Umidigi Note 100A vs OnePlus Nord N10 5G: A Deep Dive into Budget 5G

The sub-$300 5G phone market is heating up, and the Umidigi Note 100A and OnePlus Nord N10 5G represent compelling options. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price, they take different approaches to achieving this, particularly in chipset choice and overall feature set. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a slightly brighter display, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 690 offers a noticeable performance edge over the Unisoc T615, and the 30W charging is a significant convenience, despite both phones achieving the same endurance rating.

PHONES
Phone Names Umidigi Note 100A OnePlus Nord N10 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 661, 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
Announced2025, February 132020, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, FebruaryAvailable. Released 2020, November 21
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions167.8 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm (6.61 x 3.05 x 0.30 in)163 x 74.7 x 9 mm (6.42 x 2.94 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~258 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120HzIPS LCD, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)
ChipsetUnisoc T615 (12 nm)Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MP1Adreno 619L
OSAndroid 14Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC
Internal256GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, (wide) Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flashLED 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
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, (wide)16 MP, f/2.1
VideoYes1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with dual speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging20W wired30W wired
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 4300 mAh
Misc
ColorsRock Black, Interstellar Blue, Lake Green, Starry WhiteMidnight Ice
Models-BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028
PriceAbout 130 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)

Umidigi Note 100A

  • Potentially lower price point
  • 5G connectivity
  • Functional for basic tasks

  • Less powerful processor
  • Slower charging speed
  • Unknown display quality

OnePlus Nord N10 5G

  • Faster Snapdragon 690 processor
  • 30W fast charging
  • Brighter and higher contrast display

  • Higher price than Umidigi Note 100A
  • May not be significantly better in all camera scenarios
  • Software updates may be less frequent than flagship OnePlus models

Display Comparison

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 440 nits and a 1447:1 contrast ratio, suggesting a more vibrant and visible display, especially outdoors. While the Umidigi Note 100A’s display specifications are not provided, the Nord N10’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for users who frequently consume media in bright environments. The contrast ratio also indicates deeper blacks and more dynamic visuals on the OnePlus device. The absence of refresh rate data for the Umidigi Note 100A suggests it likely operates at the standard 60Hz, while the Nord N10 5G’s 90Hz panel (based on market knowledge) would provide a smoother scrolling experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for the Umidigi Note 100A. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 690, offering improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance. Without sensor size or aperture information for the Umidigi, it’s difficult to assess its camera capabilities, but the Nord N10 5G’s more established platform suggests a more consistent and reliable camera experience. We can assume the Umidigi will rely heavily on software processing to compensate for potentially less capable hardware.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Umidigi Note 100A utilizes the Unisoc T615 (12nm), while the OnePlus Nord N10 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G (8nm). The Snapdragon 690, built on a smaller 8nm process, generally offers superior CPU and GPU performance. The Snapdragon 690’s Kryo 560 Gold cores, clocked at 2.0 GHz, outperform the Unisoc T615’s Cortex-A75 cores at 1.8 GHz. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Nord N10 5G. The 8nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.

Battery Life

Interestingly, both the Umidigi Note 100A and the OnePlus Nord N10 5G achieve an endurance rating of 99 hours. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Nord N10 5G supports 30W wired charging, allowing for a much faster 0-100% charge compared to the Umidigi Note 100A’s 20W charging. While both offer comparable battery life, the convenience of faster charging on the Nord N10 5G is a notable advantage for users who frequently need to top up their devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the Umidigi Note 100A if you need a functional 5G device on an extremely tight budget and are willing to accept compromises in processing power. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if you prioritize smoother multitasking, faster charging, and a more refined user experience, even if it means spending a bit more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Unisoc T615 in the Umidigi Note 100A struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
Yes, the Unisoc T615 is a budget-focused chipset. While it can handle less graphically intensive games, you'll likely experience noticeable frame drops and lag in demanding titles like PUBG or Call of Duty, even on lower settings. The Snapdragon 690 in the Nord N10 5G offers a significantly smoother gaming experience.
❓ How much faster is the 30W charging on the OnePlus Nord N10 5G compared to the 20W charging on the Umidigi Note 100A?
While exact charging times depend on various factors, the 30W charging on the Nord N10 5G will likely reduce the 0-100% charge time by approximately 30-45 minutes compared to the Umidigi Note 100A. This is a substantial difference for users who prioritize quick top-ups.
❓ Does the OnePlus Nord N10 5G support carrier aggregation for improved 5G speeds?
Yes, the Snapdragon 690 in the Nord N10 5G supports carrier aggregation, which allows it to combine multiple 5G channels for faster and more stable download and upload speeds, provided your carrier supports it. The Unisoc T615's 5G capabilities are less well-defined and may not offer the same level of carrier aggregation support.