You want a fast, reliable, and feature-packed smartphone but you’re limited with your below Php25,000 budget? This specs comparison is for you.

First, we have the OnePlus Nord, the company’s first mid-range phone in a long time. Its official price in the Philippines is yet to be announced, but rumor has it that it will have a starting price of about Php22,000, making it eligible for this comparison.

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UPDATE: The OnePlus Nord 8GB/128GB has a price of Php21,990 in the Philippines. Check availability and payment options for more info.

In this price range, the Nord will go against the Samsung Galaxy A71, a smartphone from a prominent brand that gained a lot of attention and trust in the mainstream market.

Both devices belong in the premium midrange section. These are basically midrange phones that have more to offer — almost reaching the territory of flagship offerings.

Samsung-Galaxy-A71-Philippines

But the question is, which between these two devices should you spend your money on? We’ll find out in our OnePlus Nord versus Samsung Galaxy A71 specifications and features comparison.

OnePlus NordSamsung Galaxy A71
Operating SystemAndroid 10
OxygenOS 10
Android 10
One UI 2.0
SIMDual SIM
Dual Standby
Dual SIM
Dual Standby
Display6.44-inch FHD+ Fluid AMOLED
2400 x 1080 pixel resolution
~408ppi
90Hz refresh rate
sRGB
P3
20:9 aspect ratio
TÜV Rheinland certified
Corning Gorilla Glass 5
6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED
2400 x 1080 pixel resolution
~392ppi
20:9 aspect ratio
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Processor2.4Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G octa-core2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core
RAM6GB/8GB/12GB8GB
GPUAdreno 620Adreno 618
Storage64GB/128GB/256GB
UFS 2.1
non-expandable
128GB
UFS 2.1
expandable via microSD up to 512GB
Front Camera32-megapixel (f/2.4)
8-megapixel (ultra-wide)
32-megapixel
Rear Camera48-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, EIS)
8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.25)
2-megapixel (macro)
5-megapixel (depth sensor)
PDAF, CAF
LED flash
Nightscape
AI Scene Detection
4k@30fps
1080p@240fps slow-mo
64-megapixel (f/1.8)
12-megapixel (Ultra-wide, f/2.2)
5-megapixel (macro)
5-megapixel (depth sensor)
PDAF
Night Mode
AI Scene Detection
up to 4K@30fps
up to 720p@240fps slow-mo
LED Flash
AudioNo headphone jack
Single super linear loudspeaker
Single Loudspeaker
Headphone jack
SecurityIn-display fingerprint scanner
Face unlock
In-display fingerprint scanner
Face unlock
Connectivity5G
4G LTE
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.1
NFC
USB Type-C
Dual-band GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS, A-GPS, NavIC
USB Type-C
HSPA+, 4G LTE
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band
Bluetooth 5.0
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
USB Type-C
Dimensions158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2mm163.6 x 76 x 7.7mm
Weight184g179g
BodyFront: Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Back: Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Frame: Aluminum
Front: Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Back: Plastic
Frame: Plastic
ColorsBlue Marble
Gray Onyx
Prism Crush Black
Prism Crush Blue
Prism Crush Silver
Prism Crush Pink
Battery4,115mAh
Warp Charge 30T
4,500mAh
25W Super Fast Charging
Price8GB/128GB:
Php21,990
12GB/256GB:
INR29,999 (around Php19,800)

6GB/64GB (India Exclusive):
INR24,999 (around Php16,500)
Php22,990

Design and Build Quality

Like we always say, whether a design looks good or not depends on your personal preference. But we’re here to give you the facts so you have an idea about what these devices are made off.

Samsung-Galaxy-A71

The Samsung Galaxy A71 is available in four different colors while the latter only has two. It has unique design patterns on the back, while the Nord resorted to a plain look.

Although, the OnePlus Nord Gray Onyx version looks really unique with its teal-like appearance. By itself, this variant is enough to conquer all the color models of the Galaxy A71. A contrasting Gray Onyx model is also available if you want something simpler.

OnePlus-Nord-Design-revealed-Noypigeeks-5140
Screen grab | MKBHD

OnePlus also nailed the build on the Nord. This thing has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 in front and back, sandwiching its aluminum frame. Meanwhile, Samsung settled for a plastic construction on the Galaxy A71.

Display

Here’s an obvious win for the OnePlus Nord. As you can see in our specs comparison table above, it has a more packed display section than the Galaxy A71.

OnePlus-Nord-NoypiGeeks-5143

Just like its flagship brother, the OnePlus Nord sports a smooth 90Hz refresh rate screen. OnePlus wanted to compromise nothing, and they delivered. It also has other fancy extras like sRGB and P3 coverage for better colors. and a TÜV Rheinland certification that assures your eyes is safe from any blue light.

Processor and Software

Another clear win for the OnePlus Nord. This device packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G octa-core processor, which is obviously better than the Snapdragon 730G of the Galaxy A71. OnePlus is also giving you an option to get the Nord with 12GB of RAM, while the latter is capped at 8GB. On the downside, the OnePlus Nord lacks a microSD card for storage expansion.

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With this latest processor, the OnePlus device also gets to have 5G connectivity, which is missing on the competition. It also comes with the latest Bluetooth 5.1 standard.

Both handsets do run on Android 10 with their respective interfaces. The Nord comes with OxygenOS 10, while Galaxy A71 comes with the clean One UI 2.0.

Battery

The Galaxy A7-series are known for their large batteries, and the Galaxy A71 is no exemption. This thing comes with a 4,500mAh battery while the former only has 4,115mAh. Considering that it only has a standard 60Hz screen, you can get even longer hours on this device.

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However, the smaller battery on the OnePlus Nord means that it charges faster — even faster since it comes with OnePlus’s signature Warp Charge 30T technology that promises a 70% charge in only 30 minutes. On the other hand, the Galaxy A71 settles with a still-respectable 25W flash charger.

Related

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A71 has a sharper 64-megapixel main and 12-megapixel ultra-wide cameras. However, the OnePlus Nord easily steals back the show with its optical image stabilizer (OIS), a premium feature we don’t normally see on devices at this price. It lets you take smoother videos and better pictures at night.

OnePlus-Nord-NoypiGeeks-5138

Both phones also have 32-megapixel selfie cameras. But the OnePlus Nord, again, gets a one-up with its secondary ultra-wide front camera. This will allow you to take group photos without the need of a selfie stick.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A71 has an official price of Php22,990 here in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Nord is expected to start at only Php22,000 once it gets here, while the 12GB/256GB is rumored to be Php26,000. We’ll update this article once prices are official. (Update: OnePlus Nord 8GB/128GB official PH price is Php21,990.)

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Well, it goes without saying that the OnePlus Nord wins this specs comparison. Compared to the Galaxy A71, it offers a more powerful processor, smoother screen, 5G connectivity, and better camera features. Althoughthe lack of microSD card slot can be a big bummer for power users and file hoarders.

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