Samsung Galaxy A54 vs OnePlus Nord 2T review: Which is the better buy?

Two standout contenders in the mid-range smartphone market, the Samsung Galaxy A54 and the OnePlus Nord 2T, offer a compelling array of specs, ensuring they remain at the forefront of this competitive segment.

In this comparison, we delve deeper into the key differences between these two devices, helping you make an informed decision on which one will be the better buy for you.

Differences between Samsung Galaxy A54 and OnePlus Nord 2T

The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a 6.4in AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080. It features a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring fluid animations and a more responsive user experience. The 19.5:9 aspect ratio provides a tall and narrow screen, which is ideal for one-handed usage.

The screen also has an integrated fingerprint scanner, which, in our experience, outperformed the one on the Galaxy S23. The facial recognition system is also quite reliable, and you have the option to use either method for unlocking.

While the A54 doesn’t feature a headphone jack, it compensates with its built-in stereo speakers, which offer commendable clarity and volume. However, they do lack in the bass department like most phones.

On the other hand, the OnePlus Nord 2T offers a slightly smaller 6.43in Fluid AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400. While it has a lower 90Hz refresh rate compared to the Galaxy A54, it still offers vibrant colours and great contrast. The 20:9 aspect ratio makes it more elongated, which some users may prefer.

The 90Hz display on this device is perfectly satisfactory. The screen achieves ample brightness, and text remains clear and sharp, even when viewed through the pre-installed plastic screen protector. The under-display fingerprint sensor is also exceptional and outshines other Android phones, such as the Pixel 6 Pro.

Unfortunately, the speakers’ performance is not particularly impressive, as they produce somewhat thin and unclear sound with poor sound separation. Without a headphone jack, your audio options are limited to Bluetooth connectivity, but you can always opt for one of the best true wireless earbuds.

The Galaxy A54 is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1380 chipset, which delivers competent mid-range performance. It comes with options of 6- or 8GB of RAM and 128- or 256GB of internal storage, which is expandable via a microSD card.

Out of the box, the A54 runs Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5 skin over the top, which provides a feature-rich and user-friendly interface. The Galaxy A54 also comes with dual-SIM 5G connectivity, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3.

The OnePlus Nord 2T, on the other hand, features the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset, coupled with 8- or 12GB of RAM. It offers a fast and responsive user experience, and you can choose from 128- or 256GB of internal storage.

It runs on Oxygen OS 13 at the time of writing – OnePlus’ clean and snappy custom skin based on Android 13. You also get dual-SIM 5G compatibility, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, and Wi-Fi 6 built-in.

Both phones will get the update to Android 14 at some point, but it’s not clear when that’ll be at this stage.

In our Geekbench 5 Multi-core test, the Galaxy A54 achieved a score of 2852 points, whereas the Nord 2T scored 2739 points so there’s not much in it at all.

Crucially, it’s worth noting that the tested Nord 2T model featured 8GB of RAM. Opting for the 12GB of RAM configuration would likely have given the OnePlus a performance edge.

Other than that, the two phones present a very similar feel during daily use.

In the camera department, both phones have distinct advantages.

The Galaxy A54 boasts a 50Mp primary camera with OIS for stabilized shots, a 12Mp ultrawide lens, a 5Mp macro camera, and a 32Mp front-facing camera. This camera system offers versatility and captures detailed photos in various scenarios.

On the other hand, the OnePlus Nord 2T also features a 50Mp main camera with OIS, an 8Mp ultrawide camera, and a 2Mp mono lens for additional photography options. The 32Mp selfie camera is there as well.

The Galaxy A54’s main camera captures detailed photos, while the ultrawide and macro lenses add versatility. However, the macro mode is somewhat tucked away in the app, and there’s some colour inconsistency between the lenses.

The selfie camera excels, offering portrait and wide-angle options. Video recording benefits from OIS, offering smooth and vibrant footage even at 1080p resolution. You can also opt for 4K recording if desired.

The Nord 2T’s main camera also captures superb daylight shots that are clear and crisp with decent dynamic range and sharpness. It lacks a dedicated telephoto lens but handles 2x zoom well.

The ultra-wide lens has a wide view but lower quality and the selfie camera excels with moody contrast and bokeh effects. Video quality is good but not at iPhone levels. It’s excellent for video calls.

Regarding battery life, the Galaxy A54 takes the lead with its larger 5000mAh battery, ensuring all-day usage. It supports 25W wired charging, allowing for quick recharges.

In contrast, the OnePlus Nord 2T features a slightly smaller 4500mAh battery but compensates with rapid charging capabilities. It supports rapid 80W wired charging, rapidly replenishing the battery from empty to a significant charge in a short time.

We tested the Galaxy A54 with a 67W fast charger from another brand, and during this test, the phone only reached 16% charge within 15 minutes and 31% in 30 minutes. If rapid charging is a priority for you, you may need to go for the Nord 2T or another of the best battery life phones.

The Nord 2T, with the included 80W charger, fully charged from 0% to 100% in just 27 minutes, reaching 67% in just 15 minutes. A quick 10-minute charge can potentially provide you with hours of usage.

Price & availability

You can buy the Galaxy A54 directly from Samsung for $449/£449 which gets you 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. If you live in the UK, you can also opt for an 8GB/256GB variant that costs £499.

Both offer the option to add a microSD card up to 1TB. Unfortunately, US buyers get the base model only.

In the UK, the OnePlus Nord 2T is available for £369, while in Europe, it can be purchased starting from €399 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant. An additional £100/€100 will grant you 12GB of RAM and double the storage.

You can make your purchase from Amazon in both the UK and Europe.

Find the best contracts for both phones below:

Verdict

Both phones deliver robust camera systems, quality displays, and competitive performance. Your decision should be based on your individual needs and the features that matter most to you in a mid-range smartphone. However, here’s how we see it.

The Galaxy A54 offers a higher screen refresh rate, better audio and, at first glance, better performance.

However, if you favor a slightly faster chipset, more RAM options and rapid charging, the Nord 2T is likely the better choice and our marginal winner in this matchup.

Check out our chart of the best mid-range phones for more options.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy A54:

• Android 14 with One UI 6
• 6.4in AMOLED, 2340 x 1080, 120Hz, 19.5:9 ratio
• Exynos 1380 chipset
• 6/8GB RAM
• 128/256GB of storage (expandable via microSD)
• Cameras:
  • 50Mp f/1.8 OIS main camera
  • 12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
  • 5Mp f/2.4 macro
  • 32Mp f/2.2 selfie camera
• Dual-SIM/microSD
• Stereo speakers
• NFC
• GPS
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Wi-Fi 6
• Under-display fingerprint sensor
• 5000mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• USB-C charging port
• 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2mm
• 202g

OnePlus Nord 2T:

• Android 14 with Oxygen OS 14
• 6.43in Full HD+ (1080×2400) Fluid AMOLED, 20:9, 90Hz, HDR10+
• MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset
• 8/12GB RAM (DDR4)
• 128/256GB internal storage (UFS 3.1)
• 50Mp, f/1.9 main camera, PDAF, OIS
• 8Mp, f/2.3 ultrawide
• 2Mp, f/2.4 mono
• 32Mp, f/2.5 selfie camera
• Fingerprint scanner (in-screen)
• Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.2
• GPS
• NFC
• 5G
• Dual-nano SIM
• USB-C
• 4500mAh non-removable battery
• 80W wired charging
• 159.1 x 73.2 x 8.2mm
• 190g