OnePlus Nord 2 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A71 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G emerges as the superior choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 1200 chipset delivers significantly better performance than the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G’s Exynos 980, coupled with blazing-fast 65W charging. While both offer comparable battery endurance, the Nord 2 5G’s overall package is more compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A71 5G | OnePlus Nord 2 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A716B | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - SM-A716B | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-A716B | 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 / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 2, 5, 41, 66, 71 mmWave/Sub6 - SM-A716U | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 08 | 2021, July 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, June 15 | Available. Released 2021, July 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.97 x 0.32 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED Plus | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 980 (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP5 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 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@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Auto HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes (market dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, SBAS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio | 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| ANT+ | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism Cube Black, Prism Cube Sliver, Prism Cube Blue | Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, Green Wood, Pac-Man Edition |
| Models | SM-A716F, SM-A716F/DS, SM-A716F/DSN, SM-A7160, SM-A716B/DS, SM-A716U, SM-A716B, SM-A716U1 | DN2101, DN2103 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | € 189.00 / $ 219.99 / £ 148.00 |
| SAR | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.53 W/kg (body) | - |
| 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) |
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
- Potential for lower price due to age
- Established Samsung brand reputation
- Comparable battery endurance
- Older, less powerful Exynos 980 chipset
- Significantly slower 25W charging
- Likely inferior display brightness
OnePlus Nord 2 5G
- Powerful Mediatek Dimensity 1200 chipset
- Blazing-fast 65W charging with PD
- Brighter display with excellent contrast
- Potentially higher price point
- OnePlus software experience may not appeal to all
- No specified OIS
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 633 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the A71 5G. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels (typical for this segment), the Nord 2 5G’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility outdoors. The Nord 2 5G also features an 'infinite' contrast ratio, a marketing term indicating excellent black levels inherent to AMOLED technology. The A71 5G’s display quality, while adequate, likely falls behind in peak brightness and potentially color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but specifics are limited. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the market positioning of the Nord 2 5G suggests a more refined camera experience, potentially with better image processing algorithms. The A71 5G likely relies on Samsung’s established camera software, but the older chipset may limit its processing capabilities. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device would be a significant advantage, but this is not specified in the provided data.
Performance
The performance gap is the most significant differentiator. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G’s Mediatek Dimensity 1200, built on a 6nm process, is a substantial upgrade over the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G’s 8nm Exynos 980. The Dimensity 1200’s CPU configuration – 1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78, 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 – provides a more powerful and efficient core arrangement than the Exynos 980’s 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. The Dimensity 1200’s GPU will also offer a noticeable advantage in graphics-intensive applications.
Battery Life
Both the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G and OnePlus Nord 2 5G achieve an endurance rating of 102 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Nord 2 5G’s 65W wired charging, with PD support and a 30-minute full charge time, is a game-changer. The A71 5G’s 25W charging is considerably slower, requiring significantly longer to reach 100%. This difference in charging speed provides a substantial convenience advantage to the Nord 2 5G, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G if you prioritize brand recognition and frequently find it at a substantially lower price point than the Nord 2 5G. Buy the OnePlus Nord 2 5G if you value performance, fast charging, and a more modern chipset architecture for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.