Yesterday, out of nowhere, details about an interesting OnePlus-branded budget smartphone emerged on the internet. The device, which is said to go official as OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is tipped to pack features that were never heard of on affordable OnePlus phones to date. If the leak is to be believed, the handset will likely compete with the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, which is already facing competition from its siblings.
Introduction
Last week, Xiaomi took the wraps off the international Redmi Note 11 series consisting of four devices. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is the topmost model with all the bells and whistles, however, it is not as value for money as the Redmi Note 11S or even the last year’s Redmi Note 10 Pro (aka Redmi Note 10 Pro Max).
To make the situation even worse, the phone is about to get two competitors from the Oujia group (OPLUS) – Realme 9 Pro+ and OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite.
We already know about the former, and given the features it will come with, the handset will likely be more expensive than the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. Hence, the proper competitor could be the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite instead.
OnePlus has been long rumored to release the OnePlus Nord CE 2. But no one expected a lite variant of this device, which sounds more promising for markets like India.
Redmi Note 10 Pro can still take on Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is not as interesting as its predecessor Redmi Note 10 Pro. Because the latter had already set the bar for budget smartphones last year. The newer handset is merely an iterative model.
Anyway, it still arrives with some upgraded features like 67W fast charging, 5G connectivity via Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, liquid cooling technology, and MIUI 13 out of the box.
The phone also sports a flat frame design and comes in a unique colorway called Atlantic Blue that mimics water waves. But it lacks one of the best features of its forerunner – a 5MP telemacro camera with autofocus.
If you look at this smartphone discretely, it still sounds like a good deal. However, when you start comparing it with its predecessor, you may find the older handset a better deal as it is not only cheaper but offers the almost same experience.
Anyhoo, Xiaomi is known for discontinuing the older phone with the release of their successor. So it may soon become difficult to get hands on the Redmi Note 10 Pro.
The new kid on the block – OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite
Unlike the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is yet to release, and therefore, it will be on the market for months to come. We believe that it will act as the true competitor of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.
Because the new Nord is anticipated to arrive with some compelling features for the first time on an affordable OnePlus-branded smartphone. First and foremost, it will have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset as the Redmi device.
Further, it will ship with Android 12-based OxygenOS 12 instead of MIUI 13 based on Android 11 like the Redmi. However, though it will have an identical 5,000mAh battery, it will only support 33W fast charging.
Another con is that there will be no ultra-wide camera on the OnePlus. It will feature a 64MP triple camera setup comprising two useless 2MP sensors and a 16MP selfie camera.
Finally, it will sport a 6.59-inch ‘fluid’ (high refresh rate) display with an FHD resolution. The type of panel is a mystery for now. Hence, we cannot rule out the possibility of LCD though the vanilla OnePlus Nord CE 2 is said to come with an AMOLED screen.
When you compare the raw specs of the Redmi Note 11 Pro and the OnePlus Nord 2 CE, the former is definitely better. But there’s more to a product than its specifications.
Brand power plays a key role
Unlike Redmi, OnePlus is considered a reputed brand by the general public in most markets. Because the former is still associated with affordable smartphones. On the other hand, the latter started its journey as a flagship killer and made a name for itself in the premium segment, especially in India.
And above all, OnePlus’ marketing prowess is much better than Xiaomi. This has helped OnePlus to increase its market share with mid-range Nord handsets even though there are phones with better specs in the same price bracket.
Contemplating all these facts, we think that the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite will be the true competitor of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G whenever it releases.
Having said that, this is just an opinion from our end. What are your thoughts on these two devices? Do let us know in the comment section below.
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