Oneplus Nord CE 5G Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a mid-range smartphone that was released on June 11, 2021. It is an updated version of the original OnePlus Nord, with some key differences in terms of design and specifications.

Design and Build Quality

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G boasts a sleek and stylish design that is sure to catch the eye of any gadget enthusiast. The phone measures 159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) and weighs a mere 170g (6.00 oz), making it both compact and lightweight. The device features a glass front and plastic frame and back, which gives it a premium feel despite the affordable price point.

Ergonomics and comfort are also key features of the Nord CE 5G. The device's slim profile and curved edges make it easy to hold and use with one hand. The placement of the buttons and ports is also well thought out, ensuring easy access and usability.

When it comes to durability, the Nord CE 5G holds up well. While it may not have the ruggedness of a more expensive phone, it is still sturdy enough to withstand daily wear and tear. The plastic back is less prone to shattering than glass, and the device is resistant to minor scratches and scuffs.

Overall, the design and build quality of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G are impressive for a mid-range device. The phone's sleek design, ergonomic comfort, and durability are a testament to OnePlus' commitment to providing quality products at affordable prices.

Display

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G boasts a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 84.9%, which provides an immersive viewing experience. The display has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio, which equates to around 410 pixels per inch density.

The AMOLED technology used in the display provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, making it an excellent choice for watching movies and playing games. The display also has excellent touch sensitivity and responsiveness, which is crucial for swift navigation and multitasking.

The brightness levels on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G are impressive, with a peak brightness of up to 1000 nits. This allows for comfortable viewing even in direct sunlight. The display also features HDR10+, which enhances the contrast and color accuracy, providing a more immersive viewing experience.

Overall, the display on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is impressive, with excellent color accuracy, brightness, and contrast levels. The AMOLED technology provides deep blacks and vibrant colors, making it an ideal device for media consumption and gaming. The touch sensitivity and responsiveness are also noteworthy, providing an exceptional user experience.

Performance

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G comes packed with impressive specs that make it a solid performer in its class. The device is powered by a Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G chipset, with an octa-core processor that combines two high-performance Kryo 570 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six power-efficient Kryo 570 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz. This setup ensures smooth multitasking and speedy app launches.

The device comes in three RAM and storage configurations: 6GB RAM/128GB storage, 8GB RAM/128GB storage, and 12GB RAM/256GB storage. This ample storage ensures that you can store all your media files, apps, and games without worrying about running out of space.

In real-world usage, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G handles all tasks efficiently, from browsing the web to running demanding apps. The device also performs exceptionally well in gaming, thanks to the Adreno 619 GPU. It can handle high-end games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile at high graphics settings without any noticeable lag or frame drops.

In terms of benchmark scores, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G scores an impressive 318,672 on AnTuTu (v8) and 391,770 on AnTuTu (v9). It also scores 1,812 on GeekBench (v5.1) and 17fps on GFXBench (ES 3.1 onscreen). These scores are comparable to other devices in its class, and the real-world performance matches up to these numbers.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G offers solid performance that is suitable for most users, including gamers and power users. Its combination of a powerful processor, ample RAM, and storage ensures that the device can handle all tasks with ease.

Software and User Interface

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G runs on Android 11, with the option for an upgrade to Android 13 and OxygenOS 13. The user interface is sleek and user-friendly, with a customizable home screen and various options for personalization. The phone comes with a few pre-installed apps, but they are minimal and can easily be uninstalled if desired.

One of the standout features of the software is its ability to optimize battery life and power efficiency. The phone offers various battery saving modes, including an ultra-low power mode that can extend battery life for up to two days on a single charge. The software also boasts a range of gesture controls, including the ability to assign custom actions to swipe and tap gestures.

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G also supports a range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC, and NFC.

Overall, the software and user interface of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G are impressive and user-friendly, with a range of customization options and optimization features that make it a pleasure to use. The phone also offers regular software updates and support, ensuring that users always have access to the latest features and security updates.

Camera

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G boasts an impressive rear camera setup that includes a 64 MP primary lens, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The camera delivers excellent image quality in a variety of lighting conditions, with accurate colors and sharp details. The camera app is intuitive and easy to use, with a range of shooting modes and features, including HDR and panorama.

