OnePlus Nord 5 vs Samsung Galaxy A71: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord 5 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 delivers substantially faster performance and superior efficiency, complemented by a dramatically brighter display and blazing-fast 80W charging. While the A71 boasts excellent battery endurance, the Nord 5’s overall package offers a more modern and capable experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A71 | OnePlus Nord 5 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, December 12. Released 2020, January 17 | 2025, July 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2025, July 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 76 x 7.7 mm (6.44 x 2.99 x 0.30 in) | 163.4 x 77 x 8.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 211 g (7.44 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1272 x 2800 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.83 inches, 113.3 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED Plus | Swift AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1400 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm) - GlobalQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) - Philippines | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 735 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, Ultra 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 | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 | 80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 100% in just 54 min 5W reverse wired Bypass charging |
| Type | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable | Market-dependent versions:· 5200 mAh (Europe)· 6800 mAh (Global) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Silver, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Pink | Phantom Grey, Dry Ice, Marble Sands |
| Models | SM-A715F, SM-A715F/DS, SM-A715F/DSN, SM-A715F/DSM, SM-A715W, SM-A715X | CPH2709 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | £ 339.00 / € 294.97 / ₹ 31,998 |
| SAR | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.51 W/kg (head) 1.56 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 102h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -29.0 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 192 458(v7), 263396 (v8) GeekBench: 7039 (v4.4), 1733 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 49:12h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class B |
Samsung Galaxy A71
- Exceptional battery endurance (102h)
- Proven reliability and software support (historically)
- More affordable price point (likely)
- Outdated chipset (Snapdragon 730)
- Dimmer display (515 nits)
- Slower charging (25W)
OnePlus Nord 5
- Significantly faster performance (Snapdragon 8s Gen 3)
- Much brighter display (1330 nits)
- Ultra-fast 80W charging (0-100% in 54 min)
- Potentially shorter battery life compared to A71
- Higher price point
- May run warmer under sustained load
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 5’s display is a significant upgrade. Reaching a measured peak brightness of 1330 nits, it vastly outshines the Galaxy A71’s 515 nits, making it far more usable outdoors in direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the Nord 5’s higher brightness translates to a more dynamic and visually appealing image. The A71’s display, while adequate, feels dated in comparison, lacking the vibrancy and clarity of the Nord 5.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but details are limited. Assuming a similar camera system approach based on brand history, the Nord 5 likely benefits from the improved ISP within the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, resulting in better image processing, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The A71’s camera is likely competent for casual photography, but will fall short in challenging conditions. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the chipset advantage favors the Nord 5.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord 5’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm) is a generational leap over the Galaxy A71’s Snapdragon 730 (8nm). The 8s Gen 3 features a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, alongside A720 and A520 cores, offering significantly improved CPU and GPU performance. The 4nm process node also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. The A71’s Snapdragon 730 is capable for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding games and applications compared to the Nord 5.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A71 boasts an impressive 102-hour endurance rating, a testament to its efficient chipset and software optimization. However, the OnePlus Nord 5 compensates for a potentially smaller battery (spec not provided) with its incredibly fast 80W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 54 minutes. The Nord 5 also supports 33W PPS and 18W PD, alongside 5W reverse wired charging, offering greater versatility. The Nord 5’s active use score of 13:47h is competitive, and the charging speed significantly reduces downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A71 if you prioritize exceptional battery life above all else and are on a very tight budget. Its 102-hour endurance rating remains impressive. Buy the OnePlus Nord 5 if you demand a smoother, faster experience for gaming, multitasking, and content creation, and value a significantly brighter, more vibrant display alongside incredibly fast charging capabilities.