How is OnePlus Nord doing in terms of value for money?
As mid-range phone prices drop as their functional capabilities continue to improve, it’s hard to know which phone it is. truly good value for money.
Some devices may have a cheap initial cost, but they only offer one year of software support, which means you’ll have to buy another one in 12 months if you want the latest OS update. Others may have longer software support, but they cost more upfront and have poor exchange value.
There’s more information on which phone is best for your wallet outside of specs and raw performance, so here’s a quick guide on which of the top budget phones released this year offer good value for money.
Best exchange prices
If you plan to buy directly from the manufacturer, there is a good chance that you may be able to get some cash for your old phone. Exchange prices vary by manufacturer, but a good rule of thumb is: the newer the phone, the more you get.
Assuming you’re not doing something silly like swapping an iPhone 11 for a OnePlus Nord (if so, stop doing what you’re doing now) and instead hand over your old 128GB Samsung Galaxy S8, which is no longer receiving Support from Android and coming to the end of your guaranteed security updates – this is what you can get from Apple, Motorola and OnePlus.
Note– These prices are based on phones being fully operational, unlocked, and with minimal damage.
OnePlus: £ 130 (approximately $ 170)
Apple: $ 100
Motorola: no exchange
For a comparative Apple device, the iPhone 8, released the same year as Samsung’s Galaxy S8, OnePlus is back on top.
OnePlus: £ 140 (approximately $ 180)
Apple: $ 170
Motorola: no exchange on
Winner: OnePlus.
Motorola tells me that it does not offer exchange discounts for its older phones.
Second hand value
It is too early to know how much the Nord, iPhone SE or Motorola G 5G Plus will depreciate, but we do know how previous phones from the same companies have fared over the years.
Online electronic music and second-hand store Music Magpie has a helpful guide to which phones have the highest value over the years, which is based on the company’s sales data. In its 2020 depreciation report, it found that Apple iPhones topped the list of phones that depreciated the least for 12 months. Apple phones lost 44% of their value in one year and 62% during the standard two-year phone contract period.
Google and Samsung came in second, losing 62% of their value in 12 months, while OnePlus lags behind the rest by 77%.
But it’s not all bad news for OnePlus, as the report explains. “OnePlus phones were losing an average of 97% of their value in the first 12 months, while now their 12-month depreciation figure is only 77%, reaching 89% in month 24.”
Despite the recent improvement in second-hand value, the Chinese company’s phones depreciate 33% more than iPhones on average. As you can see from the following two charts, Apple’s iPhone 8 had the highest value in its first year, while the OnePlus 5 came second in losing the highest value in its first 12 months.
Apple far exceeds OnePlus in long-term smartphone value.
Motorola’s long absence in the premium smartphone market means there is no data on the depreciation value of its phones.
Winner: Apple iPhone SE.
Initial cost
This should be easy, with Motorola’s extremely economical Moto G 5G Plus taking home victory. But the conversions and in which territories these phones are available make it more complex.
OnePlus Nord: £ 379 (approximately $ 495)
Apple iPhone SE: $ 399
Moto G 5G Plus: £ 299 (approximately $ 390)
But, as I say, the conversions are not representative of the real price in that territory. OnePlus could well launch the Nord in the US for $ 379. Motorola tells me that it “commits to launch a less than $ 500 5G device in North America this fall.”
If you decide to import, there are also additional costs and technical headaches that come with it, especially the issue of band support.
Winner: if you are in the UK, the Moto G 5G Plus, if you are in the US: the iPhone SE.
Updates
A phone may be cheap to buy in advance, but will it still be compatible with OS and security updates in two years? Or will you be forced to buy another device because the manufacturer decided to disappear after you handed over your money? When it comes to discussing value for money, longevity is particularly important. This is how each device breaks down in terms of after-sales support.
Apple iPhone SE: Apple has not officially confirmed how many updates their phones receive during their lives, but the 2015 iPhone 6S is compatible with iOS 14, which will be released later this year.
OnePlus Nord: two years of software updates and three years of security updates.
Motorola G 5G Plus: An Android update with two years of security updates. This policy of only promising an update is quite common among Motorola phones.
Winner: Apple iPhone SE
The winner
In upgrades and second-hand value, making the most of its money and longevity, Apple’s iPhone SE stands out compared to the other two devices. But it’s worth noting that OnePlus and Moto G devices support 5G connectivity, while iPhone SE doesn’t. Therefore, there is a potential future protection problem, which may affect your second-hand value in the long term.
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