Performance Review: OnePlus’ Best Budget Phones Compared
OnePlus offers several budget phone options, including the Nord N30 5G, Nord N20 5G, and Nord N10 5G. Each phone has its own unique features, but which one is the best value for your money? In this performance review, we’ll compare the specs, design, and overall user experience of each phone to help you make an informed decision.
Nord N30 5G
Design and Display
The N30 features a 6.7-inch LCD display with a high-refresh-rate and a plastic back panel. The display can be hard to use in direct sunlight and lacks the rich colors of an OLED screen, but the fast refresh rate gives the phone a level of polish and responsiveness that you don’t usually get with a standard 60Hz screen. The glossy plastic back panel quickly accumulates fingerprint smudges. The device also lacks an IP rating for water and dust resistance.
Performance and Features
The N30 has a Snapdragon 695 5G chipset with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. These are impressive specs for a budget phone, and most users should find it performs well enough for daily tasks. However, heavy tasks may cause some chugging. The N30 also offers fast wired charging, stereo speakers, and NFC for contactless payments, which are thoughtful touches often not found on budget phones.
Camera System
The N30’s camera system is a bit of a wild card, with uneven performance and some funkiness with its new 3x crop zoom feature. Depending on the on-sale status of the Google Pixel 6A, you may be able to do much better for not a lot more money.
Nord N20 5G
Design and Display
The Nord N20 5G features a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a sleek, matte-coated design language. The plastic material feels sturdy and polished, and the coating does an excellent job of hiding fingerprints and smudges. In-display fingerprint readers have been reserved for more expensive phones, but the Nord N20 5G offers one.
Performance and Features
The N20 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage (expandable by MicroSD), which are impressive specs for a phone with a $299 price tag. The phone runs on a dated OxygenOS 11 operating system based on Android 11 but has an available update to Android 12. The device also has a good battery that can charge rapidly.
Camera System
The N20’s camera system comprises a 64-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel macro, a 2-megapixel monochrome, and a 16-megapixel front camera. The overall camera performance is decent and should suffice for everyday use, but it may not match the quality of more expensive phones. The Nord N20 only offers one major OS upgrade, which may disappoint enthusiasts but may not matter for the average user.
Nord N10 5G
Design and Display
The Nord N10 5G features a 6.49-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a plastic body with a shiny finish. The device is relatively light and easy to hold but may not feel as premium as other phones in its category. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Performance and Features
The N10 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G chipset with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. While these specs may not be as impressive as those of the N20 and N30, they are still more than adequate for most tasks. The phone also has a good battery life and supports 5G connectivity.
Camera System
The N10’s camera system includes a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a pair of 2-megapixel cameras for macro and depth-sensing. The camera system is competent but may not match that of more expensive phones. Like the N20, the Nord N10 only offers one major OS upgrade.
Conclusion
Each of the OnePlus budget phones we reviewed has its own strengths and weaknesses. The N30 is likely to be a “free phone” for many people trading in an old device, and if that’s the case, then it’s a worthy choice. The N20, on the other hand, is our pick for the best budget phone overall, offering a balance of performance, features, and design. The N10 is still a viable option if 5G connectivity is a priority and if camera quality is not a dealbreaker.
FAQ
1. Can you upgrade the OnePlus budget phones?
The Nord N30 and N20 offer one major OS upgrade, while the Nord N10 offers two major OS upgrades. However, OnePlus guarantees three years of security updates for all of its phones.
2. Do any of these phones have water and dust resistance?
None of the OnePlus budget phones have an IP rating for water and dust resistance.
3. Is OnePlus’ budget phone line compatible with Verizon’s network?
The Nord N30 5G and Nord N20 5G are not compatible with Verizon’s network, but the Nord N10 5G is.
4. Which budget phone is the best value for the money?
The OnePlus Nord N20 5G offers the best value for the money, with impressive specs, design, and features at an affordable price.
5. What is the price range of OnePlus’ budget phones?
OnePlus’ budget phones range in price from $199 for the Nord N10 5G to $299 for the Nord N30 5G and Nord N20 5G.