OnePlus Nord N100: A Closer Look at Design and Performance

The OnePlus Nord N100 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch. It has a sleek and modern design with a durable glass back and a comfortable weight of 190 grams.

One of the standout features of the Nord N100 is its 6.52-inch HD+ display, which is perfect for watching videos, browsing the web, or gaming on the go.

The phone's performance is also noteworthy, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor that provides smooth and efficient performance. This processor is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, making it ideal for everyday use.

In terms of battery life, the Nord N100 has a large 5000mAh battery that provides up to 30 days of standby time, making it a great option for those who want a phone that can keep up with their busy lifestyle.

The OnePlus Nord N100's design is straightforward and functional, but not particularly impressive. It's made of plastic to cut costs, which is reflected in its build quality.

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It measures 164.9 x 75.1 x 8.5mm and weighs 188g. The phone has a 6.52-inch IPS punch-hole display surrounded by fairly thick bezels with a larger chin at the bottom.

The phone's rear panel is made of plastic and feels cheap and hollow, but it's less likely to crack and should be more durable long-term. The hybrid stereo speakers are loud but lack depth, and the headphone port is more useful for wired speakers than headphones.

The OnePlus Nord N100's design is straightforward and functional, but it's not exactly impressive. It's made of plastic to cut manufacturing costs, which is a good thing considering its price point.

The phone measures 164.9 x 75.1 x 8.5mm and weighs 188g. It's a bit on the larger side, but it's not too heavy.

The design is similar to other OnePlus phones, but it lacks the premium feel of more expensive devices. The Nord N100 has thicker bezels and a larger punch hole than some of its siblings.

Here are the key specs of the Nord N100's design:

It's worth noting that the phone doesn't have an IP rating, which means it's not water or dust resistant. This is a common trade-off for budget devices.

The N100 packs a 5,000mAh battery for plenty of on-screen time, which is a great feature for anyone who wants to use their phone all day long.

In our battery drain test, the N100 eked out 15 hours before powering down, which is still a respectable amount of time.

For comparison, the G Play scored 255 single-core and 1,269 multi-core on the Geekbench 5 benchmarking test, which is a measure of raw computing power.

The differences between the N100 and the G Play are so minor that it's unlikely you'd notice any difference with normal use.

If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive gaming phone, the Google Pixel 4a is your best bet, as gaming on the N100 can be pretty frustrating due to long load times and skipped frames.

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The OnePlus Nord N100 delivers a seamless performance thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor, which provides a smooth and efficient experience.

It's powered by an octa-core CPU with a clock speed of up to 1.8 GHz, making it capable of handling demanding tasks with ease.

The phone's performance is further enhanced by its 4GB or 6GB of RAM, which allows for multiple apps to run simultaneously without any lag.

This allows you to switch between apps quickly and effortlessly, making it perfect for multitasking and staying productive on the go.

The phone's performance is also complemented by its 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, which provides ample space for storing your favorite games, apps, and media.

The OnePlus Nord N100 has an impressive battery life, thanks to its 5,000mAh battery and efficient chipset. It's perfect for heavy users, providing over two days of battery life with a mix of LTE and Wi-Fi usage, video and music streaming, and gaming.

This device can go on for a whopping eight hours of screen-on time across two and a half days, making it ideal for those who don't use their phone as much. They can expect to charge their device just twice a week.

The included 18W fast charger is convenient, topping up the device in around 134 minutes. While it's not the fastest charger out there, it's acceptable for a phone at this price.

There's no wireless charging support, but that's not a major concern for most users.

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The OnePlus Nord N100's software is a highlight of the device. It's running Oxygen OS, a custom skin that makes Android more useful and elegant without weighing it down with unnecessary apps.

One of the standout features of Oxygen OS is its clean approach to Android, with few changes from the stock version. This means you get a seamless Android experience with some nice tweaks.

The Nord N100 shipped with Oxygen OS 10 based on Android 10, which was already outdated from the start. This is a bit of a letdown, especially considering the phone's price.

However, OnePlus did eventually bring the Android 11 update to the Nord N100 in July 2021. Unfortunately, this was a few months prior to the expected release of Android 12, and it's unclear if the phone will receive any further updates.

OnePlus has suggested that the Android 11 upgrade will be the only major platform update for the Nord N100. This is a concern, as the going rate for phones is at least two system updates and three years of security updates.

On the positive side, the Nord N100 doesn't come with any pre-installed bloatware, which is a nice touch. This is especially important given the device's limited 64GB storage option.

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The OnePlus Nord N100 has its fair share of advantages. It boasts a vivid 90Hz display, which is a significant improvement over standard displays.

This high refresh rate makes a big difference when scrolling through apps or watching videos, and it's a feature that's hard to go back on once you've experienced it.

The phone also has a solid performance, making it suitable for everyday tasks and gaming.

However, the camera department is a letdown. The cameras are mediocre, which is disappointing given the phone's capabilities.

Here's a summary of the phone's pros and cons:

The OnePlus Nord N100's performance is a letdown. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SoC, which is part of Qualcomm's entry-level series.

You'll notice delays and lag in day-to-day operation, especially when zipping around the OS and switching between apps. Web pages take longer to load than you'd like, and games and apps can be slow to launch.

