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 512164 (v8) | 598022 (v9) GeekBench: 2792 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 9 5G Speed
- More affordable price point
- Efficient Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
- Respectable 30W fast charging
- Display brightness data unavailable
- Potentially less powerful CPU than Nord 2 5G
OnePlus Nord 2 5G
- Faster 65W charging with PD
- Brighter display (633 nits)
- Potentially smoother software experience with OxygenOS
- Higher price tag
- Dimensity 1200 may throttle under heavy load
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 633 nits, compared to the Realme 9 5G Speed (brightness data unavailable). While the Realme’s panel specifics are missing, the Nord 2 5G’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. Both displays feature an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical for OLED panels. The absence of high refresh rate information for the Realme 9 5G Speed puts the Nord 2 5G ahead for users who value smoother scrolling and animations, assuming it supports a higher refresh rate (market standard for this segment).
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. The absence of details suggests neither phone is a standout camera performer. The Realme 9 5G Speed likely relies on software processing to enhance image quality, while the Nord 2 5G may benefit from OnePlus’ established camera algorithms. It's safe to assume both phones include standard features like HDR and night mode, but image quality will likely be comparable in most scenarios. We can safely ignore the presence of 2MP macro lenses on either device, as they offer minimal practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G’s MediaTek Dimensity 1200, built on a 6nm process, features a more aggressive CPU configuration with a 3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core, compared to the Realme 9 5G Speed’s 2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 on the Snapdragon 778G 5G. This suggests the Nord 2 5G has a theoretical edge in raw processing power. However, the Snapdragon 778G 5G is known for its excellent efficiency and optimized Adreno 642L GPU. Both phones utilize 6nm fabrication, but the Dimensity 1200’s higher clock speeds may lead to increased thermal throttling under sustained load. The Realme 9 5G Speed’s CPU configuration (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) is a slightly unusual mix, potentially indicating a focus on multi-core performance.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 102 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, their charging speeds differ significantly. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G’s 65W wired charging with PD support can fully charge the battery in 30 minutes, while the Realme 9 5G Speed’s 30W charging takes 25 minutes to reach 50%. This makes the Nord 2 5G the clear winner for users who prioritize rapid charging. While the Realme 9 5G Speed’s charging is still respectable, the Nord 2 5G offers a significantly faster top-up time.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 9 5G Speed if you need a phone that delivers solid performance for everyday tasks and light gaming without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for students, casual users, and those seeking a reliable 5G experience on a budget. Buy the OnePlus Nord 2 5G if you prioritize extremely fast 65W charging, a potentially smoother software experience with OxygenOS, and are willing to pay a premium for those features. It’s best suited for power users who frequently top up their phones and appreciate a refined user interface.