Realme Q2i vs OnePlus Nord N10 5G: A Detailed Comparison for Budget 5G Buyers
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a slightly brighter display, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is the better choice. Its 30W charging significantly reduces downtime. However, the Realme Q2i’s Dimensity 720 offers a potentially more efficient architecture for sustained workloads, making it a viable alternative for those prioritizing long-term performance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme Q2i | OnePlus Nord N10 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G 2.3 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1024/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 13. Released 2020, October 21 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 76 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) | 163 x 74.7 x 9 mm (6.42 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189.5 g (6.70 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 619L |
| OS | Android 10, Realme UI | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.1 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with dual speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 30W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Silver | Midnight Ice |
| Models | - | BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028 |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 99h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.8 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 279579 (v8) GeekBench: 1848 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme Q2i
- Potentially better power efficiency with the 7nm Dimensity 720.
- Competitive price point (likely lower than the Nord N10).
- Decent performance for everyday tasks.
- Slower 18W charging.
- Likely lower display brightness.
- Limited brand recognition compared to OnePlus.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- Faster 30W wired charging.
- Brighter display with a higher contrast ratio.
- Established brand reputation with OnePlus.
- Potentially less power efficient chipset (8nm Snapdragon 690).
- May be slightly more expensive than the Realme Q2i.
- Software updates may be less frequent than on some other brands.
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 440 nits and a 1447:1 contrast ratio, indicating a more visually vibrant experience, particularly outdoors. While the Realme Q2i’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to offer lower peak brightness. The contrast ratio on the Nord N10 suggests a better viewing experience for media consumption. The lack of information on the Q2i’s panel type makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Nord N10’s brightness advantage is a clear win for users who frequently use their phones in sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are absent. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a meaningful comparison is impossible. It’s reasonable to assume both phones will offer adequate camera performance for social media sharing, but neither is likely to compete with flagship-level camera systems. The absence of information suggests neither phone prioritizes camera capabilities as a key selling point.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Realme Q2i utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7nm) while the OnePlus Nord N10 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G (8nm). The 7nm process of the Dimensity 720 generally translates to better power efficiency compared to the 8nm Snapdragon 690, potentially leading to longer battery life during less intensive tasks. However, the Snapdragon 690’s Kryo 560 Gold cores offer a slight clock speed advantage in burst performance. Both CPUs feature an octa-core configuration with a similar core arrangement (2x high-performance, 6x efficiency), suggesting comparable multi-tasking capabilities. The real-world performance difference will likely be noticeable in demanding games or applications, where the Snapdragon 690 might exhibit a slight edge.
Battery Life
Both the Realme Q2i and OnePlus Nord N10 5G achieve an endurance rating of 99 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Nord N10 5G supports 30W wired charging, allowing for a much faster recharge time compared to the Q2i’s 18W charging. This difference in charging speed is a substantial advantage for users who prioritize minimizing downtime. While both phones offer comparable battery capacity (implied by the endurance rating), the Nord N10’s faster charging provides a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme Q2i if you need a phone that prioritizes potentially sustained performance thanks to the Dimensity 720’s 7nm process, and aren’t overly concerned with the fastest possible charging speeds. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if you prefer a brighter display, faster 30W charging, and a brand with a more established reputation for software support, even if it means potentially slightly lower sustained performance.