The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is an impressively reliable budget smartphone, with a long-lasting battery and smooth software. We compare it to the Google Pixel 4a 5G.
OnePlus urges us to “never settle,” and the manufacturer certainly never settles when it comes to affordable phones. It’s just released the OnePlus Nord CE 5G, a budget device that promises some tasty specs. It largely delivers on such promises, offering a generous 4,500mAh battery,6.43-inch AMOLED display,5G support, and some admirably smooth software. But in a world of surprisingly great budget Android phones, it faces some serious competition, with the Google Pixel 4a 5G leading the pack. For $499, it offers one of the best cameras around, as well as a long-lasting battery, user-friendly software, and a decent display and processor. With the OnePlus Nord CE (“Core Edition”) 5G and Pixel 4a 5G offering different strengths and weaknesses, it’s not obvious which phone is the best overall. Luckily, we’ve put the two phones against each other in a head-to-head comparison. By looking at their specs, designs, displays, performance, cameras, software, and special features, we can help you decide which is the best device for your purposes. While neither phone will win awards for having startlingly original designs, they both look attractive enough. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G sports a similar style to its recent stablemates, and the Blue Void color emphasizes its subtle curves. It features a tidy edge-to-edge display with a punch-hole selfie camera in the top-left corner, and its rear camera module is also very neat — even if it betrays a lack of originality. It’s a similar story with the Pixel 4a 5G, which is also pleasing enough to the eye without really impressing. The black plastic rear isn’t as sleek as the Nord CE 5G’s, betraying its sub-$500 price. Still, both phones are appreciably light and not too large, so they’re easy enough to handle for extended periods of time. Both phones also come with similarly specced displays. The Pixel 4a 5G’s 6.2-inch OLED screen offers a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, which works out at 413 pixels per inch. The Nord CE 5G carries a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, or 411 pixels per inch. Looking solely at the resolution, you’d assume they offer nearly identical quality, but the lack of HDR support drags OnePlus down a little, even with its 90Hz refresh rate. Its colors and images aren’t always as vibrant as those you can enjoy with the Pixel, which is disappointing in light of OnePlus’ mostly laudable track record with displays. Neither phone ships with an official IP rating, so don’t take either into your morning shower. Nonetheless, the use of plastic rears (rather than glass) should make both more durable than more premium glass phones.