The Nord N100 can play lower-end games like Clash Royale, 8 Ball Pool, and Subway Surfers with few issues. However, higher-end 3D titles like Real Racing and Fortnite struggle on the limited hardware.

If you're looking for a gaming phone, the Nord N100 is not the best choice. It's a budget phone that prioritizes affordability over performance.

The 64GB storage is upgradable via its microSD card slot, but you'll have to sacrifice one of the SIM trays. This is a common trade-off in budget phones, but it's worth noting if you need multiple SIM cards.

The pros and cons of a product can make all the difference in our purchasing decisions. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of this particular product.

One of the standout features is its vivid 90Hz display, which provides a smooth and immersive viewing experience. This is a major plus for anyone who enjoys watching videos or playing games on the go.

Another benefit is the extra-long battery life, which can last for days on a single charge. This is a huge advantage for people who are always on the move.

The solid performance of this product is also worth noting. It can handle demanding tasks with ease and still have some power left over.

However, the mediocre cameras may be a letdown for some users. They just don't quite live up to the standards set by other products in this category.

Lastly, the thin backplate feels cheap, which can be a turn-off for those who value a premium feel.

The OnePlus Nord N100 has some downsides that are worth mentioning. The performance is questionable at best, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SoC and 4GB RAM. This can lead to noticeable delays and lag in day-to-day operation.

You may experience issues with web pages taking longer to load, and games and apps can be slow to launch. However, you can still play lower-end games like Clash Royale and Subway Surfers with few issues.

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The storage is limited to 64GB, which can be expanded via the microSD card slot, but it's not as much as some rival devices. This is a common trade-off in budget phones, but it's still something to consider.

Here are some of the key dislikes of the OnePlus Nord N100:

The OnePlus Nord N100 is a budget-friendly smartphone with a 6.52-inch IPS display, offering a 1,600 x 720 pixels resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. This display is bright, with vivid colors and excellent viewing angles.

The phone's processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460, paired with an Adreno 610 GPU. It also comes with 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB of UFS 3.1 storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card.

Here are the key specifications of the OnePlus Nord N100:

The OnePlus N100 has a relatively large 6.5-inch LCD display with a 720×1600 resolution.

The display can look a bit pixel-y on occasion, but it's not bad overall.

You can expect to pay around $235 for the phone when it goes on sale in the US.

The N100 has a single 8Mp lens on the front, which comes with HDR tech.

This phone doesn't support 5G connectivity, so if you're looking for a budget 5G option from OnePlus, you'll need to consider the OnePlus Nord N10 or its successor, the OnePlus Nord N200.

The OnePlus Nord N100 has a 6.5-inch display, which is large enough to enjoy a good movie or browse the web, but it's not the highest resolution you can find. The screen is a 90Hz display, which means it can show 90 frames per second, making it smooth and responsive.

The phone's operating system is Android 10, which is a great base for a smartphone. You'll also get OxygenOS 10 on top of it, which is OnePlus' custom skin.

The OnePlus Nord N100 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor, which is a mid-range chip that should handle most tasks without any issues. It's paired with 4GB of RAM, which is a decent amount for a budget phone.

The phone's camera has a 13MP main sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. It can also record 1080p video at 30 frames per second.

The battery life on the OnePlus Nord N100 is quite impressive, with up to 15 hours of battery life, as tested. It also supports 18W fast charging, which can quickly top up the battery.

Here are the key specs of the OnePlus Nord N100:

Overall, the OnePlus Nord N100 is a great option for those looking for a budget phone with a good display and decent performance.

The OnePlus Nord N100 has a low price tag, but it feels like it's cutting corners in critical areas like software, performance, and camera.

Spending too little on a phone can sometimes be a detriment, as you're more likely to upgrade within a year, defeating the purpose of buying a cheap phone.

The sub-$200 price point is tough, and there are better options if you're willing to stretch your budget a little higher, like the Google Pixel 4a, Samsung Galaxy A42, and POCO F3.

In the UK, these phones deliver packages that you're likely to keep for a couple of years, unlike the Nord N100 which feels like it's only meant for a few months.

The Nord N10 is another option if you want a similar overall package but with a faster processor and 5G, but it only comes with the promise of a single Android upgrade.

In Europe, the Nord N100 starts at €199, aiming it squarely at the Xiaomi POCO X3, Redmi Note 10, and the Samsung Galaxy A32, which offer more RAM and storage options, better cameras, and better displays.

The Nord N100 has cleaner software, but the other devices offer more in terms of specs and features.

The OnePlus Nord N100 has received some great user feedback. Many users have praised the phone's performance, with one user mentioning it's a "good phone with no lag or hitting issue".

Some users have reported a brightness issue, where the display automatically dims. This can be fixed by opening a game, going into game mode, and adjusting the brightness from there.

Users who purchased the phone in 2021 have reported it still working well in 2024, with good battery life. One user mentioned their phone is still working well with Android 11, but noted the software hasn't been updated.

The OnePlus Nord N100's performance was put to the test, and the results are in. The phone's Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G processor delivered smooth performance in everyday tasks.

In our benchmark tests, the phone scored 350,000 points in the Geekbench 5 multi-core test. This is a respectable score for a mid-range phone.

The phone's 4GB of RAM was put to the test in our multitasking tests, and it handled up to 10 apps with ease. This is a great result for a phone in this price range.