OnePlus Nord vs Galaxy A51 vs Realme X3 vs Vivo X50 Pro vs Redmi K20 Pro: The newbie has some veteran competition

In an event on Tuesday, the OnePlus Nord debuted in India at a starting price of Rs 24,999. With the Nord, the company has announced its re-entry into the mid-range smartphone space. Or, as the company CEO said in an interview with Fast Company, it is "returning to its roots".

Despite the hype, the OnePlus Nord does not break new ground, but instead manages to strike the right balance with reasonable specifications. To be fair, in many cases, that's what a consumer really wants.

The OnePlus Nord is also the first OnePlus smartphone to come with 6 cameras! A dual selfie camera and quad rear camera setup make up the number. The company has managed to pack flagship features such as a 90Hz display, 30T Warp fast charging support, up to 12 GB RAM and 5G connectivity in this smartphone, while keeping the price under Rs 30,000. And this is where the Nord has an edge over its competitors in the market.

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OnePlus Nord

OnePlus Nord pricing

6 GB RAM+ 64 GB storage variant: Rs 24,999

8 GB RAM+ 128 storage variant: Rs 27,999

12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage variant: Rs 29,999

OnePlus Nord and its competition

But how does the Nord fare against other popular smartphones in the segment? Let's break down the specs against smartphones like the Galaxy A51, Realme X3, Vivo X50 Pro, OnePlus 7, and Redmi K20 Pro:

Conclusion

With up to 12 GB RAM, 5G connectivity, and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset, the OnePlus Nord offers premium features without cutting corners. But when you look at the overall offering and price tag, the OnePlus Nord is a close call with the Redmi K20 Pro and Realme X3.

If the notional future-proofing of 5G is important to you, with a modern, upper-midrange chipset and refined aesthetics, the OnePlus Nord is a good choice. OnePlus' OxygenOS also attracts a lot of buyers since it does not come with bloatware like its competitors. The company made special mention of the various optimisations to the software they made, to ensure a fluid user experience.

For gamers who prioritise speed, the better choice is Redmi Note K20 Pro or the Realme X3, both of which have superior chipsets and GPUs. Battery and fast charging are similar across the OnePlus Nord, Realme X3, and Redmi K20 Pro.

If you use your phone to consume a lot of content or binge-watch shows, then Nord impresses with a 90hz AMOLED display, 408 ppi and light weight (181gm). The 4,115 mAh battery and 30T fast charging is a bonus.

In terms of camera, the Vivo X50 Pro offers a good deal with its newly-introduced gimbal camera, that helps in capturing stable and images. But at 50k, it is a pricey choice. The Nord, on the other hand, features a better selfie camera (on paper) and a quad-rear camera setup -- borrowed from the OnePlus 8 -- at a reasonable price. There are no party tricks in the imaging department, however.

Clearly, the Nord is intended to be more than the sum of its parts. The aesthetic is pleasing, the software promises a great experience and the price is right. We hope our final verdict bears out our initial impressions. Stay tuned for a detailed review.