The OnePlus Nord 2: A Worthy Successor or Just Another Phone?
The OnePlus Nord 2, launched as the successor to the popular OnePlus Nord, aims to continue the brand’s legacy of offering powerful and affordable smartphones. While it sits slightly above the original Nord’s starting price, it positions itself as a value champion above the even more budget-friendly Nord CE 5G. Boasting higher resolution cameras, a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI processor with 5G connectivity, and stereo speakers, the Nord 2 promises a compelling upgrade. But does it deliver on the same level of value as its predecessor? We put the OnePlus Nord 2 through its paces to find out.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Price in India
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G starts at ₹27,999 in India for its base variant, featuring 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. You can also opt for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant priced at ₹29,999, while the top-tier option boasts 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for ₹34,999. The OnePlus Nord 2 offers a trio of colors: Blue Haze, Gray Sierra, and the India-exclusive Green Wood.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Design
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G follows the family resemblance, sporting a design that echoes the OnePlus 9-series smartphones. It flaunts a spacious 6.43-inch display with a hole-punch camera nestled in the top left corner. The thin bezels and a slightly thicker chin give it a modern look. OnePlus has opted for a glass back on the Nord 2, contributing to its premium feel and aesthetics. You’ll find Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection adorning both the front and back surfaces.
The curved glass back seamlessly blends into the sides, offering a comfortable grip. Although the mid-frame is composed of plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap. The button placement is well-thought-out, with the power button on the right and the volume buttons on the left, ensuring easy access when held in one hand. A familiar feature on OnePlus devices, the alert slider, sits above the power button on the right side, allowing for quick and easy switching between ringer modes.
However, echoing the original OnePlus Nord, the Nord 2 forgoes the 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature present in the more budget-friendly OnePlus Nord CE 5G. While this may be a disappointment for some, the Nord 2 compensates with the welcome addition of stereo speakers. The bottom edge houses the USB Type-C port alongside the dual-SIM tray, while the top accommodates the secondary microphone. It’s worth noting that the OnePlus Nord 2 lacks an IP rating, which other devices in this segment like the Samsung Galaxy A52 and Poco F3 GT offer.
Turning to the back, the camera module resides in the top left corner, housing three sensors. Two of these lenses sport a larger design, reminiscent of the OnePlus 9R. While this module does protrude slightly, causing the smartphone to rock slightly on flat surfaces, it’s a minor trade-off considering the high-quality cameras housed within. This sleek design also houses a 4,500mAh battery and weighs in at 189g. The OnePlus Nord 2 includes a Warp Charge 65W charger in the box, enabling speedy top-ups. Our review unit’s Haze Blue finish expertly camouflaged fingerprints. OnePlus thoughtfully includes a protective case in the box.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Specifications
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G sports a full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and support for HDR10+.
This setup renders smooth and vibrant visuals, enhancing the overall user experience. The in-display fingerprint scanner, strategically positioned for easy accessibility, provides a quick and reliable method of unlocking the device.
Powering the Nord 2 is the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor, which OnePlus has collaborated with MediaTek to optimize its AI capabilities, thus earning the official moniker "Dimensity 1200-AI." The Nord 2 offers a range of memory options: 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM, paired with either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Our review unit featured the top-tier configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. However, it’s important to note that the Nord 2 lacks expandable storage.
Connectivity is comprehensive, with support for dual 5G, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and five satellite navigation systems. The Nord 2 is a dual-SIM device equipped with two Nano-SIM slots.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Performance
The OnePlus Nord 2 delivers a smooth and responsive user experience right out of the box. The 90Hz display refresh rate ensures seamless scrolling and animations. You can customize the display’s color profile to your preferences.
OnePlus’s AI enhancements for video, accessible via the settings, offer features like slightly boosted contrast and sharpness for videos, supported by compatible apps (tested and confirmed on YouTube). The in-display fingerprint scanner proved remarkably responsive, consistently unlocking the device with a single touch. Face recognition also performed consistently well.
