TCL 20 5G vs OnePlus Nord N10 5G: A Deep Dive into the Snapdragon 690 Experience
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing rapid replenishment, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G emerges as the winner. Its 30W charging significantly outperforms the TCL 20 5G’s 18W, offsetting the identical battery endurance rating. However, users sensitive to display quality may find the Nord N10’s lower contrast ratio less appealing.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | TCL 20 5G | OnePlus Nord N10 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1024/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, November 30. Released 2020, December 07 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 166.2 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm (6.54 x 3.02 x 0.36 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619L | Adreno 619L |
| OS | Android 10, TCL UI | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB 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 | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 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 |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mist Gray, Placid Blue | Midnight Ice |
| Models | T781, T781K, T781H | BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028 |
| Price | About 300 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) |
TCL 20 5G
- Potentially cleaner software experience
- Similar battery endurance to the Nord N10 5G
- QC4 support for compatible chargers
- Slower 18W charging
- Display specifications are unknown, potentially inferior to Nord N10
- Camera details are lacking
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- 30W fast charging for quick top-ups
- Measured 440 nits brightness and 1447:1 contrast ratio
- Generally well-regarded software optimization
- OxygenOS can be more aggressive with notifications
- Contrast ratio may not satisfy all users
- Camera performance is average for the price range
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 440 nits and a 1447:1 contrast ratio. While the TCL 20 5G’s display specifications are not provided, the Nord N10’s contrast ratio suggests a potentially more vibrant and punchy image. The 440 nits brightness is adequate for indoor use, but may struggle in direct sunlight. Neither device is expected to feature high-refresh-rate panels, focusing instead on efficiency. The contrast ratio is a key differentiator, impacting the perceived depth and clarity of content.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for the TCL 20 5G. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G’s camera performance is generally considered adequate for its price point, but not exceptional. Without sensor size or aperture information for the TCL 20 5G, it’s difficult to assess its potential. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing tactic, offering limited practical benefit due to the small sensor size and lack of optical image stabilization (OIS).
Performance
Both the TCL 20 5G and OnePlus Nord N10 5G are powered by the Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with 2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold and 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver cores. This means CPU performance will be virtually identical. The real-world performance difference will likely stem from RAM management and software optimization, areas where OnePlus historically excels. Thermal throttling, while not a major concern with the 690, could be slightly better managed by the OnePlus due to its potentially more robust cooling solution, though this is speculative without teardowns.
Battery Life
Both the TCL 20 5G and OnePlus Nord N10 5G achieve an endurance rating of 99 hours, indicating similar battery life under typical usage. However, the crucial difference lies in charging speed. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G supports 30W wired charging, while the TCL 20 5G is limited to 18W with Quick Charge 4 (QC4) compatibility. This translates to significantly faster charging times for the OnePlus, potentially adding hours of use in just minutes. A full charge on the Nord N10 5G is expected to take around 50-60 minutes, while the TCL 20 5G will likely require over 90 minutes.
Buying Guide
Buy the TCL 20 5G if you prioritize a potentially more refined software experience (TCL's UI is generally less aggressive than OxygenOS) and are less concerned with extremely fast charging. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if you value quick top-ups, as the 30W charging is a substantial advantage for users who frequently drain their battery throughout the day. Both are excellent choices for those entering the 5G space on a budget.