With the launch of OnePlus Nord CE in India recently, the sub-25k mobile segment has heated up again. It has started the rat race for smartphones to become the best 5G phone in India. Apart from OnePlus Nord CE, the iQOO Z3 is already there with stellar hardware and great pricing, and Mi 10i is also a promising 5G device from the reliable house of Xiaomi. So if you want to find out which one of these three 5G devices offers a better experience, check out our comparison between OnePlus Nord CE vs iQOO Z3 vs Mi 10i. On that note, let’s jump into the article.

Here, we have pitted OnePlus Nord CE against iQOO Z3 and Mi 10i. We have discussed their processors, benchmark numbers, 5G band support, software experience, and much more. You can expand the table below and move to the desired section with just a click.

  • Specs Comparison

  • CPU and GPU

  • Benchmark Numbers

  • 5G Support

  • Design

  • Display

  • Software

  • Cameras

  • Battery and Charging

  • OnePlus Nord CE vs iQOO Z3 vs Mi 10i: Specs Comparison

  • CPU and GPU

Before anything, let’s talk about the CPU of all three competing devices – OnePlus Nord CE 5G, iQOO Z3 5G, and Mi 10i 5G. OnePlus Nord CE and Mi 10i share the same Snapdragon 750G 5G processor and the exact same core architecture. So in terms of performance, you should get a similar experience from both of these smartphones.

OnePlus Nord CE vs iQOO Z3 vs Mi 10i: Specs Comparison

CPU and GPU

Talking about iQOO Z3, which packs the Snapdragon 768G 5G SoC, is more powerful than Snapdragon 750G, but there is more to it. It uses the older Kryo 4-series Cortex-A76 core, but at a higher 2.8GHz clock speed. That means in a single-threaded intensive task like gaming, iQOO Z3 will do better than the OnePlus Nord CE or Mi 10i. In multi-threaded tasks, iQOO Z3 and Mi 10i are on the same plain, but Nord CE seems to lag behind due to the older UFS 2.1 storage.

Benchmark Numbers: OnePlus Nord CE vs iQOO Z3 vs Mi 10i

The performance trend is corroborated by Geekbench scores and AnTuTu benchmark numbers of iQOO Z3, OnePlus Nord CE, and the Mi 10i that we have mentioned below. Before we jump to the numbers, I want to say that the overall performance difference between OnePlus Nord CE, iQOO Z3, and Mi 10i will be marginal in actual usage.

  • 5G Support

Brands are rallying behind the 5G hype and adding 5G support to budget smartphones in hopes to position 5G as a USP, even though the technology is nowhere in sight for public use in India. Nevertheless, if you are interested, all three smartphones – Nord CE, iQOO Z3, and Mi 10i – have 5G support, and in fact, pack the same Snapdragon X52 modem.

5G Support

  • Design

Talking about the build quality and design, the OnePlus Nord CE has an entirely plastic build, including the frame and back panel. However, it’s the thinnest and lightest among all the three phones, measuring at 7.9mm thickness and 170g weight. It also comes in three color options, namely Blue Void, Charcoal Ink, and Silver Ray. Nord CE also includes an under-display fingerprint sensor. Having said all of that, the disappointing part is that OnePlus Nord CE does not come with the alert slider, which has been a distinctive factor for OnePlus phones in the market. OnePlus Nord CE

Design

Display

In terms of display, OnePlus Nord CE has gone for a well-balanced 6.43-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. I believe it’s the right choice given the modest Adreno 619 GPU onboard. On the other hand, both iQOO Z3 and Mi 10i have chosen a 120Hz IPS LCD display, with 6.58-inch and 6.67-inch panels, respectively. In addition, both the panels are HDR10 certified. I won’t jump into the whole LCD vs AMOLED debate, but the overall experience matters more than just deeper blacks, better colors. Mi 10i

  • Software

Talking about the software experience, I would say, despite the recent criticism of slow updates, OnePlus Nord CE wins this round against iQOO Z3 and Mi 10i. It offers a clean, mostly bloat-free software experience.

Software

  • Cameras

In terms of cameras, all three smartphones are chasing big numbers. OnePlus Nord CE comes with a 64MP primary sensor along with an 8MP ultra-wide lens having a 119-degree field of view. In addition, it uses a 2MP monochrome sensor for taking some cool B&W photos, but it will be low-res.

Cameras

Battery and Charging

In the battery and charging department, the iQOO Z3 seems to kill the competition in the budget category. It comes with a 4,400mAh battery along with 55W flash charging. It can charge the phone 50% in just 19 minutes, which is amazing.

On the other hand, the OnePlus Nord CE comes with a 30W Warp charger and 4500mAh battery capacity. OnePlus claims that it can charge the battery from 0 to 70% in just 30 minutes, which is actually faster than iQOO’s 55W charger. We need to test more to find out which one charges a phone to 100% quickly and more efficiently.