The OnePlus Nord CE 5G, an exciting new addition to the OnePlus Nord lineup, promises a "Core Edition" experience aimed at delivering the essentials without breaking the bank. While the name might leave you wondering "what does CE stand for?", OnePlus clarifies that it signifies a device focused on the core features most users seek. But does this "core" experience sacrifice any crucial features, and how does it compare to more expensive models like the OnePlus 9R? We put the Nord CE 5G through its paces to find out, dissecting its design, performance, battery life, cameras, and overall value proposition to see if it’s truly a compelling choice in the competitive mid-range market.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G: Design and Build
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G doesn’t shy away from the spotlight with its sleek and contemporary design. The Blue Void color option, particularly, evokes memories of the original Nord, making a strong first impression.
Build Quality:
The Nord CE 5G sports a solid build that feels reassuringly robust in hand. OnePlus has managed to make it remarkably slim at just 7.9mm thick, while the 170g weight feels lighter than many other recent smartphones, making it effortless to hold for extended periods. The curved sides enhance grip comfort significantly.
Display:
The phone boasts a sizable 6.43-inch AMOLED display with full-HD+ resolution and a fantastic 90Hz refresh rate – a welcome inclusion at this price point. This combination ensures smooth scrolling and a more immersive viewing experience. The display is further enhanced by an in-display fingerprint scanner for added security and convenience and Asahi Dragontrail glass for protection against scratches.
Buttons and Ports:
The plastic frame houses well-positioned buttons, with the power button on the right and volume buttons on the left, allowing for effortless accessibility without having to reposition the phone. However, the absence of the iconic OnePlus alert slider might disappoint some users. The SIM tray, located on the left, accommodates two Nano-SIMs, but disappointingly, there’s no microSD card slot for storage expansion. On the bottom edge, you’ll find a valuable addition – the 3.5mm headphone jack, which was missing on the original OnePlus Nord, alongside the USB Type-C port and a single speaker.
Rear Design:
At the back, the Nord CE 5G maintains a simple and clean aesthetic with a OnePlus logo centered and a triple camera module nestled in the top-left corner. The camera module protrudes slightly but isn’t overly noticeable. The Blue Void color variant comes with a matte finish that effectively resists fingerprints, maintaining a pristine look.
Battery Capacity:
OnePlus packs in a slightly larger 4,500mAh battery compared to the original Nord, promising extended usage. Additionally, the Nord CE 5G boasts 30W Warp Charge 30T fast charging capabilities and includes a Warp Charge 30T charger in the box for speedy recharging.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G: Performance and Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G smoothly handles daily tasks and delivers a satisfactory performance, as expected from a device in its category.
Processor and RAM:
It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, a familiar chipset found in other mid-range competitors like the Xiaomi Mi 10i and Samsung Galaxy M42 5G. Three RAM variations are available: 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB, with the top-tier 12GB variant providing a seamless multitasking experience.
Storage:
The Nord CE 5G comes in two storage options: 128GB and 256GB. Unfortunately, the lack of expandable storage might limit users with extensive storage needs.
Connectivity:
Connectivity features are comprehensive, including Bluetooth 5.1, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and support for six satellite navigation systems. Dual 4G VoLTE and 5G connectivity are also present, ensuring compatibility with future networks.
Software Experience:
OnePlus, renowned for its clean and intuitive software, delivers on that promise with the Nord CE 5G. The phone runs OxygenOS, built on top of Android 11. The pre-installed apps are manageable, with the option to uninstall Google and OnePlus apps if needed, and notifications are not overly intrusive. A notable feature is the always-on display that illuminates with incoming notifications. OxygenOS provides a seamless and customizable experience, catering to users who prefer a stock Android feel, making the phone easy to use. OnePlus also provides a commitment to software updates, promising two years of Android updates and three years of security updates, adding to the phone’s long-term value proposition.
