Apple iPhone SE 2022 vs OnePlus Nord CE 2: Which is better

iPhone SE 2022 vs OnePlus Nord CE 2: Today, I’m going to compare the iPhone SE 3 and the OnePlsu Nord CE 2. Both phones are priced within the same range but bring different specifications to the table. So, between the iPhone SE 2022 and OnePlus Nord CE 2, which is better?

This post will compare the specifications of both smartphones and show which one is better. At the end of this post, you’ll understand which you should buy and why.

iPhone SE 2022 vs OnePlus Nord CE 2

Specifications	iPhone SE 2022	Nord CE 2
Display	4.7-inch, LCD	6.43-inch, 90Hz
RAM	4GB	8GB
Storage	64/128/256GB	128/512GB
Back Camera	12MP	64 + 8 + 2MP
Front Camera	7MP	16MP
Chipset	Apple A15 Bionic	Dimensity 900 5G
Software	Apple iOS 15.3	Android 12
Battery	unspecified	4,500mAh (65W)
IP Rating	IP67	N/A

Display and Design

The iPhone SE 2022 comes with a 4.7-inch display, IPS LCD panel, and a peak brightness of 625 nits. It has a 750 x 1334 pixels resolution and is protected by Ion-strengthened glass with an oleophobic coating. Its build material is Glass front, glass back, and aluminum frame. The device is also water and dust resistant with a certified IP67 rating. iPhone SE 2022 has a big notch and big chin where the touch ID button is located.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 comes with a 6.43-inch display, 90Hz refresh rate, OLED panel, and has support for HDR10+ support. It has a 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution and its peak brightness is 1000 nits. Its build material is Glass front (Gorilla Glass), plastic back, and plastic frame. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and it has small bezels and chin compared to the iPhone SE 3.

The display of the iPhone SE 2022 is compact and is more durable compared to that of the Nord CE 2. However, the display of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 has a higher refresh rate, is more colorful, and is bigger for better media consumption.

Camera

When it comes to cameras the iPhone SE 2022 has a single rear and front camera. At the rear, it has a 12MP main camera with OIS and at the front, it features a 7MP selfie camera. The rear camera can shoot videos in 4K resolution and it has gyro-EIS for video stabilization.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 features a triple rear camera set-up and a single front camera. It has a 64MP main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 16MP selfie camera.

The rear camera of the Nord CE 2 and iPhone SE 3 can shoot video in 4K resolution. But, when it comes to the quality of photography and videography, the iPhone SE 2022 is the better phone here. The camera features of the iPhone SE 2022 make it take better photos and videos with clarity and better stabilization. Don’t get me wrong, the camera of the Nord CE 2 is good but that of the iPhone SE 3 is just better.

Performance | Storage | RAM | 5G

The performance of both smartphones is very different. The chipset inside the iPhone SE 2022 is the Apple A15 Bionic built on the 5nm process technology. While the chipset inside the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is the MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G built on the 6nm process technology. The Dimensity 900 5G is a chipset with very good performance. But, it’s no match for the A15 Bionic when it comes to performance and power efficiency.

The chipset inside the iPhone SE 2022 is at least 12x faster and 17x more power-efficient compared to the chipset inside the OnePlus Nord CE 2. Both phones have support for 5G network connectivity.

The RAM inside iPhone SE 2022 is 4GB RAM and the storage options are 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. The RAM inside the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is 6/8GB RAM and the storage options are 128GB and 256GB. The OnPlus Nord CE 2 has room for storage expansion via a microSD card slot and also has support for a 3.5mm jack port. But, the iPhone SE 2022 does not have support for any of those features.

When it comes to gaming, overall performance, and power efficiency, the iPhone SE 2022 is better than the OnePlus Nord CE 2. The performance of the iPhone SE 3 beats that of the Nord CE 2 in every aspect. The iPhone SE 2022 features a more powerful GPU, more powerful CPU, a better ISP, and a better Neural engine.

Software

The iPhone SE 2022 boots Apple iOS 15.3 out of the box. Apple has promised years of major software updates and security patches. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 boots OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 out of the box. OnePlus has promised three years of major software updates and five years of monthly security patches.

When it comes to software, the iPhone SE 2022 has better software plans/policies. In fact, Apple has the best software update policy in the smartphone industry.

Battery

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is powered by a 4,500mAh battery with a 65W fast charge. While the battery capacity inside the iPhone SE 2022 is unspecified but we expect it to be around 1,800mAh with 18W charge support.

Although the life of both phones is great, that of the iPhone SE 2022 will last you a little longer. This is because it has no higher refresh rate, it has a smaller display, and its chipset is more power-efficient.

iPhone SE 2022 vs OnePlus Nord CE 2: Price

The starting price of the iPhone SE 2022 is $429 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage configuration. While the price of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is about $399 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration. The Nord CE 2 offers twice the RAM and storage of the iPhone SE 2022 for less.

Buy iPhone SE 2022 and OnePlus Nord CE 2

iPhone SE 2022	Price	Nord CE 2	Price
Buy from Apple	$429	OnePlus Store	$399

iPhone SE 2022 vs OnePlus Nord CE 2: Verdict

So, between the Apple iPhone SE 2022 and OnePlus Nord CE 2 which is better? This answer comes down to why you need a smartphone. But for some reason, I’ll still pick the OnePlus Nord CE 2 ahead of the iPhone SE 2022. Allow me to explain.

The iPhone SE 2022 is no doubt the best performing phone among these two. Its A15 Bionic chipset is unmatched and it has a better software policy. And if you need a powerful compact and durable phone, then I’ll recommend the iPhone SE 2022.

But, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 has so much value for money. It has a more colorful display, a faster display (with 90Hz refresh rate), twice the RAM, twice the storage, a 3.5mm jack port, a microSD card slot, a very good camera with more camera options, and a decent chipset. It’s better to spend 399 bucks to buy a 128GB storage device with all the qualities you need in a phone than to spend more than 400 bucks on a phone that has limitations.

If I’m to score both phones, I’ll score the iPhone SE 2022 (47%) and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 (53%). The price, extra RAM, extra storage, and extra features like a microSD card slot and 3.5mm jack port give the Nord CE 2 an edge over the iPhone SE 3.