OnePlus Nord CE5 vs The Rest: Best Alternatives You Can Buy Today

The OnePlus Nord series has been renewed for the 2025 season. While the Nord 5 was expected to be the star of the show, the Nord CE5 has quietly taken centre stage. It brings a significant upgrade over its highly beloved predecessor, the Nord CE4. Its MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex processor offers better performance. It features the largest battery ever found in any OnePlus smartphone, specifically a 7,100mAh battery. Its cameras are optimised to produce captivating photographs in daylight. 

While the Nord CE5’s overall package appears tempting, the mid-range smartphone market is already flooded with various options providing similar value. We have compiled a list of three smartphones that exhibit the best qualities of this segment. Let’s check them out.

OnePlus Nord CE5: Specifications and Price

While our alternative list is packed with remarkable options, let’s take a closer look at the OnePlus Nord CE5’s specifications:

• Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080×2392 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, and 1430 nits of peak brightness
• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex
• Primary Camera: 50MP with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture
• Secondary Camera: 8MP ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture
• Selfie Camera: 16MP with an f/2.4 aperture
• Battery and Charging: 7,100mAh battery, supports 80W charging
• Software: Oxygen OS 15, based on Android 15 out of the box.
• Dimensions and Weight: 163.58 × 76.02 × 8.17 (in mm), 199 grams
• Colours: Marble Mist, Black Infinity, and Nexus Blue
• Others: IP65

The OnePlus Nord CE5 comes in three different storage variants, which are listed below:

OnePlus Nord CE5: Three Best Alternatives

Nothing Phone (3a)

The Nothing Phone (3a) is an exceptional phone for those seeking a blend of a clean UI, a distinct design, and versatile cameras. Since its inception, Nothing has been creating smartphones that always stand out, no matter how far ahead they are. The Phone (3a) is no exception, as its glyph matrix makes it hard to go unnoticed. Setting its appearance aside, it comes with clean software that is free of unnecessary apps. Moreover, it is among a few smartphones offering a triple-camera setup, including a telephoto lens. All its cameras capture stunning photos, condensed with vibrant colours. However, this smartphone may not deliver the performance comparable to other smartphones on this list. 

• Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED screen, 120Hz refresh rate, 3000 nits peak brightness, and 387ppi.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC.
• RAM and Storage: 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
• Software: Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel with OIS and an f/1.88 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 8-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Tertiary Camera: 50-megapixel telephoto with an f/2.0 aperture.
• Front Camera: 32-megapixel with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 5,000 mAh, 50W fast charging.
• Other Features: IP64 rating and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 163.52mm x 77.5mm x 8.35 mm, 201 grams.
• Colours: Black, White, and Blue.

The Nothing Phone (3a)  is available in two storage variants on Flipkart, which are listed below:

POCO X7 Pro

The POCO X7 Pro is an ideal choice for performance-oriented users who prefer affordable options. Its best part is that these folks won’t be able to differentiate its performance from last year’s flagship devices, it is that exceptional. Other phones in its segment still can’t come close to its class-leading speeds. Furthermore, its cameras can deliver appealing photographs when needed. The Hyper OS 2, the X7 Pro’s user interface, features numerous customisation features. That being said, the phone’s battery doesn’t perform as expected. Its rivals, with a comparatively smaller battery, last longer with moderate usage. 

• Display: 6.73-inch AMOLED screen, 1.5K (2712 x 1220) resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, DCI-P3 colour space, and 3200 nits peak brightness.
• Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 8400-Ultra.
• RAM and Storage: Up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
• Software: HyperOS 2 based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50MP Sony LYT-600, f/1.5, 1/1.95”, and OIS.
• Secondary Camera: 8MP Ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Front Camera: 20MP with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 6,550mAh, 90W fast charging.
• Other Features: IP66+IP68+IP69 rating, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 160.75mm x 75.24mm x 8.43mm, 198 grams.
• Colours: POCO Yellow, Nebula Green, and Obsidian Black.

The POCO X7 Pro can be purchased from Flipkart. It is available in two storage variants:

iQOO Neo 10R

The iQOO Neo 10R can easily be considered a well-packaged smartphone with almost all the great qualities. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor effortlessly handles any task, whether scrolling the feed on Instagram or playing a graphics-intensive game. iQOO has brilliantly optimised its battery, making it capable of delivering more than a day’s worth of usage. Despite being tagged as a gamer-centric device, its cameras perform better than expected. They produce photographs rich in striking colours and details. However, the FunTouch OS 15, its user interface, hinders it from becoming an all-rounder smartphone. Undoubtedly, it boasts several exciting customisation options. But its appearance feels archaic when compared to other software experiences at its price point. 

• Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, 1.5K resolution, 2800×1260 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, and 4500 nits peak brightness.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3.
• RAM and Storage: Up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
• Software: FunTouch OS 15 based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50MP with an f/1.79 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 8MP Ultra-wide camera
• Front Camera: 32MP with an f/2.45 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 6,400mAh, 45W fast charging.
• Other Features: IP65 rating, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 163.72mm x 75.88mm x 7.98mm, 196 grams.
• Colours: MoonKnight Titanium and Raging Blue

The iQOO Neo 10R is sold at Amazon and Shop.iqoo.com. It is available in three storage variants, which are listed below: