OnePlus Nord 2 5G was officially launched in July 2021 as a replacement for the original Nord that was launched in India last year. The Nord series is the brand’s latest attempt to make phones more affordable, in keeping with the company’s slogan ‘Never Settle’. The Nord 2 is a true successor to the Nord in every way, it’s more feature-packed, more powerful, and has a stylish design with a larger battery. We’ve got the OnePlus Nord 2 Wood Green hands-on to find out what it has to offer. Let’s get started! OnePlus announces it will combine OxygenOS and ColorOS to build better products in 2022.
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OnePlus Nord 2 5G (file photo)
Design: The leather-like Christmas tree look is the first thing you notice when you pick up the phone. The leather-like finish gives the design a premium touch and even makes it smudge and fingerprint resistant. Although the phone weighs the same as the original Nord at 184kg, it feels a bit heavier than its predecessor. Thanks to the leather-coated back, the handset feels premium and comfortable to hold. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a sleek design with curved edges.
Also read | OnePlus announces to combine OxygenOS and ColorOS to build better products in 2022
There is a rectangular bump that houses a triple rear camera setup very similar to the one on the OnePlus 9. On the sides, there are traditional volume rockers on the left and a power button and alert slider on the right. At the bottom, there is a SIM tray, a single speaker, a main microphone and a Type-C port. There is also a second microphone on the top that provides better sound and clear voice.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G (file photo)
Advertisement: The Nord 2 5G has a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It has thin bezels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The panel has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels with 410 ppi and supports HDR10+ for a vivid quality. The chin looks a bit thicker. There is also a punch-hole cutout in the top left corner that houses the front camera. Overall, the Nord 2’s display is vibrant, responsive, and feels premium when streaming online content on Netflix and Prime.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G (file photo)
Processor: The OnePlus Nord 2 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI, making it the most powerful Nord phone yet. The chipset is paired with an ARM G77 MC9 GPU and up to 12GB of RAM. We have been using the top-end variant for the past few weeks. From multitasking to demanding gaming, the handset is capable of almost everything. We played games like Battleground Mobile India, Asphalt 8, and a few others. The handset handled the graphics pretty well and there was no lag whatsoever. In fact, to our surprise, there was no heating issue while playing such demanding games.
Sample image taken on OnePlus Nord 2 5G (File photo)
Camera: This is one area where OnePlus has made significant improvements with the Nord devices. It features a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with f/1.88 aperture and supports IOS for balanced and sharp images. The main lens is supported by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2MP mono lens.
Sample selfie on the OnePlus Nord 2 5G (file photo)
Up front, the device features a single 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor. Note that the original Nord smartphone featured a 32MP dual front camera. Selfies taken in daylight were very detailed and natural. However, those taken in low light were quite good considering the conditions. In portrait mode, the captured image looks very natural and creates a clean bokeh effect.
The Nord 2 5G’s camera app is very similar to that of the OnePlus 9 series. It supports 4K video recording at 30fps, super slow motion videos at 1080p and 120fps, as well as AI photo enhancement and AI video enhancement.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G (file photo)
Battery & Operating System: As for the battery, the OnePlus Nord 2 gets a larger 4500mAh battery with 65W Warp Charge. The fast charging works pretty well. It can charge the handset from 0 to 100 percent in just over 35 minutes. Despite heavy usage of streaming apps and games, the battery drains evenly. Note that the display runs at a higher refresh rate of 90Hz. While testing the handset, we didn’t notice any unusual battery drain issues.
The operating system, on the other hand, is an aspect that OnePlus is known for. A simple, clean and less bloated experience is what all OnePlus users have been touting so far. It runs OxygenOS 11.3 on top of Android 11. The review unit was running the July patch when we tested the model. The device came with pre-installed apps like Netflix, Google Pay and OnePlus apps.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G (file photo)
Verdict: To sum up, the OnePlus Nord 2 is a capable phone at an affordable price. If you are looking for a well-equipped mid-range device, the OnePlus Nord 2 should be on your list. Currently, the Nord 2 is one of the best mid-range devices to buy. It is available in three variants – 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB, and 12GB + 256GB. Prices for the phone start at Rs 27,999 and go up to Rs 34,999.