We thoroughly tested the OnePlus Nord 2 with benchmarks to evaluate the performance of the new Dimensity 1200-AI. In AnTuTu, the Nord 2 achieved an impressive 5,82,748 points, showcasing its computational prowess. The PCMark Work 3.0 benchmark yielded a score of 8,323 points, highlighting its capabilities for everyday productivity tasks. The Geekbench 5 single-core and multi-core tests resulted in scores of 819 and 2,749 points, respectively.
The Nord 2’s performance in graphics benchmarks was equally impressive. In GFXBench’s demanding T-Rex and Car Chase scenes, it delivered 74fps and 34fps, respectively, indicating smooth and detailed graphics rendering.
We tested the OnePlus Nord 2’s gaming capabilities with Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), which automatically defaulted to HD graphics and High frame rate settings. The game ran flawlessly at these demanding settings, exhibiting no lag or stuttering. After a 20-minute gaming session, we observed a minor 4% battery drop and a slight warming sensation in the phone.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Battery Life
The Nord 2 packs in a substantial 4,500 mAh battery, consistently delivering up to a day and a half of battery life under typical usage without any hiccups. Our HD video loop test saw the OnePlus Nord 2 run for a remarkable 19 hours and 46 minutes, with the screen refresh rate set to 90Hz. The included 65W Warp Charger enables lightning-fast charging. In just 15 minutes, the battery reached 58%, and a full charge (98%) was achieved within 30 minutes.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Cameras
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G boasts a formidable triple-camera setup. At its core is a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary camera, a sensor also featured in the OnePlus 9 flagship. This primary camera boasts an f/1.88 aperture and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), ensuring steady and detailed capture. Alongside it, we find an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with a wide 119.7-degree field of view, and a 2-megapixel mono camera for depth sensing. The camera app UI deviates slightly from previous OnePlus iterations but remains user-friendly and easy to navigate.
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G locks focus rapidly, and the AI efficiently detects scenes. Daylight photography reveals good detail and accurate color reproduction. The images appear natural, and even distant objects are clearly recognizable. The ultra-wide-angle camera, while capturing a wider field of view, showcases a noticeable reduction in image quality compared to the main lens.
Close-up shots are crisp and showcase natural-looking depth for the blurred background, capturing even the finest details. Portrait mode offers the ability to adjust the level of background blur before taking a picture. The resulting images exhibited excellent edge detection and separation from the background, achieving a professional-looking bokeh effect.
OnePlus has implemented Nightscape Ultra mode on the Nord 2, designed to elevate low-light photography. The AI automatically detects low-light conditions and activates this mode for optimal results. Low-light images were consistently good, and even distant text remained legible. While the Nightscape Ultra mode takes a bit longer to capture, the brighter results with enhanced detail in shadowed areas are well worth the wait.
Selfies captured using the 32-megapixel front camera exhibited natural tones in both daylight and low-light conditions. The selfie portrait mode effectively captured our subjects even with masks worn, allowing for the adjustment of portrait blur before capturing the image.
Video recording capabilities peak at 4K 30fps on the Nord 2. Daylight footage showcases excellent stabilization, while occasional shimmer appears during nighttime video recording while walking.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 2 echoes the spirit of earlier OnePlus smartphones, offering compelling value for its price point. Whereas the OnePlus flagship series has been steadily increasing in price, the Nord 2 provides a much-needed alternative for those who prefer a compelling balance of features without breaking the bank. It embodies OnePlus’ core philosophy, delivering outstanding performance and capable cameras at a budget-friendly price.
The software experience, powered by OxygenOS 11.3, is also a standout aspect of the Nord 2. The recent announcement regarding the integration of OxygenOS with Oppo’s ColorOS raises concerns, but we hope it doesn’t significantly alter the positive user experience.
For those prioritizing performance and gaming, the Poco F3 GT presents itself as a formidable alternative. However, if you’re seeking a well-rounded smartphone that delivers exceptional value for its price, the OnePlus Nord 2 stands out as the clear choice.
