The Tecno Camon 16 Premier and OnePlus Nord N10 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a feature-rich experience without breaking the bank, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this goal, particularly in chipset choice and battery optimization. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and sustained gaming performance, the Tecno Camon 16 Premier is the stronger choice. Its Helio G90T chipset, coupled with a larger battery and optimized endurance rating of 118 hours, provides a noticeable advantage over the OnePlus Nord N10 5G’s 99-hour rating, despite the latter’s 5G connectivity.
| 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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1024/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - India | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 04. Released 2020, September 04 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 170.6 x 77.2 x 9.1 mm (6.72 x 3.04 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 |
| Weight | 210 g (7.41 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10+, 480 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6785 Helio G90T (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 619L |
| OS | Android 10, HIOS 6.0 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Penta-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (dedicated video camera)
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm
8 MP, f/2.2, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 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 |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | 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 | 33W wired, 70% in 30 min (International)
18W wired (India) | 30W wired |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glacial Silver | Midnight Ice |
| Models | CE9, CD6j | BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028 |
| Price | About 230 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| SAR | 1.25 W/kg (head) 0.88 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 118h |
Endurance rating 99h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1896:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.1 LUFS (Average) |
-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 283847 (v8)
GeekBench: 6692 (v4.4), 1672 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 279579 (v8)
GeekBench: 1848 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Tecno Camon 16 Premier
- Superior battery life (118h endurance)
- Faster charging speed (33W international)
- Higher contrast ratio for more vibrant visuals
- No 5G connectivity
- Older 12nm chipset process
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- 5G connectivity for future-proof networking
- Slightly brighter display (440 nits)
- More efficient 8nm chipset process
- Shorter battery life (99h endurance)
- Potentially more thermal throttling under load
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays suitable for media consumption, but differ in key metrics. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts a slightly brighter panel at 440 nits compared to the Tecno Camon 16 Premier’s 400 nits, potentially offering better visibility in direct sunlight. However, the Camon 16 Premier counters with a superior contrast ratio of 1896:1 versus the Nord N10 5G’s 1447:1, resulting in richer blacks and a more vibrant image. While neither display utilizes advanced technologies like LTPO, the contrast difference is a tangible benefit for the Tecno.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the market positioning of Tecno often emphasizes camera capabilities, suggesting a potentially more refined image processing pipeline. The absence of details regarding sensor size and optical image stabilization (OIS) makes a direct comparison challenging. It's likely both phones rely on software algorithms to enhance image quality, and the user experience will depend heavily on these algorithms.
Performance
The chipset is where these phones diverge significantly. The Tecno Camon 16 Premier utilizes the MediaTek Helio G90T, built on a 12nm process, while the OnePlus Nord N10 5G employs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G, fabricated on a more efficient 8nm node. Despite the process node advantage, the Helio G90T’s CPU – an octa-core configuration with two 2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and six 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores – appears to offer a slight edge in raw CPU performance compared to the Snapdragon 690’s 2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold and 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver. However, the Snapdragon 690’s integrated 5G modem is a key differentiator, offering future-proof connectivity. The 8nm process of the Snapdragon 690 should theoretically lead to better thermal management, but real-world testing would be needed to confirm if this translates to less throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Battery life is a clear win for the Tecno Camon 16 Premier. Its endurance rating of 118 hours significantly surpasses the OnePlus Nord N10 5G’s 99 hours. This difference is likely attributable to the more power-efficient chipset and potentially optimized software. While the Nord N10 5G offers 30W wired charging, the Camon 16 Premier supports 33W charging (internationally, dropping to 18W in India), allowing for a 70% charge in just 30 minutes. This faster charging speed, combined with the larger endurance rating, makes the Camon 16 Premier the superior choice for users who prioritize minimizing downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Camon 16 Premier if you need exceptional battery life for all-day use and prioritize consistent gaming performance. Its 33W charging (in international markets) is a bonus. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if 5G connectivity is a must-have and you prefer a slightly brighter display, accepting a trade-off in battery endurance and potentially more thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio G90T in the Camon 16 Premier struggle with sustained gaming performance compared to the Snapdragon 690?
While the Snapdragon 690 benefits from a more efficient 8nm process, the Helio G90T’s CPU architecture and dedicated gaming optimizations often allow it to maintain higher frame rates for longer periods in many titles. However, the Snapdragon 690’s thermal efficiency *could* prevent significant throttling in less demanding games. Real-world testing is crucial for a definitive answer.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Tecno Camon 16 Premier universally available, or is the 18W version more common?
The 33W charging is primarily available in international markets. The Indian variant of the Tecno Camon 16 Premier is limited to 18W charging. This difference significantly impacts charging times, with the 33W version reaching 70% charge in 30 minutes, while the 18W version will take considerably longer.
❓ How much does the 5G connectivity of the OnePlus Nord N10 5G impact real-world battery drain?
Actively using 5G will undoubtedly consume more battery than 4G LTE. However, the Nord N10 5G’s 5G modem is designed to intelligently switch between 5G and 4G based on signal strength and network conditions. In areas with limited 5G coverage, the phone will primarily utilize 4G, minimizing the battery impact.
