The smartphone market is packed with devices at various price points, but OnePlus has managed to carve a niche for itself with its blend of performance, design, and affordability. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a testament to this philosophy, aiming to offer an exceptional user experience without breaking the bank. As part of OnePlus’ Nord series, the Nord CE (Core Edition) 5G serves as an entry point to 5G connectivity for budget-conscious users, while still delivering features commonly found in more expensive devices.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the OnePlus Nord CE 5G, analyzing its design, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, software experience, and overall value. By the end, you’ll know exactly what makes this device a standout in the crowded mid-range segment.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G-Design and Display: A Sleek and Modern Look
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G follows the brand’s tradition of delivering sleek, modern designs that look and feel premium, even in the mid-range segment. The device features a polycarbonate back with a smooth finish, making it both light and comfortable to hold. While the plastic construction may not have the same luxurious feel as glass-backed phones, it is durable and resistant to fingerprints.
At the front, the phone boasts a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display, offering Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels). This results in a sharp and vibrant viewing experience, perfect for media consumption, web browsing, and gaming. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling, while the 180Hz touch sampling rate enhances the responsiveness, especially in gaming or fast-paced app navigation.
The AMOLED panel ensures deeper blacks and vibrant colors, enhancing the overall visual quality, particularly when watching videos or playing games with high contrast. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, ensuring durability against scratches and minor drops. The minimal bezels around the display provide a 90.5% screen-to-body ratio, which gives the phone a modern and immersive look.
The punch-hole camera cutout at the top left is small, allowing for more screen space, and it houses the 16MP front camera. In terms of ergonomics, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is comfortable to hold for prolonged periods, thanks to its lightweight and slim profile.
Overall, the design of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G impresses with its modern aesthetics, vibrant display, and solid construction.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G-Performance: Powered by the Snapdragon 750G
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G chipset, which is built on an efficient 8nm process. This mid-range processor offers a balanced combination of performance and power efficiency, making it suitable for everyday tasks, multitasking, and even casual gaming.
The Snapdragon 750G features an octa-core CPU with two high-performance Kryo 570 cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six power-efficient cores running at 1.8GHz. This setup provides ample processing power for most applications, from social media browsing to heavier tasks like gaming and multitasking.
The chipset also integrates the Adreno 619 GPU, which is designed to handle graphic-intensive applications. While not as powerful as the Snapdragon 865 or 888 in flagship devices, the 750G provides solid performance for most games at medium to high settings, making the OnePlus Nord CE 5G a great option for casual gamers.
The device comes with two RAM options: 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and it is paired with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage (UFS 2.1). While there is no option for expandable storage via a microSD card, the internal storage is fast and large enough for most users.
The performance of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is smooth and responsive, offering a good balance between efficiency and power. Whether you’re browsing the web, streaming videos, or using apps, the device can handle multitasking without significant lag.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G-Camera System: Impressive Triple-Camera Setup
One of the standout features of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is its versatile camera setup. The device features a 48MP primary sensor paired with a 2MP depth sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens, which allows users to capture a wide variety of shots, from stunning landscapes to detailed portraits.
The 48MP main camera uses the Sony IMX586 sensor, which is known for its high-resolution capabilities and excellent color accuracy. The camera performs well in daylight, capturing crisp and detailed images with vibrant colors. Thanks to Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), the Nord CE 5G can produce stable shots even in low-light conditions.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera offers a 119-degree field of view, allowing you to capture more of the scene in your frame. Whether you’re shooting wide landscapes or large group photos, the ultra-wide lens enhances the versatility of the camera system. However, it’s worth noting that the quality of ultra-wide shots can sometimes be lower in terms of sharpness and color accuracy compared to the primary sensor.
The 2MP depth sensor enhances portrait photography, offering smooth background blur (bokeh) effects for more professional-looking shots. While the depth sensor doesn’t add much to the overall camera performance, it does help in creating well-defined portraits with the right amount of background separation.
On the front, the 16MP selfie camera captures detailed and vibrant selfies, even in low-light conditions, thanks to its f/2.5 aperture. The camera also features AI-enhanced beautification modes, which can adjust the tone and skin texture in selfies for a polished look.
Overall, the camera system on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is impressive for its price, offering solid performance for photography enthusiasts who enjoy capturing a wide range of subjects.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G-Software: OxygenOS Enhances the User Experience
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G runs on OxygenOS 11.0, based on Android 11, offering a clean and near-stock Android experience. OxygenOS is one of the highlights of the OnePlus brand, known for its speed, fluidity, and minimal bloatware. The interface is intuitive, with easily accessible features and options.
OxygenOS comes with several customizations, including the Dark Mode, Zen Mode for focus, and the Shelf feature for quick access to apps and widgets. The Always-On Display allows users to glance at notifications without unlocking the phone, and there are several useful gestures for navigation and multitasking.
OnePlus is also known for offering fast updates and long-term software support. The Nord CE 5G is expected to receive regular software updates for several years, including security patches and Android version upgrades, making it a future-proof option for users.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G-Battery Life: Reliable Power for Daily Use
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G comes with a 4500mAh battery, providing enough power to last through a full day of typical usage, including browsing, social media, and media consumption. Whether you’re watching videos, browsing the web, or gaming, the device offers reliable battery life.
The phone supports 30W Warp Charge, allowing it to charge up to 70% in just 30 minutes. While it’s not the fastest charging technology on the market, it’s still impressive for a mid-range device, and the 30W fast charging ensures that you can quickly top up the battery when needed.
Although the device doesn’t feature wireless charging or reverse wireless charging, the 30W fast charging compensates for this by providing users with a speedy charging experience, making it ideal for those who need to quickly recharge their device.
OnePlus Nord CE 5G-Value for Money: Affordable 5G Experience
One of the key selling points of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is its affordability. Priced competitively in the mid-range segment, the device offers 5G connectivity, solid performance, and an impressive camera setup, making it an excellent option for users who want a high-quality device without spending a premium.
With its Snapdragon 750G chipset, AMOLED display, fast charging, and 5G connectivity, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G provides great value for its price. It competes well against rivals like the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G, and Realme X7 Pro, offering similar performance and features at a comparable price point.
Conclusion: Is the OnePlus Nord CE 5G Worth It?
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a solid mid-range device that ticks all the boxes for users looking for performance, design, and camera quality at an affordable price. With its sleek design, fluid AMOLED display, reliable performance, and versatile camera setup, it delivers a flagship-like experience at a fraction of the cost.
While there are a few trade-offs, such as the lack of expandable storage and wireless charging, the device makes up for it with its solid battery life, fast charging, and excellent software experience. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly 5G smartphone with great all-around performance, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a fantastic choice.
