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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple iPhone 17 Air vs OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Get the Apple iPhone 17 Air unless you really need a budget option. The iPhone 17 Air is the premium option here, and while it excels in build quality and performance, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G offers features that might surprise you. The iPhone 17 Air's battery only gets you 26 hours of video, which is fine but falls short for similar-weight users. The deciding factor could be the camera quality, where the Nord N30's 108MP sensor offers stunning detail, especially in good light conditions.
📱 Display: 6.6" vs 6.72"🔋 Battery: 3150 mAh vs 5000 mAh⚖️ Weight: 5.82 oz vs 6.88 oz
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Apple iPhone 17 Air
★4.9
(13)•Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
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OnePlus Nord N30 5G
★4.4
(1,496)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:1 Android OS upgrade (to Android 14) and 3 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm)
Graphics:Adreno 619
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Apple iPhone 17 Air
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
6.72"Winner
Refresh Rate
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
120Hz (Adaptive: 30/48/50/60/90/120Hz)
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm)
RAMKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
12 GB (LPDDR5X)Winner
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
8GB LPDDR4X (Plus up to 8GB Virtual RAM)
Storage
Apple iPhone 17 Air
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)Winner
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
128GB UFS 2.2 (Expandable via microSDXC up to 1TB)
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
48MP Fusion (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
108MP Samsung S5KHM6, f/1.7, EIS, 3x Lossless Digital ZoomWinner
Ultra-Wide Camera
Apple iPhone 17 Air
No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software)
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
No (Not supported) — Includes 2MP Depth + 2MP Macro
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple iPhone 17 Air
3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed)
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
5,000mAhWinner
Wireless Charging
Apple iPhone 17 Air
MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
No (Not supported)
Design2 specs
Weight
Apple iPhone 17 Air
5.82 oz (165 g)Winner
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
6.88 oz (195 g)
Dimensions
Apple iPhone 17 Air
6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm)
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 in (165.5 x 76.0 x 8.3 mm)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple iPhone 17 Air
iOS
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Android
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple iPhone 17 Air
5G (sub-6 GHz only, no mmWave) using Apple-designed modem; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
5G (Sub-6), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Air vs OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Apple iPhone 17 Air
★4.9(13)Best Buy
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
★4.4(1,496)Amazon
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Air | OnePlus Nord N30 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.9(13)Best Buy | ★4.4(1,496)Amazon |
Operating System | iOS | Android |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | 1 Android OS upgrade (to Android 14) and 3 years of security updates |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) |
Graphics | Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Adreno 619 |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB LPDDR4X (Plus up to 8GB Virtual RAM) |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) | 128GB UFS 2.2 (Expandable via microSDXC up to 1TB) |
Display Size | 6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.72" |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 680 nits (HBM) |
Resolution | 2736 x 1260 pixels (460 ppi) | 2400 x 1080 (FHD+) |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display | 120Hz (Adaptive: 30/48/50/60/90/120Hz) |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 550 nits (Typical) / 680 nits (High Brightness Mode) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 108MP Samsung S5KHM6, f/1.7, EIS, 3x Lossless Digital Zoom |
Ultra-Wide Camera | No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software) | No (Not supported) — Includes 2MP Depth + 2MP Macro |
Telephoto Camera | No dedicated telephoto lens; 12MP 2x Telephoto enabled by 48MP Fusion sensor (52 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift OIS | No (Not supported) |
Optical Zoom | 1x, 2x optical-quality zoom steps (2x optical zoom range) | No (Not supported) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 10x | Up to 6x |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps | 1080p @ 30fps |
Front Camera | 24MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 16MP, f/2.4 |
Battery | 3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed) | 5,000mAh |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher | 50W SUPERVOOC (Charger included) |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W | No (Not supported) |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz only, no mmWave) using Apple-designed modem; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub-6), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 2.0 |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Grade 5 Titanium alloy frame (internal aluminum structure); Ceramic Shield back | No official IP rating |
Dimensions | 6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm) | 6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 in (165.5 x 76.0 x 8.3 mm) |