Performance Benchmarks:
The Nord CE 5G’s performance is impressive, as seen in benchmarking scores. In AnTuTu, it scored 391,813 points, highlighting its ability to handle demanding tasks. GeekBench 5 single-core and multi-core scores were 639 and 1,830, respectively, indicating a capable processing power. The phone achieved 59fps and 17fps in the T-Rex and Car Chase tests of GFXBench, respectively, and scored 2,737 points in 3D Mark Slingshot OpenGL. These scores place it among the top performers in its price category.
Gaming:
Gaming performance is solid, enabling smooth gameplay even on popular titles like Call of Duty Mobile. The Nord CE 5G managed to run the game at high presets for both graphics and frame rate without any noticeable lag.
Battery Life:
Battery life is quite impressive. With the 90Hz refresh rate enabled, the Nord CE 5G achieved a remarkable 19 hours and 59 minutes in our HD video loop test. This performance suggests that it can easily handle a full day of use, even with heavier usage patterns.
Fast Charging:
The 30W Warp Charge 30T Plus included in the box allows for swift charging, taking the phone from zero to 67 percent in only 30 minutes and fully charging it in approximately an hour. While not the fastest charging technology available at this price point, it significantly outperforms alternatives like the Galaxy M42 5G.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G: Cameras
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G features a triple camera setup aiming to provide a balanced photographic experience.
Camera Specs:
- Main Camera: 64-megapixel primary camera with an Omnivision sensor, f/1.79 aperture and EIS.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 8-megapixel with a 119-degree field of view.
- Monochrome Camera: 2-megapixel black and white sensor.
- Selfie Camera: 16-megapixel camera with an f/2.45 aperture.
Camera App UI:
The camera app has a simple and easy-to-use interface with different shooting modes. The AI can actively recognize and suggest appropriate shooting modes.
Daylight Performance:
In daylight conditions, the main camera delivers excellent photos with good detail and sharpness, looking remarkably impressive on the vibrant AMOLED display. The camera captures intricate textures, and even text remains legible at 100 percent magnification.
Ultra-Wide Performance:
While the ultra-wide angle camera offers a wider perspective, there’s a noticeable decline in image quality. There’s also some visible distortion, especially at the edges of the frame.
Close-Up and Portrait Performance:
Close-up shots are crisp and capture textures accurately. The main camera excels at background separation, producing a pleasing bokeh effect. However, portrait mode doesn’t offer any manual control over the blur intensity, providing a fixed "Depth Effect." The phone delivers decent edge detection and a convincing depth effect in portrait mode.
Low-Light Performance:
Low-light photos are decent. The Nord CE 5G effectively manages noise, but some grain may be visible The "Nightscape" mode, which combines multiple exposures, significantly improves low-light shots, enhancing shadows and detail, while increasing the processing time to 7-8 seconds. The phone also crops the frame slightly for stabilization during Nightscape, which should be considered. The Nightscape feature can also be used with the ultra-wide camera, although the difference in image quality is subtle.
Selfie Performance:
Selfies are crisp, but outdoor shots may exhibit slightly inaccurate skin tones, which are more accurate in indoor environments. The selfie portrait mode manages decent edge detection, even with subjects wearing masks. Low-light selfies are adequate, with only slight grain noticeable at high magnification.
Video Recording:
Video recording capabilities cap at 4K at 30fps for the main camera and 1080p at 60fps for the selfie camera. In daylight, both 1080p and 4K footage are well-stabilized, with minimal noticeable shake. Video quality does dip in low-light conditions, with shimmer appearing as the phone tries to stabilize the footage.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G: Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G strikes a good balance. It offers sufficient performance, a clean software experience, and a competitive battery life, all at an appealing price point. The inclusion of two years of software updates and three years of security updates enhances its long-term value proposition.
While the triple camera setup performs adequately for everyday use, its low-light performance could be improved, and the quality of the ultra-wide camera is a bit disappointing.
Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G delivers on its promise of a core experience. It’s particularly appealing in its entry-level version, but the top-tier model, priced at Rs. 27,999, might not offer the same value for money. At this price point, alternatives like the original OnePlus Nord or the Xiaomi Mi 11X might be worth considering, depending on your priorities.