The camera also has impressive zoom capabilities and image stabilization, ensuring that even distant objects appear clear and steady in photos. Video recording quality is also top-notch, with the ability to capture 4K footage at 30fps, as well as 1080p at 30/60/120fps with gyro-EIS. The 16 MP front-facing camera is also impressive, with good detail and color accuracy, making it ideal for selfies and video calls.

Overall, the camera on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is definitely one of its standout features. Whether you're a casual photographer or a professional, you'll appreciate the quality and versatility of the camera system. The only downside is that the camera does struggle slightly in low-light conditions, but this is a common issue with most smartphone cameras.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a phone that is well-equipped in terms of connectivity and networking options. It supports GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G networks, ensuring that you stay connected no matter where you are. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac is also available, along with dual-band connectivity and Wi-Fi Direct.

The phone also has Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, LE, and aptX HD, making it easy to connect to other devices wirelessly. GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and NavIC are all supported, ensuring that you can always get accurate location information. Additionally, NFC is available, making wireless payments and other tasks much simpler.

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G does not have a radio, but it does have a USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG support, making it easy to connect to other devices and peripherals. The phone also has a fingerprint sensor that is located under the display, along with other sensors such as an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a well-connected phone that offers a wide range of options for staying connected and interfacing with other devices. Whether you're looking to make calls, browse the internet, or connect to other devices wirelessly, this phone has you covered.

Additional Features

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G boasts a number of additional features that enhance its overall usability and functionality. One of the most notable features is its water and dust resistance, which is rated at IP68. This means that the phone can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, making it ideal for those who like to take their phone with them while swimming or participating in other water-based activities.

Another standout feature is its audio quality and headphone jack. The phone comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming increasingly rare in modern smartphones. This allows users to plug in their favorite headphones and enjoy high-quality audio without having to rely on a Bluetooth connection. The phone also has a loud and clear speaker, which is ideal for watching videos or making hands-free calls.

In terms of expandable storage options, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G unfortunately doesn't have a microSD card slot. However, it does come with ample internal storage options, ranging from 128GB to 256GB, depending on the model. This should be more than enough for most users, but those who require even more storage may want to consider other devices.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G has a range of additional features that make it a great choice for users who are looking for a well-rounded smartphone. Its water and dust resistance, audio quality, and headphone jack are all standout features that set it apart from other devices in its price range.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the OnePlus Nord CE 5G with other related phones, its closest competitors include the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, the Google Pixel 4a 5G, and the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G.

In terms of display, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G stands out with its larger 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel, while the Google Pixel 4a 5G has a slightly smaller 6.2-inch OLED display. The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G matches the OnePlus Nord CE 5G with its 6.43-inch IPS LCD panel.

In terms of performance, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G boasts a slightly more powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset, while the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G offers the Snapdragon 720G. The Google Pixel 4a 5G has the same Snapdragon 765G as the OnePlus Nord CE 5G.

When it comes to camera performance, the Google Pixel 4a 5G stands out with its exceptional image processing capabilities, while the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G offers a versatile quad-camera setup. The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G and OnePlus Nord CE 5G are tied with their triple camera systems.

In terms of battery life, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G offers the largest capacity battery at 4820mAh, while the OnePlus Nord CE 5G and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G have 4500mAh batteries. The Google Pixel 4a 5G has the smallest battery at 3885mAh.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G offers a well-rounded package with its combination of a fluid AMOLED display, capable Snapdragon 750G chipset, and decent camera performance. Its closest competitors offer slightly different features and specifications, but the OnePlus Nord CE 5G stands out with its affordable price point and OxygenOS software experience.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a solid midrange smartphone option for users who prioritize performance, a sleek design, and an affordable price point. It boasts a durable build, a stunning AMOLED display, and a capable camera system that delivers impressive image quality. The phone's Snapdragon 750G chipset and ample RAM provide smooth multitasking and speedy app performance, while its 4500mAh battery and fast charging technology ensure long-lasting use throughout the day.

While it lacks some premium features like water resistance and expandable storage, the Nord CE 5G still offers exceptional value for its price, especially when compared to other devices in its class.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a well-rounded smartphone that offers a satisfying user experience, making it a great choice for anyone seeking a high-performing, midrange device. If you're looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't skimp on essential features, the Nord CE 5G is definitely worth considering.