The sub-$300 5G phone market is fiercely competitive. The vivo S1 Prime and OnePlus Nord CE 5G both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price point, but they take different approaches. The S1 Prime relies on the established Snapdragon 665, while the Nord CE 5G steps up to the newer Snapdragon 750G. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone offers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 750G chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the S1 Prime’s Snapdragon 665, and the 30W fast charging significantly reduces downtime. While both phones offer similar battery endurance ratings, the Nord CE 5G’s faster charging is a critical advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 78 SA/NSA - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 12. Released 2020, August 12 | 2021, June 10 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, June 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 75.2 x 8.7 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.34 in) | 159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190.2 g (6.70 oz) | 170 g (6.00 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~404 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~410 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.38 inches, 99.9 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.3 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.2 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC |
| 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Nebula Blue, Jade Black | Blue Void, Charkoal Ink, Silver Ray |
| Models | V1937 | EB2101, EB2103 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 117h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.9 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 318672 (v8) | 391770 (v9)
GeekBench: 1812 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo S1 Prime
- Lower upfront cost
- Acceptable battery endurance
- Functional for basic tasks
- Outdated Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Slow 18W charging
- Likely inferior camera performance
OnePlus Nord CE 5G
- Faster Snapdragon 750G chipset
- 30W fast charging (70% in 30 min)
- Brighter display
- Better thermal efficiency
- Higher price point
- Battery endurance is similar to S1 Prime despite faster charging
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 607 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the vivo S1 Prime. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the Nord CE 5G’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage. Details regarding panel technology (IPS vs AMOLED) and refresh rate are missing for both devices, but given the price point, both likely utilize standard 60Hz IPS LCD panels. Bezels are assumed to be comparable, typical of this price bracket.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are lacking. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the market positioning suggests the Nord CE 5G likely benefits from a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 750G, potentially leading to better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests these are largely marketing features and unlikely to deliver significant photographic value.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G’s Snapdragon 750G (8nm) is a significant upgrade over the vivo S1 Prime’s Snapdragon 665 (11nm). The 750G features a more modern CPU architecture (Kryo 570 vs Kryo 260) with a faster prime core clock speed (2.2 GHz vs 2.0 GHz). This results in noticeably quicker app launch times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. The 8nm process node of the 750G also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones feature octa-core CPUs, the architectural improvements in the 750G provide a clear performance advantage.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both phones share an endurance rating of 117 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the differing chipsets. However, the charging capabilities are vastly different. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G supports 30W wired charging, capable of reaching 70% charge in just 30 minutes. The vivo S1 Prime is limited to 18W charging, meaning a significantly longer time to fully recharge. This difference in charging speed is a major convenience factor, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S1 Prime if you prioritize a lower upfront cost and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. You’ll need to accept compromises in performance and charging speed. Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 5G if you want a smoother, more responsive experience, especially when multitasking or playing mobile games, and value the convenience of significantly faster 30W charging. It’s a worthwhile investment for users who demand more from their phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 750G in the Nord CE 5G handle demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty Mobile smoothly?
Yes, the Snapdragon 750G is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. While it won't match the performance of flagship chipsets, it offers a significantly better gaming experience than the Snapdragon 665 in the S1 Prime, thanks to its more powerful GPU and efficient thermal design.
❓ How much faster is the 30W charging on the Nord CE 5G compared to the 18W charging on the S1 Prime in real-world usage?
The Nord CE 5G can reach 70% charge in approximately 30 minutes, while the S1 Prime will take considerably longer – likely over an hour – to achieve the same charge level. This means you can quickly top up the Nord CE 5G during a short break, whereas the S1 Prime requires a more substantial charging period.
❓ Is the difference in performance between the Snapdragon 665 and 750G noticeable for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
Yes, the difference is noticeable. The Snapdragon 750G provides a smoother and more responsive experience when navigating the user interface, opening apps, and multitasking. While the S1 Prime is adequate for basic tasks, the Nord CE 5G feels snappier and more fluid.
