OnePlus Nord 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The OnePlus Nord 5 (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $385 and $1299. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 67/100 (a 17-point difference). Key differences: the OnePlus Nord 5 has the bigger battery (6800 mAh vs 5000); the main camera is 50 MP vs 200 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,463,142 vs 1,848,224).
Profile comparison
Category scores
OnePlus Nord 5
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
What makes OnePlus Nord 5 better?
- Bigger battery: 6800 vs 5000 mAh
- Faster charging: 80W vs 60W
- Higher refresh rate: 144Hz vs 120Hz
- Lighter: 211g vs 214g
- Cheaper at launch: $385 vs $1299
- Longer battery life (66/100 vs 61/100)
- Better display (94/100 vs 88/100)
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3463142 vs 1848224
- Better Geekbench Single: 3601 vs 1923
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10686 vs 5179
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 50MP
- Higher performance (96/100 vs 76/100)
- Better camera (86/100 vs 44/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the OnePlus Nord 5 vs the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 17 points higher (84/100 vs 67/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (96/100 vs 76/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 44/100). Value score: OnePlus Nord 5 — 64/100, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 78/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the OnePlus Nord 5 (96/100 vs 76/100). In the "display" category, the OnePlus Nord 5 is a bit better (94/100 vs 88/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the OnePlus Nord 5 (86/100 vs 44/100). In the "battery" category, the OnePlus Nord 5 is a bit better (66/100 vs 61/100). In the "portability" category, both devices are on the same level — 51/100.
Specs comparison
| Specification | OnePlus Nord 5 | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 1848224 | 3463142 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1923 | 3601 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 5179 | 10686 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
| Resolution | 2800x1272 | 3120x1440 | |
| Refresh rate | 144 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 6800 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 80W | 60W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 25W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | — | 157 | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 200 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 50 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 1800 nits | 2600 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP65 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 163.4×77.0×8.1 mm | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | |
| Weight | 211 g | 214 g | |
| Launch price | $385 | $1299 |
Camera comparison
OnePlus Nord 5
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Front: 50MP
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
OnePlus Nord 5
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2800x1272
- Refresh rate: 144 Hz
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 3120x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
OnePlus Nord 5
- 6800 mAh
- Wired: 80W
- No wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 10:12 hrs, total 28:50 hrs
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Overall performance score
We compared OnePlus Nord 5 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads OnePlus Nord 5 by 46.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $914. OnePlus Nord 5 was $914 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the OnePlus Nord 5 (96/100 vs 76/100).
display
In the "display" category, the OnePlus Nord 5 is a bit better (94/100 vs 88/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the OnePlus Nord 5 (86/100 vs 44/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the OnePlus Nord 5 is a bit better (66/100 vs 61/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, both devices are on the same level — 51/100.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the OnePlus Nord 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is noticeably better than the OnePlus Nord 5 — the overall rating gap is 17 points.
What is the rating of the OnePlus Nord 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The OnePlus Nord 5 has a MobileRank rating of 67/100, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 84/100.
Which has the better camera: the OnePlus Nord 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 44/100).
Which is more powerful: the OnePlus Nord 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on performance (96/100 vs 76/100).
Should you choose the OnePlus Nord 5 over the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The OnePlus Nord 5 is a better fit for active users. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious buyers.