OnePlus Nord Review: Is it Worth Buying?

Smartphones are a mainstay in our lives today.

13:29 01 October 2020

Throughout the day, we use our smartphones for one purpose or another in some form and quantity. Positives and negatives of smartphones will always be debated but their impact on modern society can not be denied. The usage of smartphones is increasing day by day. So is increasing the number of smartphones day by day.

 

There are countless smartphones from numerous brands available for purchase today. One of the most popular smartphone brands today is OnePlus. Known for its high-end devices, OnePlus has recently put out a mid-range smartphone that has been making waves. The smartphone we are talking about here is OnePlus Nord.

 

Launched globally earlier this year in July, Nord is one of the cheaper presentations of OnePlus. The goal behind the release of OnePlus Nord was to bring the signature performance of OnePlus smartphones to a more affordable segment. Price cuts were made but not a lot was downgraded performance-wise.

 

Specifications

 

• Gorilla Glass 5 front & back.
  
  
• Display - 6.67″ FHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED; Center-weighted punch-hole display HDR10+ support
  
  
• SoC - Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G.
  
  
• RAM and Storage – 6GB/8GB /12 GB RAM LPDDR4, 64GB/128GB/256GB UFS 2.1.
  
  
• Battery & Charging - 4115 mAh battery 30W fast charger (inside the box).
  
  
• Rear Camera - 48 MP, + 26mm wide + 8 MP ultrawide + 5 MP depth + 2 MP macro
  
  
• Front Camera - 32 MP wide + 8 MP ultrawide
  
  
• Android 10 with OxygenOS 10.5.4
  
  

Processor and RAM

 

Talking about the insides first, OnePlus Nord is packed with Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor. It is an octa-core processor that is clocked at 2.4 GHz. It might be weaker than the 800 series of Snapdragon processors usually seen in OnePlus devices.

 

However, that does not take away anything from its individual capabilities. It is a strong processor on its own and can handle hardcore games as well as multi-tasking comfortably. The smartphone has a benchmark score of 315641 on AnTuTu which is impressive. The processor also supports 5G and the smartphone is 5G-ready as well.

 

There are three RAM variants you can choose to help with this processor; 8 GB, 8 GB, and 12 GB. For internal storage, there are three options of 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB.

 

OS

 

OnePlus Nord works on Android and comes with Android 10 out of the box. OnePlus' trademark OxygenOS is in there too with its latest 10.5.4 version. The choice of OS is subjective as some people might like it while others might not. The OxygenOS is usually good with lesser bloatware and an almost stock Android-like performance.

 

Battery and Charging

 

In the battery department, OnePlus Nord has a built-in non-removable Li-Po battery of 4115 mAh capacity. The phone supports 30W fast charging. In 30 minutes of charging, it can reach as much as 70%. For charging purposes, you need a USB Type-C cable.

 

Cameras

 

 

Cameras are one of the priorities while buying smartphones these days. OnePlus might not be especially known for their cameras but they have always performed more than enough and the same is the case with OnePlus Nord here.

 

In the back, there is a quad-camera setup. It includes 4 cameras of 48 MP, 8 MP ultrawide, 5 MP for depth sensor, and a 2 MP camera for macro photos. On the back, there is a dual-LED flash as well. When it comes to video recording, the back cameras support 4K video recording at 30fps and 1080 up to 240fps. For stabilization purposes, there is gyroscopic Electrical Image Stabilization.

 

In the front, there are two cameras; a 32 mp camera and an 8 MP ultrawide camera. The front supports 4K video recording up to 60fps which is not available in many high-end devices even. The cameras are inside the display. The smartphone does not have a notch. The cameras are only lacking in low-light performance. The case is the same with both front and back cameras.

 

OnePlus Nord isn't missing any important sensors like accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, or compass. There is an under-display fingerprint scanner for security purposes that uses optical scanning.

 

Build and Looks

 

Coming to the outsides, OnePlus Nord features a big 6.44" AMOLED touchscreen. It has a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels with a superb 408 PPI density. The screen supports HDR10+ and has a refresh rate of 90Hz. It has an 86.7% screen-to-body ratio. The screen is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection purposes. However, you shouldn't completely rely on the glass and always opt for some good OnePlus Nord back covers.

 

In the terms of looks, OnePlus Nord is available in two colors; Blue Marble and Gray Onyx. Lack of options in colors is a negative. The smartphone is lightweight and pretty slim as well. It weighs only 185 grams and has dimensions of 6.23 x 2.89 x 0.32 in. The body is built with polycarbonate instead of glass or metal. It is not surprising considering the smartphone is on a cheaper end, hence cost-cutting was required.

 

Conclusion

 

 

OnePlus Nord is one of the cheapest high-end smartphones and probably the cheapest one to offer 5G. The cuts that OnePlus has made do not hinder the performance of the smartphone either. Just the polycarbonate build might be a drawback for some.

 

The cameras are amazing at normal light levels. The battery life is unsurprisingly solid. The screen is big, beautiful and the in-display cameras make it look even better. All in all, Nord is easily in the top three of the smartphones in its range. OnePlus has perfected the combo of budget and performance with this smartphone.