Frankly, it’s been over a month since I have been using the OnePlus Nord 2, and I have a lot to say about the device. I would start with how wrong I was about the ‘Nord 2’ move from the company. Initially, when the smartphone came out, I thought, why would OnePlus go this route and introduce another mid-range device just after the Nord CE 5G. Especially when the Nord 2 5G’s most expensive variant is priced around the same range as that of the OnePlus 9R. But after using the device for quite some time, my views have completely changed.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Design and Body
OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a beautiful smartphone. In terms of design, it is as good as a very premium device, and since I got the PU leather variant (Green Woods), it looks even better. It is classy and pleasing to the eye. The feel that the PU leather gives on the palms is just so smooth. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes with curved edges and round corners. It is comfy to hold in your hands, and you can even operate the device single-handedly.
There is no 3.5mm audio jack, but you get a Type-C port at the bottom with support for fast charging. The power button is on the right, and just above the power button is the alert slider which is so clicky that even one move up or down feels so satisfying. The volume rockers are on the left side, while the SIM tray is on the bottom left.
As I said during the first impressions of the smartphone, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a beautiful camera layout at the rear. The camera bump is very similar to that of the OnePlus 9 and looks much better than the OnePlus 9R’s camera bump, honestly. The two big sensors are beautifully placed, and the subtle green metal encasing the sensors looks really aesthetic. Let’s move on to the display and see how the device is there.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Display
OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes with a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display with support for 90Hz refresh rate. There’s only a bottom bezel that’s a little thick; apart from that, the edges are really thin, and you will get a punch-hole cutout at the top left housing the selfie sensor. I have to say, the 90Hz refresh rate on OxygenOS 11.3 feels like 120Hz because of the sheer smoothness.
The display is as responsive it can be. Whether you are playing a game and tapping very fast or you are watching a video, it will deliver on every aspect. It supports Always-On-Display (AOD), which is very useful for someone like me since I don’t have to switch on the smartphone for looking at the time again and again.
I had changed the settings of the display and turned on the ‘AI Resolution boost’ and ‘AI Color boost’, which also had an impact on the kind of experience I got from the display of the device. Note that I used the device completely in dark mode throughout.
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G has outright one of the best displays on a smartphone in the mid-range section.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Performance and Battery
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI processor coupled with up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It can do almost everything you want to do on a smartphone. The processor and the system are so well integrated that loading applications is a quick experience and even switching between them is no hassle at all. Note that I had been using the 12GB RAM variant.
Playing heavy games was a very smooth experience with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. It didn’t overheat and could deliver the graphics very comfortably. In the connectivity department, the smartphone can support way more 5G bands than the OnePlus 9R. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G can support N40, N41, and N78 5G NR NSA bands and N41, N40, N78, N1, N3, and N28A 5G NR SA bands. This makes the device a compelling smartphone over its competitors which support fewer 5G bands.
The speakers of the OnePlus Nord 2 are fantastic. The audio that comes out is crisp and crystal clear, most of all, very loud. The fingerprint sensor is just like what is expected of OnePlus. You get an amazing fast unlocking experience with the fingerprint sensor of OnePlus.
Talking about the battery, the OnePlus Nord 2 has a decent performance. It comes packed with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging. The fast-charging experience is really good and consistent. With more heavy applications, you might notice the battery go down faster since its display also runs at a high refresh rate. Since it doesn’t overheat, you won’t see any abnormal battery drain issues.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Camera
Another area where the OnePlus Nord 2 5G won my heart was in the camera department. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes with a triple-camera setup at the rear where the primary sensor is a 50MP Sony IMX766 lens paired with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, a mono lens with a dual-LED flash. You can zoom up to 10x and record videos at 4K 30fps with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. Additional features such as the AI Photo Enhancement and AI Video Enhancement optimise the image really well for it to look good.
The camera app is very similar to what you will see on the OnePlus 9 series. It has changed a bit from what OnePlus used to offer and seem like the camera app on the Realme phones. The additional features are present at the top of the screen while the different modes are at the bottom. OnePlus has changed the ‘Pro’ mode to ‘Expert’ mode on this device.
The night mode captures good details. The warmth and the overall colour of the images on the OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes out better than previous-generation devices. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a solid camera. The focus is absolutely on point, colours are too good, and even clicking on zoom mode doesn’t pixelate the image. Wide-angle shots on the OnePlus Nord 2 5G are decent if not the best.
For selfies, there is a 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor that captures great shots. Even in very hard sunlight, the front camera sensor took a decent image. It is even great for video calling and conferencing.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Price and Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is available in India in three different variants - 6GB+128GB for Rs 27,999, 8GB+128GB for Rs 29,999, and 12GB+256GB for Rs 34,999. It is available in three different colours - Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, and Green Woods.
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G feels like a premium smartphone, to be honest. If instead of the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI SoC it would have been Snapdragon 888 SoC, it would have surely made a place for itself in the premium segment.
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a very impressive device. It is a ‘classy mid-ranger’ in the true sense. From design to performance, everything about this smartphone is powerful and beautiful. If you are thinking about purchasing a device in the Rs 35,000 range, this can surely be a top choice for you.
