Fans of OnePlus phones are quite dedicated to the beginning phone maker, often replacing one OnePlus model with another. Starting July 21, there will be a new OnePlus phone in the mix, as the OnePlus Nord makes its debut. And this phone will cost much less than many of the OnePlus models that came before.
However, OnePlus Nord is not just about offering a lower price: OnePlus has also emphasized that it wants to offer the kind of premium features we’ve seen on its flagships. That will invite comparisons to previous phones, like the OnePlus 7 Pro released just over a year ago, to see what kind of features OnePlus can include in a newer phone under $ 500.
Current OnePlus 7 Pro owners may not be contemplating a move to OnePlus Nord. But comparing the OnePlus Nord’s features to the OnePlus 7 Pro can help us determine how successfully OnePlus can balance lower cost with high-end features. And from what we’ve heard about the Nord, therefore, prior to launch, switching from the more expensive OnePlus 7 Pro may not be a huge discount.
This is how the two OnePlus phones should compare, according to our OnePlus 7 Pro review and OnePlus Nord rumors that have been circulating, in addition to what OnePlus has already confirmed about their upcoming phone.
OnePlus Nord vs. OnePlus 7 Pro: Specifications
OnePlus Nord (rumored) | OnePlus 7 Pro | |
Initial price at launch | Less than $ 500 | $ 649 |
Screen resolution) | 6.4 inches AMOLED (2400×1080; 90Hz) | 6.67 inch AMOLED (3120 x 1440; 90Hz) |
CPU | Snapdragon 765G | Snapdragon 855 |
RAM | 8GB, 12GB | 6GB, 8GB, 12GB |
Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB |
Rear cameras | 48MP wide (ƒ / 1.75); 8MP ultra wide; 5MP macro (ƒ / 2.4); 2MP portrait (ƒ / 2.4) | 48MP (ƒ / 1.6), 16MP (ƒ / 2.2) ultra wide angle lens, 8MP (ƒ / 2.4) telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom |
Front cameras | 32MP (ƒ / 2.45) and 8MP ultra-wide (ƒ / 2.45) | 16MP (f / 2.0) |
Battery size | 4,115 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
OnePlus Nord vs. OnePlus 7 Pro: Price
The OnePlus Nord appears to be the least expensive phone OnePlus has released in years. But the price difference between this new model and the OnePlus 7 Pro is not as stark as you might think.
That was not the case when the OnePlus 7 Pro debuted in 2019, when the phone had a starting price of $ 669. But prices drop over time, and these days, the OnePlus 7 Pro, which is still available in OnePlus online store – costs $ 499.
If you follow the OnePlus Nord rumors, that sounds a lot like the expected price for the new budget phone. All we know is that OnePlus has promised that the Nord will be available for less than $ 500.
But where will it be available? OnePlus Nord is expected to launch in India and Europe, with his future in the United States is more in doubt. (OnePlus has indicated that it plans to bring cheaper phones to this country, although it may be a future model other than the Nord.) The OnePlus 7 Pro, on the other hand, enjoyed wide availability and was even offered by T-Mobile when it first debuted. . These days, you’re more likely to find the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro Offered through carriers, though you can still find the OnePlus 7 Pro if you look hard enough.
OnePlus Nord vs. OnePlus 7 Pro: design and visualization
Based on the newly released teaser video From the OnePlus Nord, the budget phone is taking inspiration from the more premium OnePlus models. Some of the curves may be missing, based on what we’ve seen so far, but the Nord looks like a relatively compact phone with distinctive lines. And its different shades of blue are very striking, particularly the sky blue model.
It’s just that OnePlus 7 Pro sets a very high bar for design, particularly with its matte finish and glass trim. Those items are likely missing from OnePlus Nord, as the phone maker seeks to keep costs down on this model.
You won’t have to give up an OLED display if you go for the Nord, as OnePlus has promised to use an AMOLED panel instead of LCD on its budget phone. The screen is expected to be smaller, 6.4 inches to the 6.67-inch screen on the OnePlus 7 Pro, but it should match a feature OnePlus introduced with the 7 Pro. You’ll get a faster 90Hz refresh rate on the Nord, so expect smoother scrolling text and potentially more immersive gaming.
OnePlus Nord vs. OnePlus 7 Pro: cameras
I used to make out the difference between a budget phone and a flagship device just by looking at the number of cameras on the back. However, the OnePlus Nord will complicate that with multiple lenses in the front and rear.