Weight | 5.82 oz (165 g) | 6.88 oz (195 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Stereo speakers (200% Ultra Volume Mode), 3.5mm Headphone Jack, microSD slot |
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Apple iPhone 17 Air
Rating:★4.9(13)Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics:Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
RAM:12 GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage:256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Display Size:6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution:2736 x 1260 pixels (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate:Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display
Peak Brightness:1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum
Main Camera:48MP Fusion (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
Ultra-Wide Camera:No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software)
Telephoto Camera:No dedicated telephoto lens; 12MP 2x Telephoto enabled by 48MP Fusion sensor (52 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift OIS
Optical Zoom:1x, 2x optical-quality zoom steps (2x optical zoom range)
Digital Zoom:Up to 10x
Video Recording:4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps
Front Camera:24MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps
Battery:3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed)
Wired Charging:USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher
Wireless Charging:MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
Connectivity:5G (sub-6 GHz only, no mmWave) using Apple-designed modem; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
USB:USB-C connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s); Native DisplayPort output
Durability:IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Grade 5 Titanium alloy frame (internal aluminum structure); Ceramic Shield back
Dimensions:6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm)
Weight:5.82 oz (165 g)
Biometrics:Face ID
Extras:Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite
✓ Pros:
- • Thinnest iPhone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium Titanium chassis
- • 120Hz ProMotion display finally arrives on non-Pro tier
- • Powered by the A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM for full Apple Intelligence support
- • Upgraded 24MP front camera for superior selfies and video calls
- • Excellent main camera performance with 2x lossless crop
✗ Cons:
- • High price for a single-camera system (no Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses)
- • Battery life is shorter than the 'Plus' model it replaces due to thinness
- • USB-C port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds (480 Mb/s)
- • No mmWave 5G support (Sub-6 GHz only due to Apple modem restrictions)
- • No physical SIM tray (eSIM only in US)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Rating:★4.4(1,496)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:1 Android OS upgrade (to Android 14) and 3 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm)
Graphics:Adreno 619
RAM:8GB LPDDR4X (Plus up to 8GB Virtual RAM)
Storage:128GB UFS 2.2 (Expandable via microSDXC up to 1TB)
Display Size:6.72"
Screen Type:IPS LCD, 120Hz, 680 nits (HBM)
Resolution:2400 x 1080 (FHD+)
Refresh Rate:120Hz (Adaptive: 30/48/50/60/90/120Hz)
Peak Brightness:550 nits (Typical) / 680 nits (High Brightness Mode)
Main Camera:108MP Samsung S5KHM6, f/1.7, EIS, 3x Lossless Digital Zoom
Ultra-Wide Camera:No (Not supported) — Includes 2MP Depth + 2MP Macro
Telephoto Camera:No (Not supported)
Optical Zoom:No (Not supported)
Digital Zoom:Up to 6x
Video Recording:1080p @ 30fps
Front Camera:16MP, f/2.4
Battery:5,000mAh
Wired Charging:50W SUPERVOOC (Charger included)
Wireless Charging:No (Not supported)
Connectivity:5G (Sub-6), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC
USB:USB Type-C 2.0
Durability:No official IP rating
Dimensions:6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 in (165.5 x 76.0 x 8.3 mm)
Weight:6.88 oz (195 g)
Biometrics:Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
Extras:Stereo speakers (200% Ultra Volume Mode), 3.5mm Headphone Jack, microSD slot
✓ Pros:
- • Fastest charging in the US budget segment (50W wired)
- • Large 120Hz display is smooth and responsive
- • Base model comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage (high for this tier)
- • Retains enthusiast features: 3.5mm jack and microSD expansion
- • 108MP main camera provides decent 3x lossless zoom in good light
✗ Cons:
- • No ultrawide camera (replaced by low-utility macro/depth sensors)
- • LCD panel lacks the contrast of OLED competitors (e.g., Galaxy A15 5G)
- • Video recording capped at 1080p/30fps (Chipset limitation)
- • Software support (1 OS update) is very short compared to Samsung (4 years)
- • No official IP rating for water resistance
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Which one is better?
Grab the iPhone 17 Air if you want a premium build and superior brand support - it's lighter at 5.82 oz compared to the Nord N30's 6.88 oz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air if: you value premium design, want the best software support for years, or care about a top-notch display quality. (6.6" display, 3150 mAh battery)
Choose the OnePlus Nord N30 5G if: you need all-day battery life, prioritize fast charging at 50W, or want a higher megapixel camera for photography.
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple iPhone 17 Air excels if you value thinnest iphone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium titanium chassis. OnePlus Nord N30 5G is better if you prioritize fastest charging in the us budget segment (50w wired). Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
Affiliate disclosure
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