Updated on November 8, 2023
When it comes to choosing a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive features, the Apple iPhone SE (2020) and OnePlus Nord are two notable options. While they both cater to the mid-range market, they have distinct differences that may sway your preference.
Let’s compare five notable features of these smartphones:
Design and Build Quality
The Apple iPhone SE (2020) features a compact design with dimensions of 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm and a weight of 148 g. It sports a glass front and back with an aluminum frame, offering a sleek and premium feel. Additionally, it is IP67 dust and water-resistant, ensuring protection from everyday splashes and spills.
On the other hand, the OnePlus Nord boasts a larger form factor with dimensions of 158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm and weighing 184 g. Its design includes a glass front and back protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, along with a plastic frame. While not as robust as the iPhone SE, it still delivers an elegant look.
Display Quality
The iPhone SE (2020) sports a 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD with a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. It offers decent color reproduction and sharpness for its compact size, although it falls short compared to the immersive experience provided by larger displays.
In contrast, the OnePlus Nord comes with a larger 6.44-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. With vibrant colors and deeper blacks, it offers a more engaging visual experience, especially for multimedia consumption.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the iPhone SE (2020) is powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chipset, coupled with a hexa-core CPU and Apple’s GPU with four-core graphics. It runs on iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 16.4. The A13 Bionic is known for its impressive speed and efficiency, ensuring smooth overall performance and responsiveness.
The OnePlus Nord, on the other hand, is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU and Adreno 620 GPU. Running on Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 with OxygenOS 12, the Nord delivers swift performance and supports 5G connectivity, making it future-proof.
Camera Capabilities
In terms of camera capabilities, the iPhone SE (2020) offers a 12 MP single-lens rear camera, which may not seem impressive on paper but delivers excellent image quality in well-lit conditions. For selfies, it features a 7 MP front camera that captures detailed and vibrant self-portraits.
The OnePlus Nord, on the other hand, boasts a quad-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 48 MP primary lens, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, a 5 MP depth sensor, and a 2 MP macro lens. This versatile camera setup enables users to capture stunning images from different perspectives. For selfies, it features a dual-camera setup with a 32 MP primary lens and an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, offering enhanced versatility for self-portraits.
Battery Life and Charging
In terms of battery life, the iPhone SE (2020) is equipped with an 1821 mAh non-removable battery that provides a decent endurance rating of around 59 hours. It supports 18W wired charging, allowing for a 50% charge in just 30 minutes.
The OnePlus Nord comes with a larger 4115 mAh non-removable battery, offering an impressive endurance rating of approximately 100 hours. It supports 30W wired charging, enabling users to reach 70% battery capacity within 30 minutes.
Notable Features
Key Specs |  |  |
Apple iPhone SE (2020) | OnePlus Nord | |
Launch | 2020, April 24 | 2020, August 04 |
Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm |
Weight | 148 g (5.22 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
SIM | Nano-SIM and eSIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
Display | Retina IPS LCD | Fluid AMOLED |
Size | 4.7 inches | 6.44 inches |
Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio |
Protection | Ion-strengthened glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
OS | iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 16.4 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, OxygenOS 12 |
Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G |
CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core |
GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 620 |
Card slot | No | No |
Internal storage | 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM, NVMe | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, UFS 2.1 |
Main Camera | 12 MP | Quad: 48 MP, 8 MP, 5 MP, 2 MP |
Selfie Camera | 7 MP | Dual: 32 MP, 8 MP |
USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Battery | Li-Ion 1821 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4115 mAh, non-removable |
Charging | 18W wired, 50% in 30 min | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min |
Battery life | Endurance rating 59h | Endurance rating 100h |
Colors | Black, White, Red | Blue Marble, Gray Onyx (Gray Ash) |
Price | $399 / €361 / £184 / C$599 / ₱26,490 / ₹42,500 / Rp5,877,353 | $430 / €458 / £389 / C$701 / ₱15,301 / ₹27,999 / Rp6,055,455 |
Full Specifications & Review |
Overall Conclusion
The Apple iPhone SE (2020) and OnePlus Nord are both strong contenders in the mid-range smartphone market. The iPhone SE excels in software optimization, delivering a smooth and efficient performance, along with its small form factor and IP67 rating.
On the other hand, the OnePlus Nord offers a larger and more immersive display, a versatile camera setup, and faster charging capabilities.
Your final choice depends on your preferences. If you prioritize compactness, powerful hardware, and seamless software integration, the iPhone SE (2020) is an excellent option.
However, if you lean towards a larger display, enhanced camera capabilities, and faster charging, the OnePlus Nord is a compelling choice.
Ultimately, both smartphones offer great value for their respective price points, catering to different user needs and preferences.
Your thoughts are welcome. Feel free to leave any comments below.
