In the Indian smartphone market, the 10,000-20,000 ($135-$270) price bracket is extremely popular.
Many folks get their first or second handset in that range.
And well talk about that more, but first, specifications.
However, these are drastically different phones.
But hey, if you love big screens, this one offers a bright and colorful LCD display.
40% off TNW Conference!
If you use your right hand primarily, you might have to adjust your grip a bit.
The Nord, being a smaller phone than the Poco X3, feels more comfortable in your palm.
Its still a big phone, so, dont expect comfortable one-hand usage all the time.
OnePlus new affordable offering uses an under-the-screen fingerprint scanner for authentication.
Its reliable most of the time, but not comparable to the speed of the physical sensor.
Despite its brushed plastic finish, Pixels size makes it an attractive choice.
Its a tiny phone compared to the other two and snuggles into your pocket easily.
Its signature rear fingerprint is super-fast and unlocks the unit in no time.
Googles phone also has the advantage of dual stereo speakers.
However, the OnePlus Nords screen takes the cake with its color accuracy and responsiveness.
Its 90Hz refresh rate is sufficient for most applications.
I experienced a few delays on the X3s 120Hz display.
Id rather have a smooth display with a slightly lower refresh rate.
The X3s screen is not bad; for its price, it delivers the goods.
But AMOLED screens like the Nords have great contrast and that shows when you watch videos.
Apart from Apples iPhone, weve seen manufacturers resort to hole-punch cameras.
OnePlus phone has a capsule-shaped hole on the front to host two selfie cameras.
All three CPUs are close to each other in terms of architecture.
You wont notice the difference in your day-to-day usage.
But I didnt really see a huge uptick while using the OnePlus Nord.
I did face a few arbitrary app crashes while using the Pixel 4a.
So perhaps you wouldnt want to strain this phone too much.
The Poco X3 is certainly the winner when it comes to battery life.
Plus, its compatible with a 33W fast charging brick for quick refills.
Itll definitely last you more than a day even after heavy usage.
Whats more, the company offers its famous Dash fast charging solution rated at 30W.
The Pixel 4a is a sticky wicket in this area.
I wouldnt recommend this phone if you currently plug your phone in multiple times every day.
Because of its size, the battery is small.
Sure, Googles software optimizations will often afford you day-long usage.
Buts its not built for battery-draining tasks.
Camera
Its a Pixel camera, need I say more?
Images are punchy and pleasant to look at.
Googles affordable phone doesnt offer the versatility of the other two phones.
Having said that, those extra cameras on either phone arent out of this world.
With Pixels picture quality, you arent really missing out on those.
It also has a macro camera, but it misses the mark in a lot of shots.
The front camera takes selfies that are often dull and washed out.
And to get nice results out of the Night mode, youll have to keep your phone very still.
The wide-angle camera snaps some acceptable images when you use it to capture vast landscapes.
Which phone is right for you?
Between these three phones, it might come down to your preference in size rather than the price.
People who want that smaller form factor would gravitate towards the Pixel 4a.
Plus, theres an excellent camera and neat software experience to look forward to.
OnePlus phones have proven good workhorses over the year, and the Nord is no exception.
You get a great screen in a well built phone that should serve you well for a good while.
The Poco X3 would probably give you the best value for money if you like big phones.
It has a good processor, a nice camera, fast charging, and a headphone jack.
Thats an attractive combination for the price.
The Pixel 4a is available in India for 31,999 ($432).
Meanwhile the Poco X3s top model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage costs 19,999 ($270).
The OnePlus Nord starts from 24,999 ($338) for the 6GB+64GB variant.
That’s one heck of a mixed bag.
He likes to say “Bleh.
That’s one heck of a mixed bag.
He likes to say “Bleh.”
Also tagged with
