The sub-₹11,000 (approximately $135 USD) smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Xiaomi Poco M2 and OnePlus Nord N10 5G represent compelling options for users seeking 5G connectivity without breaking the bank. This comparison dissects their key differences, focusing on chipset performance, display quality, battery life, and camera capabilities to determine which device offers the most value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing faster charging and a slightly brighter display, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is the better choice. However, the Poco M2 offers a compelling alternative for those seeking a potentially smoother experience in sustained tasks due to its Cortex-A75 cores, and a lower price point for the 64GB variant.
| 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, 8, 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 |
| | - | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 08 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, September 15 | Available. Released 2020, November 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 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 | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 619L |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 13 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
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 | 1080p@30fps | 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 |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Wireless FM radio (no wired headphones required) | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Brick Red, Pitch Black, Slate Blue | Midnight Ice |
| Models | MZB9919IN, M2004J19PI | BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028 |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| SAR | 0.85 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body) | - |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | ₹ 10,499 | - |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | ₹ 10,799 | - |
| 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) |
Xiaomi Poco M2
- Potentially smoother performance in sustained tasks due to Cortex-A75 cores.
- Lower price point for the 64GB storage variant.
- Efficient CPU architecture for everyday tasks.
- Slower 18W charging.
- Likely lower display brightness compared to the Nord N10 5G.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- Faster 30W wired charging.
- Brighter display (440 nits) for better outdoor visibility.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G modem for reliable 5G connectivity.
- Potentially more thermal throttling under heavy load.
- Higher price point compared to the Poco M2 (64GB variant).
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 440 nits and a 1447:1 contrast ratio, offering a more vibrant and visible experience, particularly outdoors. While the Poco M2’s display specifications are not provided, the Nord N10’s higher brightness is a clear advantage. The Nord N10’s panel is likely IPS LCD, common in this price bracket, but the brightness difference is significant. The Poco M2 likely has a standard IPS LCD panel, adequate for indoor use but potentially washed out in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the camera experience will likely differ due to image processing algorithms. The sensor size and aperture are unknown for both, making a direct comparison difficult. Given OnePlus’s history, the Nord N10 5G likely prioritizes computational photography and image stabilization. The Poco M2 may lean towards a more natural, less processed look. Without further details, it’s difficult to assess the camera quality beyond speculation.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Poco M2 utilizes the Mediatek Helio G80 (12nm) with a CPU configuration of 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 and 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, while the Nord N10 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G (8nm). The Snapdragon 690, built on a smaller 8nm process, generally offers better power efficiency. However, the Poco M2’s Cortex-A75 cores are more powerful individually than the Kryo 560 Gold cores in the Snapdragon 690, potentially leading to better performance in single-threaded tasks and sustained workloads. The 8nm process of the Snapdragon 690 should result in better thermal management during prolonged gaming sessions, mitigating potential throttling. Both phones have 6GB of RAM, but the RAM type (LPDDR4X vs LPDDR5) isn't specified, impacting bandwidth.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 99 hours, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the Nord N10 5G’s 30W wired charging significantly outperforms the Poco M2’s 18W charging. This translates to a much faster 0-100% charge time for the Nord N10 5G, a crucial advantage for users who prioritize convenience. While the Poco M2’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging of the Nord N10 5G effectively mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco M2 if you need a phone primarily for everyday tasks, light gaming, and value a slightly more efficient CPU architecture for sustained workloads. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if you prioritize faster 30W charging, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and the benefits of Qualcomm’s 5G modem, even if it means potentially more thermal throttling under heavy load.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 690 in the Nord N10 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 690 is generally efficient, it's a mid-range chip. Expect some thermal throttling during extended gaming. The 8nm process helps, but demanding titles may still cause performance dips after 30-45 minutes of play. The Poco M2's Helio G80 might maintain slightly more consistent performance over longer periods, but at a lower overall framerate.
❓ Does the Poco M2's Helio G80 offer a playable experience in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
Yes, the Helio G80 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to use medium graphics settings and a balanced frame rate to maintain a smooth experience. Don't expect to max out the settings. The Snapdragon 690 in the Nord N10 5G will offer a more consistent and potentially higher framerate experience, even at higher settings.
❓ How significant is the charging speed difference between 18W and 30W charging?
The difference is substantial. 30W charging on the Nord N10 5G can top up the battery from 0-100% in approximately 60-75 minutes, while the Poco M2's 18W charging will likely take over 2 hours. This is a major convenience factor for users who frequently need to quickly recharge their phones.
