After releasing the vanilla Nord, OnePlus came up with two more affordable smartphones after several years spent releasing flagships only. The new series includes the mid-ranger OnePlus Nord N10 5G: a device providing 5G connectivity and great specifications at a pretty affordable price. But does it have the highest value for money you can expect in this second half of 2020 or is it all about 5G and there is something better in the market? In order to let you find out, we decided to compare it with the best-selling POCO X3 NFC and the Realme 7 Pro: the Xiaomi and Realme phones with the highest value for money released recently.
OnePlus Nord N10 vs Xiaomi POCO X3 vs Realme 7 Pro
| OnePlus Nord N10 5G | Xiaomi POCO X3 NFC | Oppo Realme 7 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 163 x 74.7 x 9 mm, 190 grams | 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm, 215 grams | 160.9 x 74.3 x 8.7 mm, 182 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.49 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 406 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD | 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 411 ppi, Super AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G, octa-core 2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G, octa-core 2.3 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, octa-core 2.3 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, OxygenOS | Android 10, MIUI | Android 10, Realme UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.1 front camera |
Quad 64 + 13 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 20 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4 32 MP f/2.5 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4300 mAh, fast charging 30W | 5160 mAh, fast charging 33W | 4500 mAh, fast charging 65W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot, 5G | Dual SIM slot, splash proof | Dual SIM slot, splash resistant |
Design
None of these devices offers a stunning design like flagships, but they are still pretty nice phones when it comes to aesthetics. The POCO X3 NFC has not the most beautiful look but it comes with a higher build quality: it features an aluminum frame and the IP53 certification making it dust resistant and waterproof. My favorite one is the Realme 7 Pro because it has a thinner and lighter design, as well as a cleaner look and a more compact body. Its body is entirely made of plastic, but the look is actually better. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is bigger, thicker, and heavier than Realme 7 Pro, but more compact than POCO X3 NFC.
Display
The king of the display here is the Realme 7 Pro for a simple reason: it has a Super AMOLED display instead of an IPS panel. So, it provides more vibrant colors and deeper blacks. Further, it has an in-display fingerprint scanner. But you should not underestimate the POCO X3 NFC despite it has an IPS panel. The POCO X3 NFC comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10 certification allowing for great image quality. Most people still consider 60 Hz AMOLED panels a better choice, but the POCO X3 NFC still offers a nice screen. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is inferior to both with its 90 Hz IPS display.
Specs & Software
If you need the highest performance, you should opt for the OnePlus Nord N10 5G. Despite it has a chipset from Snapdragon 6xx series, it is actually more powerful than the Snapdragon 732G and the Snapdragon 720G found on its rivals (we are talking about both CPU and GPU performance). Further, unlike its two opponents, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G supports 5G connectivity. The POCO X3 NFC has a slightly stronger chipset than the Realme 7 Pro, but the Realme 7 Pro comes in a variant with more RAM: up to 8 GB. All are based on Android 10, but OnePlus already confirmed that the Nord N10 5G will only get one major Android update.
Camera
On paper, the best rear camera setup belongs to the POCO X3 NFC. While it offers the same main camera as its rivals, it actually comes with better secondary sensors including a 13 MP ultrawide camera. If you need better selfies, then you should go for the Realme 7 Pro with its 32 MP front camera.
Battery
The POCO X3 NFC has a longer battery life thanks to its huge 5160 mAh battery, but the Realme 7 Pro charges a lot faster thanks to its 65W fast charging technology. And the Realme 7 Pro takes the silver medal when it comes to battery life thanks to a 4500 mAh battery and its efficient display.
Price
POCO X3 NFC is priced at €229/$271 globally, Realme 7 Pro can be found for less than €300/$355, and OnePlus Nord N10 5G starts from €349/$414. If we exclude the 5G support, OnePlus Nord N10 5G is inferior to its two rivals. Realme 7 Pro has the best display and faster charging, as well as the most interesting design, while POCO X3 NFC has a bigger battery. I would personally go for the Realme 7 Pro as it is more balanced: what would you choose?
OnePlus Nord N10 vs Xiaomi POCO X3 vs Realme 7 Pro: PROs and CONS
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
PROs
- 5G
- Good GPU
- 90 Hz display
CONS
- Just one major update
POCO X3 NFC
PROs
- Great price
- Good cameras
- IR blaster
- 120 Hz HDR10 display
- Huge battery
- Splash resistant
CONS
- Nothing particular
Oppo Realme 7 Pro
PROs
- Faster charging
- Water-repellent
- AMOLED display
- Compact design
- Best front camera
CONS
- Inferior hardware
