The OnePlus Nord CE 6 is the successor to the highly popular Nord CE 5. Launched at a starting price of Rs 29,999, the phone builds on its predecessor by including a larger battery, faster refresh rates, and better durability. However, it also falls back in key areas, which could make the Nord CE 5 still a worthy buy. In this spec-based comparison, we pit the Nord CE 6 against the Nord CE 5 to find out the improvements and compromises made in the latest version of the Nord CE.
Here’s a quick look at how both phones differ in price:
| Storage variants | OnePlus Nord CE 5 price | OnePlus Nord CE 6 price |
| 8GB + 128GB | Rs 24,999 | Rs 29,999 |
| 8GB + 256GB | Rs 26,999 | Rs 32,999 |
Specifications at a glance
Before we dive into the comparison, let’s take a look at the specifications of OnePlus Nord CE 5 and OnePlus Nord CE 6.
| Specs | OnePlus Nord CE 5 | OnePlus Nord CE 6 |
| Show | 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate | 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display, 144Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 |
| rear cameras | 50MP 1/2 inch main + 8MP ultrawide | 1/2.88 inch main 50MP + 2MP |
| selfie camera | 16 MP (up to 1080p video at 60 fps) | 32MP (up to 4K video at 60 fps) |
| Battery | 7,100mAh | 8,000 mAh |
| Charging | 80W | 80W |
OnePlus Nord CE 6 vs Nord CE 5: Design and build
Seeing the OnePlus Nord CE 5 and Nord CE 6 side by side, it is evident that the latest version of the Nord CE has more rounded corners, making the device a little smaller in height. However, possibly due to the larger battery, the Nord CE 6 is now 0.3mm thicker than the Nord CE 5 at 8.5mm.
Towards the back, the camera island has been revamped from a pill-shaped module to a square decoration, reminiscent of the OnePlus 15 and 13 flagships. Like the Nord CE 5, which comes in three colors – Marble Mist, Black Infinity and Nexus Blue, the Nord CE 6 also flaunts three color schemes, namely Fresh Blue, Lunar Pearl and Pitch Black. To further enhance the aesthetics of the rear panel, the phone sports a 3D luminous border along the edges that gives off a rainbow-like effect under strong light sources.
Aside from that, the Nord CE 6 gets IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings and MIL-STD-810H durability, a first for a Nord CE series smartphone. Another important addition made to the latest Nord CE model is the revival of the stereo speakers, which were last present on the Nord CE 3. Lastly, the Nord CE 6 uses OnePlus’ proprietary Crystal Guard layer to protect the screen from scratches and scuffs. The brand claims its Crystal Guard is as durable as the flagship Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ model.
OnePlus Nord CE 6 vs Nord CE 5: Display
The OnePlus Nord CE 6 ups the ante in the display department by featuring a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. On the other hand, the Nord CE 5 features a 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The 1.5K resolution on the Nord CE 6 should translate into output with greater detail when watching supported YouTube videos, as OTT content is generally restricted to 1080p on smartphones.
Apart from that, the Nord CE 6 panel also introduces higher brightness numbers by including a maximum brightness of up to 3600 nits and high brightness levels of 1800 nits. By comparison, the Nord CE 5 was limited to 1,430 maximum brightness and 1,300 nits in high brightness mode. As for the refresh rate, while all UI and apps will be limited to 120Hz, the Nord CE 6 can run games like Subway Surfers, Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, and a few others natively at 144Hz, resulting in smoother gameplay.
OnePlus Nord CE 6 vs Nord CE 5: Performance
Based on the specifications on paper, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 powering the OnePlus Nord CE 6 may not be as capable as the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex in the Nord CE 5. While both chipsets are based on a 4nm manufacturing process and feature octa-core architecture, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 has a maximum clock speed of 2.7 GHz. In contrast, the Dimensity 8350 Apex is faster and reaches up to 3.35 GHz, giving it an advantage to execute tasks faster.
This is also evident in the AnTuTu scores shown by OnePlus, where the Nord CE 6 scores over 11,70,000 on the AnTuTu benchmark, a notable downgrade from the Nord CE 5’s AnTuTu score of over 14,70,000. Aiding the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 in the Nord CE 6 is a Touch Reflex chip, which is responsible for delivering an instant touch sampling rate of 3200Hz, ensuring smoother movements and scrolling in intensive gaming. The Nord CE 5, on the other hand, did not have such a chip. In terms of thermal efficiency, the Nord CE 6 has a smaller 5,000 mm² vapor chamber compared to the larger 7,041 mm² chamber of the Nord CE 5. However, this may not result in any significant difference in the real world, especially since the CE 6 is likely to be more energy efficient.
