OnePlus Nord 2 5G review: the mid-range workbook

Frankly, I’ve been using the OnePlus Nord 2 for over a month, and I have a lot to say about the device. I would start by saying how wrong I was about the company’s “North 2” decision. Initially, when the smartphone came out, I thought, why would OnePlus go this route and introduce another mid-range device right after the Nord CE 5G. Especially when the more expensive variant of the Nord 2 5G is offered in the same range as that of the OnePlus 9R. But after using the device for a while, my perspective completely changed.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G review: design and bodywork

OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a beautiful smartphone. In terms of design, it is as good as a very high end device, and since I have the PU leather variant (Green Woods) it looks even more beautiful. It’s classy and pleasing to the eye. The feeling that the PU leather gives on the palms is so soft. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes with curved edges and rounded corners. It is comfortable to hold in your hands and you can even operate the device with one hand.

There’s no 3.5mm audio jack, but you get a Type-C port at the bottom with support for fast charging. The power button is on the right, and just above the power button is the alert slider that’s so clickable that even an up or down movement is so satisfying. The volume rockers are on the left side, while the SIM tray is on the bottom left.

As I said in first impressions of the smartphone, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a nice rear camera layout. The camera bump is very similar to that of the OnePlus 9 and is way better than the camera bump of the OnePlus 9R, honestly. The two large sensors are nicely placed and the subtle green metal that envelops the sensors is really aesthetic. Let’s move on to the display and see how the device is there.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G test: Display

OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes with a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display that supports a 90Hz refresh rate. There’s only a slightly thick bottom bezel; apart from that the edges are very thin and you will get a perforated cutout on the top left housing the selfie sensor. I have to say that the 90Hz refresh rate on OxygenOS 11.3 looks like 120Hz due to the sheer finesse.

The screen is as responsive as it can get. Whether you are playing a game and tapping super fast or watching a video, it will respond to all aspects. It supports Always-On-Display (AOD) which is very useful for someone like me as I don’t need to turn on the smartphone to check the time over and over again.

I had changed the screen settings and enabled “AI Resolution boost” and “AI Color boost”, which also impacted the type of experience I got from the device’s display. . Note that I have used the device completely in dark mode throughout.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G has outright one of the best screens on a smartphone in the mid-range section.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G review: performance and battery

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI processor paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It can do almost anything you want to do on a smartphone. The processor and system are so well integrated that loading apps is a quick experience and even switching between them is no problem. Note that I had used the 12GB RAM variant.

Playing heavy games has been a very smooth experience with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. It didn’t overheat and could deliver the graphics very comfortably. In terms of connectivity, the smartphone can support many more 5G bands than the OnePlus 9R. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G can support N40, N41 and N78 5G NR NSA bands and N41, N40, N78, N1, N3 and N28A 5G NR SA bands. This makes the device a convincing smartphone compared to its competitors which support fewer 5G bands.

The speakers of the OnePlus Nord 2 are fantastic. The sound that comes out is crisp and clear, especially very loud. The fingerprint sensor is the image of what we expect from OnePlus. You get amazing quick unlock experience with OnePlus fingerprint sensor.

Speaking of battery, the OnePlus Nord 2 has decent performance. It comes with a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging. The fast charging experience is really good and consistent. With heavier apps, you might notice that the battery drains faster because its screen also works at a high refresh rate. Since it doesn’t overheat, you won’t see any abnormal battery drain problem.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G review: camera

Another area where the OnePlus Nord 2 5G won my heart was the camera department. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes with a triple camera setup on the back where the main sensor is a Sony IMX766 50MP lens paired with an 8MP ultra wide-angle sensor, a mono lens with a dual LED flash. You can zoom up to 10x and record videos at 4K 30fps with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. Additional features like AI Photo Enhancement and AI Video Enhancement optimize the image very well to look good.

The camera app is very similar to what you’ll see on the OnePlus 9 series. It’s changed a bit from what OnePlus previously offered and looks like the camera app on Realme phones. The additional features are present at the top of the screen while the different modes are at the bottom. OnePlus has changed from “Pro” mode to “Expert” mode on this device.

Night mode captures good detail. The warmth and overall color of the images on the OnePlus Nord 2 5G stand out better than devices from the previous generation. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a solid camera. The focus is absolutely perfect, the colors are too beautiful and even clicking the zoom mode does not pixelate the image. The wide-angle shots on the OnePlus Nord 2 5G are decent if not the best.

For selfies, there is a Sony IMX615 32MP sensor that captures great photos. Even in direct sunlight, the front camera sensor took a decent image. It’s even ideal for video calls and conferences.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G test: price and conclusion

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is available in India in three different variants – 6GB + 128GB for Rs 27,999, 8GB + 128GB for Rs 29,999 and 12GB + 256GB for Rs 34,999. It is available in three colors. different – Gray Sierra, Blue Haze and Green Woods.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G looks like a premium smartphone, to be honest. If instead of the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI SoC it was the Snapdragon 888 SoC, it would surely have made a place for itself in the premium segment.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a very impressive device. It is a “mid-ranger class” in the truest sense of the word. From design to performance, everything about this smartphone is powerful and beautiful. If you are planning to buy a device in the Rs 35,000 range, this can surely be a top choice for you.