Forget iPhone SE: OnePlus Nord N10 5G coming to the US for under $400

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The OnePlus Nord N10 5G has been leaked, and the specs look great for under $400.

OnePlus Nord 2 rumors
(Image credit: Future)

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G will be the next member of the OnePlus Nord family. But this one is reportedly coming to the U.S. — and with some attractive specs.

Android Central, citing an inside source, has revealed some key details about the new cheap OnePlus phone. Its source says that the new handset, which is codenamed "Billie," will cost under $400 and will launch later this year.

While the Nord N10 has a budget price, it hasn't stopped OnePlus from installing a 64MP main camera, the sharpest sensor it's ever added to a phone. There's also an 8MP ultrawide camera and two 2MP auxiliary sensors on the back, although we don't know what selfie camera (or even cameras) will be on the front. 

Both the iPhone SE and Google Pixel 4a make due with a single rear camera, so the OnePlus Nord N10 could win on versatility.

Powering the Nord N10 will be a Snapdragon 690 processor, which is a step down from the original Nord's Snapdragon 765G chipset. However, the 690 still offers 5G connectivity as standard, unlike the iPhone SE and regular Pixel 4a.

Accompanying this chipset will be a minimum of 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. OnePlus tends to offer two RAM/storage options on its phones, typically 8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB. It's unlikely OnePlus will offer 12GB RAM for the Nord N10. but hopefully it'll still offer the larger storage capacity option for users who love to stuff their phones with, photos, videos and apps.

There's no drop in display quality, however. The Nord N10 will reportedly have a 6.49-inch FHD OLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. That's slightly larger than the original Nord's 6.44-inch screen, but the same resolution and more importantly the same refresh rate. 

Allegedly, OnePlus wants to keep all its phones at 90Hz or higher from now on, something that will give it a distinct advantage over other budget phones, like the Google Pixel 4a and iPhone SE 2020, which stick with a basic 60Hz.

According to Android Central, the Nord N10 is likely to debut after the OnePlus 8T, the refreshed edition of the OnePlus 8 series. That's likely going to launch in October, going by previous years. So perhaps expect a late October or even a November launch for the Nord N10 5G.

Also coming "later in the year" is an even cheaper Nord handset, codenamed "Clover," which will cost around $200. This device is rumored to use a 6.52-inch HD+ LCD screen, three rear cameras, a huge 6,000 mAh battery and a much less powerful chipset, potentially a Snapdragon 460 with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.

Richard Priday
Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.