Both phones feature UFS 3.1 and are powered by LPPDDR4X RAM, which is the standard offering at a price of around Rs 30,000.
OnePlus Nord CE 6 vs Nord CE 5: cameras
Camera hardware is another area where the OnePlus Nord CE 6 has taken a back seat, not only because it ditches the ultra-wide lens, but also because it features a smaller main camera sensor. For context, the Nord CE 6 uses a 1/2.88-inch 50MP OV50D40 sensor on the primary lens, while a 2MP secondary camera accompanies it. On the other hand, the Nord CE 5’s photography is handled by a 50MP 1/2-inch Sony LYT600 primary sensor, along with an 8MP ultrawide on the rear.
On the plus side, several improvements have been made regarding the videography and selfie outputs on the Nord CE 6, as you get up to 4K 30FPS video recording support on the rear and front cameras and an improved 32MP selfie shooter compared to the 16MP found on the CE 5.
It should also be noted that although OnePlus uses a slightly inferior primary sensor, the quality of the results ultimately comes down to tuning and image processing, which we’ll have to wait and see if OnePlus has optimized well enough to match the Nord CE 5’s output.
OnePlus Nord CE 6 vs Nord CE 5: Software
With the OnePlus Nord CE 5 receiving the Android 16-based OxygenOS 16 update a few months ago, both the Nord CE 5 and Nord CE 6 are currently running the same software version. Basically, these smartphones have the same features, customization options, security and privacy systems, and artificial intelligence functionalities. To delve deeper into what exactly OxygenOS 16 brings to the table, feel free to check out our detailed how-to guide on the same.
As for software updates, while the Nord CE 5 had a respectable policy of four operating systems and six years of security updates, the Nord CE 6 cuts back on updates by offering two Android OS updates and four years of security updates. Since the Nord CE 5 has already received the Android 16 update, it is scheduled to receive three more major Android updates.
OnePlus Nord CE 6 vs Nord CE 5: battery and charging
The OnePlus Nord CE 6 is equipped with an 8000 mAh battery, offering an increase of 900 mAh compared to the Nord CE 5. This should translate into longer battery life on a single charge. Charging speeds remained unchanged from the Nord CE 5 as the latest Nord CE smartphone comes with 80W charging support. Additionally, the Nord CE 6 adds 27W reverse wired charging to recharge other devices, such as phones and headphones.
summing up
From the specifications, it is evident that the OnePlus Nord CE 6 brings important and much-needed improvements in key areas. This includes a higher-resolution 1.5K display over the Nord CE 5’s 1080p panel, a larger 8,000mAh battery for longer battery life on a single charge, and significantly improved build in the form of IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings and MIL-STD-810H certifications. The Nord CE 5 was limited to only IP64.
While the Nord CE 6’s display gets a faster 144Hz refresh rate, most regular-use apps will likely run at 120Hz, the native refresh rate supported by the Nord CE 5. On the other hand, the Nord CE 6’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 may not offer as good gaming performance as the Nord CE 5’s Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset due to an inferior CPU and GPU, although both phones They should work equally well running everyday apps and fast multitasking.
Similarly, the Nord CE 6 downsizes cameras by ditching the 8MP ultrawide found on the Nord CE 5 in favor of a 2MP secondary lens, potentially eliminating the opportunity to capture wide perspective shots. That said, if we look at the bigger picture, most brands have cut back on cameras and performance. For example, the Vivo T5 Pro also features a 50MP + 2MP rear camera and ditches the telephoto lens of its predecessor, while opting for a lower-tier chipset.
With this being an industry-wide trend to offset increases in component prices, the OnePlus Nord CE 6 is becoming a well-rounded smartphone for users looking for long battery life, a sharp AMOLED display, and solid durability. For cameras, the Nord CE 5 may still be the best option, while phones like the Nothing Phone (3a) offer impressive camera flexibility with the addition of a telephoto lens at around the same price as the Nord CE 6.
