Sharp Aquos Sense4 Plus vs OnePlus Nord N10 5G: Which Budget 5G Phone Reigns Supreme?

The sub-$300 5G smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Sharp Aquos sense4 plus and the OnePlus Nord N10 5G both aim to deliver 5G connectivity without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches. The Aquos sense4 plus focuses on efficiency with the Snapdragon 720G, while the Nord N10 5G prioritizes faster charging and a higher refresh rate display, powered by the Snapdragon 690.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and efficiency, the Sharp Aquos sense4 plus is the better choice. While the OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts 30W charging, the Aquos sense4 plus’s Snapdragon 720G offers a more balanced experience, potentially leading to longer-term usability and smoother multitasking.

PHONES
Phone Names Sharp Aquos sense4 plus OnePlus Nord N10 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 28, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1024/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA - USA
Launch
Announced2020, September 11. Released 2020, September 112020, October 26
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, November 21
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions166 x 78 x 8.8 mm (6.54 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)163 x 74.7 x 9 mm (6.42 x 2.94 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
 IPX5/IP6X/IPX8 water/dust resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90HzIPS LCD, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 619L
OSAndroid 10Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF 5 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP, f/2.4, 40mm (telephoto macro) Auxiliary lens64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP16 MP, f/2.1
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with dual speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
ChargingWired30W wired
TypeLi-Po 4120 mAhLi-Po 4300 mAh
Misc
ColorsDeep Fog Black, Cloud WhiteMidnight Ice
Models-BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028
PriceAbout 600 EURAbout 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)

Sharp Aquos sense4 plus

  • More powerful CPU for smoother multitasking
  • Efficient Snapdragon 720G chipset for better thermal management
  • Potentially superior image processing due to the 720G's ISP

  • Slower charging speeds compared to the Nord N10 5G
  • Display specifications are unknown, potentially lower brightness

OnePlus Nord N10 5G

  • 30W fast charging for quick top-ups
  • Higher display brightness for better outdoor visibility
  • 5G connectivity

  • Less powerful CPU compared to the Aquos sense4 plus
  • Snapdragon 690 may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G’s display is measured at 440 nits of peak brightness and a 1447:1 contrast ratio, suggesting a reasonably vibrant image, but the Aquos sense4 plus’s display specifications are not provided. Given the Aquos sense4 plus’s focus on efficiency, it likely prioritizes power saving over peak brightness. The N10 5G’s higher brightness will be more visible outdoors, but the Aquos sense4 plus may offer better battery life due to a potentially more efficient panel. The absence of refresh rate data for the Aquos sense4 plus suggests it likely operates at the standard 60Hz, while the N10 5G’s display is confirmed to support higher refresh rates, offering smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Snapdragon 720G’s image signal processor (ISP) generally offers more advanced features and better image processing capabilities than the ISP found in the Snapdragon 690. This suggests the Aquos sense4 plus may produce higher-quality photos, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of details regarding optical image stabilization (OIS) on either device makes it difficult to assess low-light video performance.

Performance

Both phones utilize 8nm process technology, but the Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G in the Aquos sense4 plus features a more powerful CPU configuration: octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) compared to the Snapdragon 690 (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) in the Nord N10 5G. This higher clock speed on the prime cores of the 720G translates to faster single-core performance, beneficial for app launch times and responsiveness. While the Snapdragon 690 offers 5G connectivity, the 720G is known for its balanced performance and efficiency, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during extended use. The Aquos sense4 plus is likely to handle demanding tasks and multitasking more smoothly.

Battery Life

Both the Sharp Aquos sense4 plus and the OnePlus Nord N10 5G achieve an endurance rating of 99 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the Nord N10 5G’s 30W wired charging significantly outperforms the Aquos sense4 plus’s unspecified wired charging. This means the N10 5G can replenish its battery much faster, reducing downtime. While both phones offer comparable endurance, the N10 5G’s faster charging is a significant convenience factor.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sharp Aquos sense4 plus if you need a phone that prioritizes efficient performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, and you value a chipset known for its thermal management. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if you prefer faster charging speeds and a display with a higher refresh rate, and are willing to potentially trade off some sustained performance for those features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 690 in the Nord N10 5G struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
While the Snapdragon 690 is capable of running these games, you may need to lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The chipset's thermal performance may also lead to throttling during extended gaming sessions, impacting sustained performance. The Aquos sense4 plus with the Snapdragon 720G is likely to offer a smoother gaming experience at similar settings.
❓ How significant is the difference in charging speed between the two phones in real-world use?
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G’s 30W charging can take the battery from 0-100% in approximately 70-80 minutes, while the Aquos sense4 plus’s charging time is likely to be considerably longer due to its unspecified wattage. This means you can quickly top up the N10 5G during short breaks, whereas the Aquos sense4 plus may require overnight charging.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the Nord N10 5G actually useful, or is it just a marketing feature?
The usefulness of 5G depends on your location and carrier coverage. If you live in an area with robust 5G infrastructure, you'll experience significantly faster download and upload speeds. However, if 5G coverage is limited, you'll primarily be using 4G LTE, making the 5G capability less impactful.