With a budget of around €200, which of the two entry-level smartphones on sale should you choose for Christmas?

If you are looking for a device with a balanced technical sheet at a relatively low price for the end-of-year holidays, we have found two interesting models for you: the Nothing CMF Phone 1 and the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite . The first appears in the TOP 3 of our guide to the best smartphones under 300 euros, and the second obtained a score of 7/10 in our test, which makes it a good product.

These two devices are currently on sale, and each have their qualities and faults which could tip the scales one way or the other. To find out which one is right for you, we will try to enlighten you in your choice through this comparison to help you determine which is the best smartphone?

Two pretty products, one of which stands out more

An affordable version of the OnePlus Nord 4, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite sports a classic and refined design, without frills, with a nicely crafted back. If it is not the most original, that of Nothing opts for an atypical concept. The CMF Phone 1 knows how to stand out from the others with its removable shell with even a small element for hanging accessories such as a strap, a stand and a card holder. A nice concept, but not really useful… On the other hand, it's a smartphone that takes up a lot of space in the hand, but the finishes are good.

On the photo side, the Nothing phone relies on a 50 Mpx Sony main sensor, and a 2 Mpx x2 portrait sensor. Overall, the colors are pretty good, the portrait mode is pretty good, and the night mode is passable. We regret the absence of an ultra-wide-angle sensor, but not at all the absence of a macro sensor. As for its rival, the photo block is surely what it lacks the most with a 50 Mpx wide angle and a 2 Mpx depth sensor. For daytime photos with good lighting, it does the job. However, at night, it's a completely different story.

Two beautiful screens that are pleasant to use

On the front, we discover two devices with screens with a punch centered in the upper part of the display, as discreet as the edges are controlled, ” the chin effect » is not too present and manages to be forgotten.

In detail, the Nord CE 4 Lite has a beautiful Amoled panel at 120 Hz that is quite well calibrated, despite a slight drift towards the blues. We appreciated the nice display finesse and appreciable brightness for use in broad daylight or to take advantage of HDR. The one from Carl Pei's firm has nothing to be ashamed of compared to its rival, for the price, it's really good. We have a 120 Hz Amoled screen which offers good color coverage and excellent color fidelity. We regret the lack of brightness, which remains very correct.

As for the software part, the CMF Phone 1 runs Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14. The interface offers very practical and well thought-out widgets, including for the lock screen. No pre-installed advertising applications for less than 250 euros, which is nice. The only regrettable point is that the software monitoring period is two Android updates and three years of security patches. On the Nord CE 4 Lite, we find the pair OxygenOS 14.1 and Android 14, a duo that is still just as effective. The customization options are quite numerous. There are a few too many bloatware for our taste, but it does better than its rival in terms of software tracking: 4 years of major updates and six years of security updates.

Great performances at Nothing

To run its device, OnePlus chose the Snapdragon 695 chip from Qualcomm, with 8 GB of RAM. A processor which is no longer very young, but which has already proven itself. The phone is fluid in the majority of uses, except for demanding 3D games, where Fortnite runs at 30 fps without difficulty or weakness in medium mode.

By choosing the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G chip, Nothing offers the most powerful smartphone in its range. On all benchmarks that we have achieved, the smartphone has managed to rise ahead of its direct competitors, even going into the terrain of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, which can still be found at 400 euros. It is responsive on a daily basis, and in game, you can playFortnitein average graphics quality at 30 FPS maximum.

Good autonomy on both, but one with a weaker charge

Battery life is often one of the most important criteria to consider, and here both phones do not disappoint.

To take full advantage of it, Nothing has equipped its CMF Phone 1 with a large 5,000 mAh battery. On the OnePlus side, we find a 5,110 mAh battery, but this does not mean that the CMF Phone 1 is less durable. Here you have two faithful companions, who can last a full day with mixed use.

And if it gets sluggish, the Nord CE 4 Lite can count on 80 Watt fast charging, which allows a 100% recharge in 50 minutes. The CMF Phone 1, for its part, is satisfied with 33 W, with which 20 minutes are enough to reach 50% battery.

Nothing or OnePlus? Which one will end up under the tree?

After having detailed the qualities and defects of its phones, it is time to take stock to help you in your choice. Of course, your needs must be taken into account.

For example, if you want a smartphone that is out of the ordinary, the CMF Phone 1 from Nothing opts for an original and cool concept: change the shell, personalize it by adding accessories… All this is possible, however, it can quickly run up the bill. For its price, it's a good smartphone, with a very nice screen and a simplistic interface, but with well-thought-out widgets. The only problem is its software longevity limited to two years and the absence of NFC.

By turning to the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, although it does not stand out from the crowd, you have a neat smartphone, which offers balanced and solid performance on a daily basis. Its real black spot is located in its photo part. The shots rendered are really average regardless of the mode used. It focuses above all on autonomy and fast charging, and does not forget to offer a fluid user experience with its 120 Hz screen. As for its software interface, still pleasant, offers four years of major updates.

To go further, you can find our complete and detailed reviews in:

If the smartphone from Nothing or the OnePlus brand has not convinced you, there are other models in the same price bracket. To discover them, we invite you to consult now our guide to the best smartphones under 300 euros at the moment.