The TCL 10 Plus and OnePlus Nord N100 represent distinct approaches to the sub-$200 smartphone market. The TCL 10 Plus, leveraging the Snapdragon 665, aims for a balanced experience, while the Nord N100 prioritizes affordability with the Snapdragon 460. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the TCL 10 Plus emerges as the better choice. While the Nord N100 is aggressively priced, the Snapdragon 665 in the TCL 10 Plus provides a noticeable performance advantage in everyday tasks and light gaming, making it a more responsive and future-proof option.
| 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, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat13 400/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 2100 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71 - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 09. Released 2020, August | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 158.9 x 72.9 x 8.9 mm (6.26 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) | 164.9 x 75.1 x 8.5 mm (6.49 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, TCL UI | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5.9 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | - |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Quick Charge 3 | 18W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 330 h (2G) / Up to 330 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Violet | Midnight Frost |
| Models | T782H | BE2013, BE2015, BE2011, BE2012 |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 80 EUR |
| SAR | 0.32 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body) | - |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 125.00 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 129.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -85.5dB / Crosstalk -83.3dB | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1031:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB | - |
TCL 10 Plus
- More powerful Snapdragon 665 processor
- Quick Charge 3.0 support (potential for faster charging)
- Higher contrast ratio suggests better display quality
- Battery capacity is unknown
- May be slightly more expensive than the Nord N100
OnePlus Nord N100
- Extremely affordable at $125 (64GB/4GB)
- 18W wired charging
- Lightweight and portable
- Less powerful Snapdragon 460 processor
- Potentially lower display quality
- May struggle with demanding apps
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize 11nm chipsets, but the display experience is where the TCL 10 Plus potentially shines, though specific details like screen resolution and refresh rate are missing. The TCL 10 Plus boasts a contrast ratio of 1031:1, suggesting decent color reproduction and black levels. Without comparable data for the Nord N100, it's difficult to assess its display quality, but the TCL's specified contrast ratio indicates a potentially more visually appealing experience. The absence of refresh rate information on both devices suggests standard 60Hz panels, common in this price bracket.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specifications are lacking for both devices, making a direct comparison challenging. However, the market positioning suggests the TCL 10 Plus likely offers a more capable camera system. While both will likely feature multiple lenses, the TCL 10 Plus, being positioned slightly higher, may benefit from a larger primary sensor or more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The OnePlus Nord N100, focusing on cost reduction, may prioritize quantity of lenses over quality. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it's difficult to definitively assess camera performance.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the TCL 10 Plus features the Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665, an octa-core processor with 4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver cores. The OnePlus Nord N100 utilizes the Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460, also an octa-core processor, but with slower 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 and 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240 cores. This difference in clock speeds, coupled with the Kryo 260 architecture in the TCL 10 Plus, translates to a tangible performance advantage, particularly in demanding applications. The Snapdragon 665 is better equipped for handling multitasking and moderately intensive games. The Nord N100's Snapdragon 460 is geared towards basic functionality and may exhibit lag with multiple apps open.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not provided for the TCL 10 Plus, but the OnePlus Nord N100 supports 18W wired charging. The TCL 10 Plus utilizes Quick Charge 3.0, which, while older, can potentially deliver faster charging speeds depending on the charger used. However, without knowing the battery capacity of the TCL 10 Plus, it's impossible to determine which device offers better overall battery life. The 18W charging on the Nord N100 is adequate for a budget device, but Quick Charge 3.0 on the TCL 10 Plus offers the *potential* for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the TCL 10 Plus if you prioritize smoother performance for multitasking, social media, and occasional gaming, and appreciate a slightly more refined user experience. Buy the OnePlus Nord N100 if your primary concern is absolute affordability and you primarily use your phone for basic communication, messaging, and light web browsing, accepting compromises in processing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 460 in the OnePlus Nord N100 struggle with popular apps like TikTok or Instagram?
While the Snapdragon 460 can handle basic social media apps, you may experience occasional lag or slowdowns when multitasking or using more demanding features within those apps. The TCL 10 Plus, with its Snapdragon 665, will provide a smoother experience for these use cases.
❓ Does the TCL 10 Plus support expandable storage via microSD card?
This information is not provided in the context data. However, many TCL phones in this price range *do* include microSD card slots, offering flexibility for users who need more than the internal storage provides. Check the official TCL specifications for confirmation.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the OnePlus Nord N100 fast enough for quick top-ups throughout the day?
18W charging is adequate for a budget phone, but it won't be as fast as some higher-end devices. Expect a full charge to take around 2-3 hours. The TCL 10 Plus's Quick Charge 3.0 *could* be faster, depending on the charger used, but this is also dependent on the battery capacity of the device.
