The OnePlus Nord series has consistently been known for offering excellent value for money, with the original Nord setting a new standard in its segment just two years ago. Since then, we’ve seen the OnePlus Nord 2, which impressed with its performance, and the Nord CE, which became the entry point to the OnePlus smartphone experience. Now, OnePlus has launched the successor to the Nord CE, simply called the OnePlus Nord CE 2. While it maintains a relatively low price, it boasts a number of smaller improvements that aim to enhance the user experience. However, within this price bracket, competition is fiercer than ever, with major brands offering aggressive options, most recently the Realme 9 Pro+ which boasts a flagship-grade main camera. With Oppo’s significant influence on the brand, will the OnePlus Nord CE 2 continue the legacy of excellent software that has made OnePlus phones so popular in India? Let’s delve into the details and find out.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 price in India
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is available in India with two RAM configurations: 6GB RAM for Rs. 23,999 and 8GB RAM for Rs. 24,999. There is no 12GB variant available. Both variants come with 128GB of storage, which can be expanded using a dedicated microSD card slot in the SIM tray, a welcome upgrade from the previous model. The phone is available in Bahama Blue and Gray Mirror finishes.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 design
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 presents a distinctly different look from its predecessor, leaning towards a more premium aesthetic. In fact, it bears a striking resemblance to the Oppo Reno 7. While it still features a plastic frame, the back panel is now crafted from Corning Gorilla Glass 5, like the display. However, this glossy finish comes with a drawback – it’s a magnet for fingerprints, necessitating frequent cleaning.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 sports a vibrant AMOLED display with a 90Hz maximum refresh rate
While the OnePlus Nord CE 2 retains the same 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz maximum refresh rate, it now boasts HDR10+ certification. The display is flanked by a relatively thick chin and noticeable bezels, especially compared to some contemporary phones. Despite this, the phone offers a comfortable feel in hand, feeling robust and well-constructed. It is also sleek (7.8mm) and lightweight (173g), contributing to its comfortable usability.
A side-by-side comparison with the Oppo Reno 7 reveals their uncanny resemblance. Both phones share almost identical dimensions, weight, and button placements. Even the camera modules on the rear are virtually identical, with matching cutouts for the sensors and LED flash. This similarity shouldn’t come as a surprise given OnePlus’s integration into Oppo, and such design overlaps have been observed in the past.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 comes packed with a variety of goodies in the box.
For a budget smartphone, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 provides a generous box of accessories. Aside from the expected charger and cable, it includes a silicone case and stickers, a pleasant extra.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 specifications
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 boasts enhanced specifications and, once again, shares a strong resemblance with the Oppo Reno 7. It features the more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, delivering a noticeable performance boost. Beyond the performance improvement, it’s notable for offering support for eight 5G bands in India, a significant leap from the single band on the Nord CE.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 also boasts other notable upgrades such as expandable storage via a dedicated microSD slot. It includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and support for 65W fast charging, a substantial improvement on the previous model’s 30W charging. While this phone lacks stereo speakers and an IP rating, these omissions are forgivable considering its appealing price and impressive feature set.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 performance and battery life
Performance was never a concern with the OnePlus Nord CE, and the CE 2 certainly doesn’t disappoint. It ships with OxygenOS 11.3 out of the box, rather than the more recent OxygenOS 12, which is the same version found on the OnePlus 9RT. The experience is smooth and snappy, with numerous shortcuts and gestures to explore. The Nord CE 2 has been promised two years of Android updates and three years of security updates. It also features Google’s stock dialer and messaging apps, with call recording supported during calls.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 retains a headphone jack, a feature sure to please many users.
The in-display fingerprint sensor performs flawlessly, and even face recognition is swift. Videos display exceptionally well on the OnePlus Nord CE 2’s screen, with vibrant colors, excellent saturation, and more than adequate brightness. A minor blue tint is noticeable in certain parts of the display when viewing content with white backgrounds off-axis but is not a major issue for most usage scenarios.
Beyond videos, the OnePlus Nord CE 2’s display excels in games, too, delivering exceptionally clear visuals. Touch responsiveness is impressive, even during fast-paced multiplayer games like Call of Duty: Mobile. Stereo speakers would have elevated the gaming experience, but wired earphones provide lag-free audio. The phone’s back gets moderately warm after roughly 20 minutes of gaming but never reaches an uncomfortable level.
Battery life on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is more than satisfactory.
Battery life has been very good during testing. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 packs the same 4,500mAh battery as the Nord CE but benefits from significantly faster charging with a 65W SuperVOOC charger. OnePlus has adopted Oppo’s branding in this case, ditching the Warp Charge name. With typical usage patterns, users can easily expect a day and a half on a single charge. In our battery loop test, which involves continuous HD video playback with screen brightness set to 50 percent, the Nord CE 2 lasted for approximately 22.5 hours – a commendable performance. Furthermore, the phone charges up to 94 percent in a mere 30 minutes, demonstrating exceptionally fast charging capabilities.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 cameras
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 retains the same camera specifications as its predecessor. The rear camera setup comprises a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The front camera is a 16-megapixel selfie shooter. The camera app has undergone a significant makeover, aligning now with the user interface seen on Oppo phones. It includes an AI scene enchantment toggle, which is best left disabled as it tends to exaggerate colors to unrealistic levels. The Nord CE 2 also adopts the Bokeh Flare Portrait filter for both stills and videos, but video recording in this mode is limited to 720p.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 main camera sample (tap to see full size)
Photos taken in daylight conditions showcase good detail and accurate color representation. Landscape shots exhibit decent dynamic range, and exposure is well-managed. The ultra-wide-angle camera tends to slightly oversaturate colors, even with AI turned off, and textures lack the same sharpness. The Nord CE 2 proves adept at capturing close-ups, capturing rich detail and colors. The macro camera is functional under good lighting but shouldn’t be expected to produce exceptional results.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 ultra-wide camera sample (tap to see full size)
OnePlus Nord CE 2 main camera sample (tap to see full size)
OnePlus Nord CE 2 selfie camera sample with Bokeh Flare Portrait filter (tap to see full size)
In low-light scenarios, the cameras struggle to capture finer details in landscape shots unless Night mode is engaged. Close-ups, on the other hand, deliver better outcomes without relying on long-exposure shots.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 main camera sample with Night mode (tap to see full size)
**OnePlus Nord CE 2 ultra-wide
