OnePlus Nord vs iPhone SE - Which should you buy - Android

The iPhone SE released to critical acclaim earlier this year, but not everyone fell in love with Apple’s budget phone. Yet while some questioned its aged design and a few baffling hardware choices, the iPhone SE delivered blazing performance and camera excellence, shaking up the status quo of the mid-range phone market in the process.

In a strange twist of fate for a brand that was the original “Flagship Killer”, OnePlus first budget phone in almost five years — OnePlus Nord — goes in the opposite direction, favoring modern aesthetics and general versatility over raw power.

These two devices couldn’t be more different, but the prices both come in under $500. They are also both perfect for buyers that want a premium experience without the premium cost.

But which phone is right for you? Find out in this OnePlus Nord vs iPhone SE face-off.

Our verdict: OnePlus Nord review

OnePlus Nord vs iPhone SE: Specs

Design and display

You’d be forgiven for thinking that these phones are from different eras given their designs. Let’s start with the iPhone. It’s based on the iPhone 8’s glass sandwich chassis with glass on the front and back. This is surrounded by a metal frame. There’s a power button on the right, volume buttons, and an alert slider on the left, as well as some large bezels around the front above and below the screen (more on that later). You’ll find a capacitive fingerprint reader — or Touch ID, as Apple calls it — below the display, doubling as a home button.

The Nord has a far more up-to-date design than the iPhone SE.

Comparatively, the Nord features a much more sophisticated design, though with cheaper materials. It’s still glass on both sides but a painted plastic rail surrounds the device. The Nord has a similar button layout but with the alert slider (a rarity in the wider Android space) on the right-hand side this time. The bezels around the display are much smaller than the iPhone SE thanks to the inclusion of a punch-hole camera. OnePlus has also integrated an optical, in-display fingerprint scanner which sounds more advanced on paper, but I found the iPhone SE’s Touch ID to be faster and more reliable than OnePlus’ reader.

The Nord sports a rounder and more ergonomic glass back than the iPhone SE. However, because Apple’s phone is so much smaller, it’s going to sit a little easier in most people’s hands. The lighter build of the iPhone SE also helps in this regard, with the SE weighing in at 148g vs the Nord’s bulkier 184g. The iPhone SE also features IP67 water resistance. Unfortunately, the OnePlus Nord doesn’t come with any kind of official water or dust resistance rating.

The speakers on both smartphones are quite different. The Nord features a single, tinny, bottom-firing unit next to its USB-C port. Conversely, the iPhone SE pairs its bottom speaker with an amplified earpiece for a decent stereo effect. Despite its size, the iPhone SE delivers a clearer, fuller sound. Unfortunately, neither phone has a headphone jack. This isn’t a huge surprise, but it’s still a shame considering many phones in this price range do feature a 3.5mm port.

The display is yet another area where these phones diverge. The iPhone SE has a very small 4.7-inch, LCD display that maxes out at a measly 1,334 x 750 resolution. On the other hand, the Nord has a 6.44-inch, OLED panel that delivers 1080p clarity and a 90Hz refresh rate. I won’t sugarcoat it, while the iPhone SE’s panel seems to have better quality control, the Nord’s display is infinitely better.

Performance, battery life, and software

While the OnePlus Nord offers solid performance for its price range, the iPhone SE steals the show in terms of raw horsepower. Its custom