Key Highlights :
With the cost of living rising, even tech geeks have less to spend on their favorite gadgets, and you don’t need to shell out for a flagship model to get some of the coolest new features. Android manufacturers like Samsung and OnePlus have been raising their game with their more affordable, mid and budget-range phones that leave the pricier Apple iPhones in the dust.
Samsung’s A series have been a staple of the midrange landscape since 2014. Meanwhile, challenger OnePlus is best known for creating affordable phones that push the envelope by including some incredible top-tier tech while maintaining a low cost.
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite certainly doesn't feel like a normal budget phone (it has a 108MP camera and a 5000mAh battery!). These more modestly priced options are now featuring the latest tech that you would normally only see in cutting-edge flagship phones like 120Hz displays, and 5G connectivity as well as improved performance and powerful graphical capabilities for gaming.
Samsung's A54 was released last month and offers respectable if modest upgrades on its predecessor but is on the upper end of the mid-range budget at £449. The OnePlus Nord CE3 Lite 5G might be a mouthful of a name but this is also a successor and the Chinese tech firm has crammed in some very impressive features while also beating Samsung on price with this new phone costing just £299.
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CPU First, the battle of the brains of these smartphones, with Samsung using their own Exynos 1380 and the OnePlus Snapdragon 695. While it’s not cut and dried, the Samsung chip does overall come out on top making it better for gaming but not really affecting day-to-day use.
Screen Display dominance unsurprisingly goes to the A53 as Samsung is known for its screens. While both have 120Hz displays, the Nord can’t compare to the A54 has that glossy, bright AMOLED sharper screen which is also protected by Gorilla Glass 5.
Battery Both phones feature an impressive 5000mAh battery but OnePlus wins the race here with its 67W fast charging that can see the Nord fully charged in just over 40 mins compared to the Samsung 25W fast charging which also doesn’t come included with the phone.
Camera Camera wise the Nord features a very high resolution 108 MP camera with 3x zoom and a basic 2 MP Macro sensor. While the Samsung A54 features a balanced three-camera approach including a 50 MP main, a 12 MP Wide angle and a 5 MP Macro. The Samsung is more versatile while the OnePlus will capture higher resolution and more detailed shots which could be preferred depending on what you use your camera for.
In conclusion, both the Samsung A54 and the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite are great affordable Android phones. The Samsung A54 offers a little more in the way of features and performance, with a better screen and a more versatile camera, while the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite wins on battery life and price. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and priorities. If you're looking for a phone with a great camera and screen, go for the Samsung A54. But if battery life and fast charging are important to you, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is the way to go.