OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: CRISP. Tech

What do you do when your ‘2020 flagship killer’ has proved you can still deliver a quality phone at an affordable price point?

Well, you release a new, and smarter sequel to try to hammer home the point. Welcome to our OnePlus Nord 2 review, showing how this maintains the lineage of a top-tier mobile phone without breaking the bank.

The Nord 2 combines impressive hardware including a 50MP camera, warp-speed charging and AI with OnePlus’s tried and true OxygenOS software.

Understandably sacrifices were to be made to keep costs down, but for a standard everyday phone user, is it worth it?

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G reaffirms our commitment to sharing great technology with the world. We are confident the Nord 2 5G is a worthy successor to the OnePlus Nord.

Pete Lau, founder of OnePlus

 

Performance and Design

This year’s CPU processor – the Mediatek Dimensity 1200 AI – surpasses the original Nord’s offering by up to 65% quicker performance and a boosted graphics processor.

To help manage this power upgrade OnePlus tinkered a bit with the chipset’s AI, meaning its customised artificial intelligence helps with everything like photo and video enhancements, to higher refresh rates when gaming.

The Nord 2 comes pre-installed with OxygenOS 11.3, the bloat-free operating system that brings back OnePlus’s greatest hits like Zen mode, dark mode, and a mixture of new and classic always-on displays (AOD).

This all provides a pleasant user experience, scrolling and flicking through the phone feels natural and smooth. A move away from Snapdragon proves a successful attempt at flagship power in a cost-effective manner.

You will of course have a few RAM options, with 6GB, 8GB and 12GB variants available. Other nifty new additions include up to 2.95Gbps 5G download speeds, two 5G SIM card slots, and a pair of stereo speakers to provide an immersive audio experience.

We felt the speakers left us wanting a little more punch – whilst clear, the sound quality felt a little hollow.

The design is like most smartphones, glass panels combined with plastic framing and metal buttons adding a firmness that feels more premium than its price would suggest. It is comfortable in the hand, yet can be a little slippery.

If you decide against a case there are three available colours – Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, and Green Wood – which all look great and do a solid job of keeping fingerprints to a minimum and also durable enough to coexist with coins, keys, and other things you may find in your pockets.

Battery

The original Nord’s battery life wasn’t the best, but you could get through a day with moderate use.

This time the Nord 2 Comes with a 4500mAh battery (over the previous 4115) and Warp Charge 65, which can get you from 0%-70% in about 30mins and a full charge in under 45 minutes – perfect for those moments you need a quick boost.

However, you will absolutely make it through the day with moderate to high usage. Layering apps, using the camera, playing games, or watching high-resolution videos we found left us with enough in reserve at the end of the day.

During our time we never came close to having any battery anxiety, which is a very liberating thought. There is no wireless charging option however, a shame if you wanted to make the most of your OnePlus wireless earbuds, which are available soon.

 

 

Camera

A staple on OnePlus phones is the quality array of cameras lenses they offer on their devices.

The main 50MP lens – a Sony IMX 766 sensor – has a large f/1.88 aperture and has been cribbed from the OnePlus 9 Series.

Absorbing 56% more light, it turns dim moments into well-lit photos and video clips, with sharp, clear image quality. If you’re not quite a professional photographer, worry not, optical image stabilization (OIS) is always working in the background to reduce blur and counteract shakiness.

If that’s not enough and you require a little more help, the Nord 2 has enhanced AI capabilities, which basically does everything for you so all you need to do is point and shoot.

The Artificial Intelligence can recognize up to 22 different photo scenes and automatically adjusts its settings for solid final photos.

 

Both sides of the story

The front-facing 32MP Sony IMZ 615 selfie camera boasts the distinction of having the highest megapixel count of all OnePlus devices.

Blended into the smooth interface, OnePlus have added ‘Dual View Video’ which enables the front and rear cameras to record simultaneously, perfect for influencers, content creators and bloggers.

An 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor is willing to stretch your field of view to 119.7 degrees, for when you must capture as much landscape as possible.

There is a whole host of shooting options and modes including 4k recording, slow-motion capture, and nightscapes that wouldn’t be out of place on any flagship model.

Display

A 6.43” AMOLED display with 20:9 aspect ratio, full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate provides a responsive, colourful and detailed display.

The screen fills nearly all the front due to the super-slim bezels. Extra features include ‘AI colour boost’ that improves the colour and gradience of images, or there’s ‘AI Resolution Boost’ which upscales video from apps like YouTube into HD resolution.

‘Smart Ambient Display’ kicks in automatically when outside in direct sunlight.

 

 

Final thoughts

No matter how you see it, you are looking at a smashing top-tier handset at a mid-range price point, with a variety of pay monthly tariffs available at Three and O2.

There may be no headphone jack and no wireless charging capabilities…but does that really matter? Ultimately this will be a worthwhile phone to suit all but the most avid consumer.

The Nord 2 comes complete with some returning favourites, two years of major Android updates and three years of security updates always show OnePlus’s commitment to supporting users.

Having spent a few days with it, we think the Nord series of handsets place very well in such a competitive market.

However, OnePlus is certainly iterating rather than innovating here, delivering a welcome suite of quality-of-life improvements, but not as big of an impact as last year’s Nord.

A smart, slick and suitable alternative to Google’s Pixel 4a or the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G.

 

Dimensions & Details

Name: OnePlus Nord 2 5G

Height: 158.9mm

Width: 73.2mm

Weight: 189g

Screen Size: 6.43”

Resolution: 2400×1080 pixels 410ppi 90Hz Fluid AMOLED

Colours: Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, Green Wood

4k Video @30fps, 1080p video@30/60fps

50MP AI Main rear camera, 32MP Front camera

119.7-degree ultra-wide lens

OxygenOS 11 based

Mediatek Dimensity 1200-AI

RAM 6GB/8GB/12GB

Storage 128GB/256GB

Battery 4500mAh (not removable) Warp 65 charging

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is available from July 28^th 2021, starting at £399 for the 8GB RAM/ 128GB variant, rising to £469 for the 12GB RAM/ 256GB Storage variant. 

Device provided for review.