Xiaomi and OnePlus are unlikely competitors. However, both brands have released some of the most compelling devices in the midrange category, so we’ll be stacking up their latest offerings to see which one offers the better value for the money.
First, we have the newly released POCO X3 GT. As you already know, this sub-Php16,000 smartphone offers more than what we expect from its price.
We have the same sentiments with the OnePlus Nord CE 5G. If you’ve noticed, this Chinese brand has started to put more effort into releasing capable budget smartphones, and the Nord CE is definitely one of them.
The question is, which between the two should you go with? We find out in our POCO X3 GT versus OnePlus Nord CE 5G specifications and features comparison.
| POCO X3 GT | OnePlus Nord CE 5G | |
| Operating System | Android 11 MIUI 12.5 for POCO | Android 11 OxygenOS 11 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual stand-by | Dual SIM Dual standby |
| Display | 6.67-inch FHD+ IPS 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 399ppi 120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate DCI-P3 360-degree ambient light sensor | 6.43-inch FHD+ Fluid AMOLED 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 410ppi 90Hz refresh rate sRGB P3 |
| Processor | 2.6GHz MediaTek Dimensity 1100 octa-core LiquidCool Technology 2.0 | 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G octa-core |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB/12GB |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MC9 | Adreno 619 |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 non-expandable | 128GB/256GB UFS 2.1 non-expandable |
| Front Camera | 16-megapixel | 16-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | 64-megapixel (f/1.8) 8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) 2-megapixel (macro, f/2.4) LED flash | 64-megapixel (f/1.8) 8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.25) 2-megapixel (mono, f/2.4) LED flash |
| Audio | No headphone jack Stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Hi-Res audio Hi-Res wireless audio X-axis haptic | Headphone jack Super linear speaker |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor AI Face Unlock | In-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BDS NFC USB Type-C | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.1 NFC GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, NaVIC, BDS USB Type-C |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 75.9 x 8.9mm | 159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9mm |
| Weight | 193g | 170g |
| Body | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Back: Glass Frame: Aluminum | Front: Glass Back: Glass Frame: Plastic |
| Colors | Wave Blue Cloud White Stargaze Black | Silver Ray Blue Void Charcoal Ink |
| Battery | 5,000mAh non-removable 67W Turbo Charging | 4,500mAh 30W Warp Charge 30T Plus |
| Price | 8GB/128GB: Php15,990 8GB/256GB: Php17,990 | 8GB/128GB: Php16,990 12GB/256GB: Php19,990 |
Design and Build Quality
Whether a smartphone looks good or not will depend on your own personal taste, so we’ll let you decide on this one.
As you can see, the Nord CE has a more familiar and cleaner design with a slim glass for the triple camera and a plain paint job.
Meanwhile, the X3 GT went with a more experiential look with a silver accent on the main camera and subtle vertical stripes.
While the design is subjective, we’re 100% certain that the POCO device won the build department. As you just saw, the screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Victus. A glass that used to be exclusive to high-end phones before this handset. It also enjoys a sturdier aluminum frame.
Display and Audio
If gaming is a top priority, the faster 120Hz refresh rate and larger 6.67-inch size of the POCO X3 GT’s display is the one to go. It also has a feature called a 360-degree ambient light sensor that uses a secondary sensor on the back for more accurate auto-brightness adjustment.
But if the color quality is also important, then you might want to go with the OnePlus Nord CE 5G. As you can see, it has a more colorful AMOLED panel than the former’s IPS panel. It may not be 120Hz, but the 90Hz refresh rate should still be enough to make things feel smooth.
The OLED panel also allowed it to have a fancy in-display fingerprint scanner, while the X3 GT settles for a side-mounted one.
Sadly, it only has a single bottom-firing speaker. Meanwhile, the X3 GT not only has stereo speakers, but also has Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res audio, Hi-Res wireless, and even X-axis haptic.
Hardware and Performance
Here’s where the POCO X3 GT takes the crown. It boasts a 2.6GHz MediaTek 1100 octa-core processor that offers enough power to take on high-end devices.
Meanwhile, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G settles for a Snapdragon 750G CPU. It’s actually an acceptable midrange chipset, but settling is not the name of the game here.
The POCO device also has liquid cooling to keep temps in control. Plus, a much faster UFS 3.1 storage so you can take pictures faster, download faster, and more.
To OnePlus’s credit, their bet does come with a 12GB RAM option, but we doubt anyone can actually take full advantage of that, especially with its midrange CPU.
Related
Cameras
As for the cameras, as you can see, it’s a tie — at least on paper. Both phones have the same 64-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 16-megapixel selfie snapper.
Although, we’d give the POCO extra points for having a more usable third camera with its macro lens.
Battery
An instant win for the POCO X3 GT. It has a 5,000mAh battery, which is 500mAh more than the OnePlus Nord CE 5G’s 4,500mAh. However, due to its faster screen and less power-efficient CPU, battery longevity may actually end up similar between the two.
Where the POCO phone shines is in its flagship-level 67W Turbo Charger. The Warp Charge 30T of the OnePlus device is not too shabby, either, but not enough to beat the competition.
Verdict
There’s no denying that the POCO X3 GT won this comparison. That’s all thanks to its fast display, better processor, stereo speakers, sturdy glass protection, larger battery, and a much faster charging technology.
What’s interesting is, it’s actually cheaper. It starts at only Php15,990, while the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is at Php16,990, making the POCO X3 GT a more appealing buy.