In fact, OnePlus is supposed to go with four rear cameras for the Nord, with a 48MP main sensor augmented by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP sensor to aid in portraits. That’s even one more lens than you get with the OnePlus 8. More expensive. promising camera specs, but previous OnePlus phone photos haven’t always lived up to what best camera phones can produce.
However, just comparing the specs, the OnePlus Nord will offer four cameras to the OnePlus 7 Pro’s trio of rear triggers, though you could argue that the 8MP telephoto lens with its 3x optical zoom is much more useful than a macro lens or a portrait. In addition to the telephoto lens, the OnePlus 7 Pro also featured a 48MP primary shutter release and a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens.
The OnePlus Nord will also have more front-facing cameras, doubling the lenses of the 16MP selfie camera on the OnePlus 7 Pro. OnePlus has confirmed that Nord will feature a 32MP primary camera and an 8MP secondary lens for wider angle shots. In fact, OnePlus promises a 105-degree field of view with OnePlus Nord selfie cameras. And unlike the OnePlus 7 Pro, which featured a pop-up selfie lens, the OnePlus Nord’s front cameras are there on the screen, always ready.
OnePlus Nord vs. OnePlus 7 Pro: Performance
The arrival of the OnePlus Nord should provide the answer to a debate over smartphone performance: is it better to have a more current mobile processor or a top-of-the-line chipset?
The OnePlus 7 Pro offers the latest: the Snapdragon 855, which was one of the best processors available in 2019. Since then, it has been overshadowed by the Snapdragon 865, and Apple’s Aion Bionic processor continues to set the standard for mobile performance. At the time we tested the OnePlus 7 Pro, it could fend off the major flagships of the day, thanks to the 12GB of OnePlus RAM included in our review unit. Since then other phones have appeared: the iPhone 11 series, the Galaxy S20 series, and the OnePlus 7T and 8 models, which outperform the OnePlus 7 Pro.
OnePlus Nord doesn’t seem to be joining those ranges as it will feature a Snapdragon 765G chip system. While it’s one of Qualcomm’s best Series 7 chipsets and is specifically optimized for gaming performance, it’s unlikely to be as fast as the Snapdragon 855, even if that latest processor is over a year old. However, benchmarking will tell the story.
Even with a less powerful processor, the OnePlus Nord will be able to do something that the OnePlus 7 Pro cannot: connect to 5G networks. The Snapdragon 765G contains a built-in 5G modem. OnePlus released a separate version of the OnePlus 7 Pro with 5G connectivity, and that model has long since given way to OnePlus 8 models with 5G capability.
OnePlus Nord vs. OnePlus 7 Pro: battery and charge
One area where the OnePlus budget phone could challenge last year’s flagship is battery life. While OnePlus has yet to confirm how large the power pack it will be using on the OnePlus Nord will be, rumors point to a 4,115 mAh battery. That would be a modest 4,000 mAh battery upgrade that keeps the OnePlus 7 Pro on.
When we tested the battery life by making the OnePlus 7 Pro surf the web via LTE until it ran out, the phone didn’t exactly impress. The OnePlus 7 Pro lasted 9 hours and 31 minutes in our test, which is below average for a smartphone. OnePlus doesn’t have any phones on our list better phone battery lifeBut it is possible that with a larger battery and a processor that consumes less power, the OnePlus Nord could improve the performance of the 7 Pro.
The OnePlus 7 Pro uses the phone manufacturer’s Warp Charge 30 technology for fast charging. Since then, however, OnePlus has released Warp Charge 30T, which optimized the charging algorithm to increase charging times. The gains have been modest in our tests, but OnePlus Nord believes it will use the most advanced charging system when it debuts.
OnePlus Nord vs. OnePlus 7 Pro: Outlook
If you bought the OnePlus 7 Pro a year ago, you probably want to keep your phone, given its superior design and still-powerful processor. But OnePlus Nord can be tempting, especially if OnePlus can finally deliver the flagship-quality photos that have long been promised.
Ultimately, a OnePlus Nord vs. Comparison OnePlus 7 Pro will boil down to three different factors. How will the Nord’s cameras compare to what the 7 Pro offers? Will the budget phone last longer with a charge? And will the display be able to match what we’ve seen on OnePlus’ most expensive flagships? Depending on those answers, we will begin to understand July 21 after OnePlus Nord’s official debut – We will find out if OnePlus has a real winner on their hands.