Tarun Verma
Table of Contents
OnePlus launched the Nord smartphone series to appeal to customers who could not afford the company’s flagship models (so much for launching affordable premium smartphones). The series was a fantastic all-around performer that was also reasonably priced, especially for Indian users. After two years, OnePlus has introduced a new smartphone sub-category called the Nord CE or “Core Edition” series, which focuses on the bare essentials to keep the models affordable. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 differs significantly from its predecessor but only slightly from the OnePlus Nord 2. Clearly, there are some trade-offs here, but the question is whether they are worthwhile. Continue reading to find out how.
Realme, on the other hand, does not have the best track record when it comes to producing killer budget smartphones, but that is changing with the Realme 9 Pro+. Is it a flagship replacement? Customers will save money on a smartphone that can compete with the best in the industry and is it better than the OnePlus Nord CE 2?
The smartphone Realme addressed flaws in previous models and (finally) delivered a 90Hz AMOLED display, a capable MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G processor capable of bringing 5G connectivity to a smartphone priced well under RS.30,000, and a sleek new design. The fact that there are no “Dare To Leap” quotes to be found is perhaps the most encouraging aspect (looking at you, Realme 8 Pro).
Oneplus Nord CE 2 vs Realme 9 Pro Plus: Comparison Chart
| PARTICULARS | NORD 2 CE 5G | REALME 9+ PRO 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| DISPLAY | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) |
| PLATFORM | Android 11, OxygenOS 11 | Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 |
| MEMORY | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| MAIN CAMERA | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97″, 0.7µm, PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS |
| FEATURES | Fingerprint (under display, optical), acceleromet | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| PROCESSOR | Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2×2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
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Oneplus Nord CE 2 vs Realme 9 Pro Plus: Detailed Analysis
Design
You’ve seen one, if not all, of the Nords! The design language of the newly launched Nord, as well as that of its predecessor, has been retained by the company. The Bahamas Blue color variant I received looked stunning and premium, but not to the point where you’d mistake it for a flagship phone, which is saying a lot! The smartphone is small (173gm) and light. It’s not too slick, which is perfect for those of us with butterfingers. While the phone does attract fingerprints, they are not as noticeable as they are on my OnePlus 7. The back panel of the phone has the same rounded, vertical camera module as the front.
The Realme 9 Pro+ design, on the other hand, is a significant upgrade over the Realme 8 Pro’s ugly “dare to leap” branding on the back of the phone, so the Realme 9 Pro+ is already a significant upgrade given the lack of any haphazard motivational quotes. Indeed, Realme has gone above and beyond by securing a spot on the catwalk of fashionable smartphones.
Display
The display on the One Plus Nord 2 In contrast to the Nord 2 5G, which has dual front cameras, the Nord CE 2 5G has a single punch hole camera in the top left corner of the display. I must admit that the cut-out is so small that you barely notice it after a while.
The display of the device is identical to that of its predecessor. It has a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 90Hz. The display is colorful and has a high contrast ratio. In general, you’ll have a lot of fun playing games and watching videos on this one.
On the other hand, the Realme 9 Pro+ has a 6.4-inch (2400 x 1080) Super AMOLED display, which is larger than the Realme 8 Pro and in competition with Oneplus Nord 2 ce. However, we’re getting a much-needed 90Hz refresh rate this time, which makes a huge difference. The chin on the display, which gives the impression that the screen is not fully functional, was one feature that irritated me. Realme, please raise the screen-to-body ratio.
Scrolling through websites and navigating between apps appears to be smooth and responsive, with enough brightness for comfortable viewing. The Pro+, unlike the OnePlus Nord 2 ce, does not support HDR10+. While its video color enhancer with SDR-to-HDR conversion technology produces vibrant colors, image viewing was not as crisp.
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Camera
Talking about oneplus, for Rs 23,999, you get a triple rear camera setup that includes a 64-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. Sharp images with vibrant colours and excellent detail will be obtained in bright sunlight. No, they do not appear to be overly processed or unnatural. Subject separation was excellent even when shooting in portrait mode, with plenty of detail and natural-looking colours.
However, when it comes to low-light photography, the camera falls short. The images appear to be noisy, with details blurred. In my opinion, the Night mode produced more balanced light images than the standard mode. Both daylight and low-light conditions, selfies will be detailed and crisp. In general, the camera is mediocre and clearly falls short of expectations if that’s what you’re looking for in a phone.
Realme 9 Pro comes with a camera. The camera system on the Realme 9 Pro+ has been updated this time, with the primary sensor being a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS). That is a step down from the 108MP primary camera on the Realme Pro 8, but it has taken some cues from the excellent camera on the OnePlus Nord 2 by using the same Sony IMX766 sensor.
The Sony IMX766 OIS wide-angle sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP ultrawide sensor with an f/2.3 aperture, and a 2MP macro sensor with an f/2.4 aperture are all included in the Pro+. The latter two are identical to the Pro 8, with the exception of the lack of a 2MP monochrome lens. The three lenses work in tandem on the simple camera app, allowing users to switch between lenses depending on the situation. I like the primary shooter’s crisp detail, which results in photos with true colours and great contrast.
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Processor And Performance
The MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset powers the smartphone, which has up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage that can be expanded via microSD card up to 1TB. While a MediaTek chipset is less powerful than a Snapdragon chipset, this is not a deal breaker. The phone did not stutter when switching between apps or playing games. App transitions can be jerky at times, but this happens infrequently.
The smartphone still runs OxygenOS, which is based on Android 11, which is somewhat disappointing given that competitors are now running Android 12. Although the new Oppo’s ColorOS-integrated OxygenOS appears clutter-free and smooth in comparison to others on the market, I have the uneasy feeling that this isn’t the OxygenOS I remember. The most obvious examples of this distinction are the Camera UI and the phone’s settings. Again, this isn’t a deal-breaker because it outperforms the vast majority of segment competitors.
9pro + 5g in realme The Realme 9 Pro+ features a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and Realme UI 3.0 on top of Android 12. While expecting lightning-fast performance from the A15 Bionic or Snapdragon 888 chip in an iPhone 13 is unrealistic, £349 gets you fantastic power that is more than adequate for general tasks and gaming.
I put it to the test by simultaneously running a couple of dozen Google Chrome tabs and a small window of The King’s Man on Disney+. I also experimented with switching between Chrome tabs and Call of Duty: Mobile to see how quickly it switched between the two. Fortunately, the app launched without incident or delay, and the refresh rate of 90Hz remained constant throughout my continuous scrolling and swipes.
Oneplus Nord CE 2 vs Realme 9 Pro Plus: Final Verdict
OnePlus has worked hard to make the Nord CE 2 5G a versatile device. The phone, on the other hand, is unremarkable in any category. Isn’t that, in fact, the Nord CE series’ secret sauce? OnePlus has made some trade-offs, such as using a MediaTek chipset rather than a Snapdragon, going with a plastic-like back, and removing the alert slider, but the phone is well-balanced and free of major flaws. Talking about the Realme 9 Pro+ outperforms the oneplus nord ce2, thanks to much-needed improvements.
