The OnePlus Nord has been on the market since August, and though it is not slated for the U.S. market it has gotten a considerable buzz from North American journalists and influencers.

OnePlus has confirmed plans to release devices in the Nord series for the U.S. in the future, having even started a beta program for stateside fans to test out the device, but for now many recommend that North American consumers not purchase and import the smartphone, largely because it does not have the key mobile bands that would allow the Nord to work optimally on U.S. carriers. These bands include 14, 25, 29, 30, 48, and 71 (T-Mobile’s 600MHz network). This means the OnePlus Nord would not perform well reception-wise in the U.S.

However, those wanting a low-cost and (relatively) up to date OnePlus smartphone may be able to look no further than the OnePlus 7T. This late-year model released in October 2019, and with the announcement of the OnePlus Nord has seen some price drops. It is available and compatible with U.S. carriers and there is even a T-Mobile specific model.

But before you run out and get a new device, check out a comparison of the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus Nord specs, showing the 7T can be a viable substitute while OnePlus decided its next move for the Nord series.

OnePlus 7T vs. OnePlus Nord price

Many have been quite impressed with the OnePlus Nord price. The brand proudly announced that the smartphone will sell for €399 (£379) or 24,999 INR in its respective home markets of Europe and India. Direct conversion of euros to dollars would price the Nord at about $471; however, had it released in the U.S. it likely would have sold for about $399 due to conversation rates. Still, this gives a hint at what consumers can expect for future models in the Nord series.

The OnePlus 7T sold for $599 when it first launched, but it is currently on sale for $449; a $150 discount. While still a bit price than the OnePlus Nord, it does well to take into consideration this device is among OnePlus’ line of flagships. There is no word on how long this sale will last, but with the first anniversary of the device’s launch quickly approaching, it likely won’t be long before it gets a permanent price drop. Especially since rumors of an OnePlus 8T are beginning to circulate.

OnePlus 7T vs. OnePlus Nord 5G

One of the highlight features on the OnePlus Nord is that it supports 5G. It runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G to enable the next generation network standard. Easier carrier certification may be one reason the OnePlus Nord didn’t make it to the U.S., as 5G largely remains a feature seen on flagship and premium devices. So far the chip has been featured primarily on devices available outside of the U.S.

Though OnePlus has toned down its “affordable flagship” rhetoric in recent release cycles, the Nord is an indication that it remains committed to providing well-priced products to its fans. Qualcomm released the Snapdragon 700-series essentially to power devices that are just a touch below flagship quality so they can have typically high-cost features, such as 5G, at a lower price.

The interesting thing about the OnePlus 7T is that it could have been 5G enabled with the Snapdragon 855 Plus chip it runs. This was one of Qualcomm’s first 5G chips; however, it requires the proper modem, in this case, the Snapdragon X55 to enable 5G.

Later Qualcomm chips released with the 5G modem as part of the SoC but with the 855, manufacturers had the option to develop its smartphones with or without the modem. This would have drastically increased its price at the time. Case in point, the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren was introduced with Snapdragon 855 Plus chip and X55 modem and sold for $899.99. Both the OnePlus 7T and the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren released before Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 765G in December 2019.

OnePlus 7T vs. OnePlus Nord display

The display is one feature where the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus Nord match up relatively well. The primary difference is that the OnePlus 7T is slightly bigger, with a 6.55-inch display, while the OnePlus Nord is sized as 6.44 inches. OnePlus 7T also features curved 2.5D Gorilla Glass as its cover while the OnePlus Nord has a flat display and features Gorilla Glass 5. Outside of that, they both feature HDR10+ AMOLED displays with 20:9 aspect ratios and 90Hz refresh rates.

OnePlus 7T vs. OnePlus Nord camera

An interesting tidbit about the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus Nord is that they both feature the same main camera sensor, the 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 lens, with only some slight differences in lens quality and aperture between the two devices.

After that, they divurge with the OnePlus Nord featuring a quad-lens set up for its rear camera system with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 5-megapixel depth lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The OnePlus 7T features a triple-lens set up with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens.

The camera systems on both the OnePlus 7T and OnePlus Nord have their merits. While the Nord may appear to be the superior set up due to having four lenses, it benefits from using a tried and true lens previously tested on the 7T, which helps to bring its price down. The 7T introduced a telephoto lens in its day to enable more zoom capabilities. The Nord brings in a macro lens to keep up with current smartphone trends for ideal up-close, artistic shots.

Front cameras include a 16-megapixel lens for the OnePlus 7T and a 32-megapixel and 8-megapixel dual-lens set up for the OnePlus Nord.

OnePlus 7T vs. OnePlus Nord hardware

The OnePlus 7T and OnePlus Nord are also similar hardware-wise with some slight tweaks that account for their flagship and budget classifications.

The OnePlus 7T features a single model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB UFS 3.0 as well as a 3,800 mAh with Warp Charge 30T fast charging enabled. The main OnePlus Nord model features 8GB of RAM and 128GB UFS2.1 as well as a 4,115 mAh battery with Warp Charge 30T fast charging enabled.

There is also OnePlus Nord model with 12GB RAM, 256GB UFS2.1 available for €499 in Europe, £469 in the U.K., and ₹29,999 in India and a 6GB RAM, 64GB UFS2.1 model exclusive to India selling for ₹24,999 in September. Higher hardware capacity can be found on various models of the OnePlus 7T Pro.

OnePlus 7T vs. OnePlus Nord other notable features

While the Nord borrows some of the best aspects of many OnePlus devices, there are many other features that make it more like the 7T than any other model. Both devices released running Andriod 10, though the 7T features an OxygenOS 10.0.7 overlay and the Nord an updated OxygenOS 10.5.4 overlay.

The devices also have similar colors, with the OnePlus Nord available in Blue Marble and Gray Onyx and the OnePlus 7T available in Glacier Blue and Frosted Silver.

For biometrics, the OnePlus 7T features an in-display fingerprint and Face Unlock options, while the OnePlus Nord only features Face Unlock. This is likely yet another aspect that the brand used to keep the price of the new device low.