Kicking off 2021, Samsung has been stealing the spotlight, as is tradition, when it comes to new smartphone launches. The Galaxy S21 lineup launched and has been the source of much coverage as it’s the latest flagship from Samsung. However, OnePlus has also been making a play in the headlines, and not just for rumors about the upcoming OnePlus 9 / 9 Pro series. 10 First things every OnePlus Nord N10 owner should do Late last year, the company introduced its Nord N lineup of devices, headlined by the Nord N10 5G and accompanied by the Nord N100. The Nord series of phones are designed to get OnePlus hardware into the hands of more and more users, as the OnePlus 8 Pro / 8T may be a bit too expensive for some. This is no different than what we see from Samsung with its Galaxy A lineup, along with some other Galaxy *insert letter here* devices. OnePlus Nord N10 5G: Specs Display: 6.49-inch IPS LCD, 90Hz refresh rate, 2400×1080 Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 RAM: 6GB Storage: 128GB, expandable via microSD card Front Camera: 16MP Rear Cameras: 64MP primary, 8MP Ultrawide, 2MP Macro, 2MP Monochrome Battery: 4,300mAh, Warp Charge 30T (30W) Software: OxygenOS 10.5 (based on Android 10) Extras: Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm headphone jack, Stereo speakers Out of the two Nord N devices, the Nord N10 5G is the more intriguing of the bunch. For less than $300, you’ll get a device that sports a 6.49-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, you’ll find the Snapdragon 690 processor coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Surprisingly, you can even throw in a microSD card, which is something that can’t be said for many flagship devices, including the Galaxy S21. While the Snapdragon 690 may not seem as impressive as something like the 765G which is powering many mid-range handsets. However, the real benefit here is that the SD690 provides enough power, while also giving you 5G connectivity. Instead of spending an arm and a leg on a higher-end device just to experience 5G, the Nord N10 5G does this for just $299. OnePlus Nord N10 5G: Hardware From a design aspect, this doesn’t look too much different from the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8T. You’ll find a shiny metallic finish on the back, along with a tall display and a hole-punch selfie camera. On the back, there’s a quad-camera system placed in the top right corner, along with a fingerprint scanner that is placed between the camera hump and OnePlus logo. This recent trend of physical fingerprint scanners in budget or mid-range smartphones is actually refreshing. Even though the Galaxy S21 features a vastly-improved ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, there’s just something to love about that rear-mounted scanner. Around the rest of the phone, there’s really nothing much to write home about. The charging port, microphone and speakers are found on the bottom, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Which is something else that we are seeing removed from more and more phones, and it’s not the end of the world, but it’s a nice inclusion on the N10 5G. Diehard OnePlus fans may take one look at the N10 5G and notice a glaring omission – there’s no volume slider.
