new mid-range powerhouse
OnePlus has expanded its budget-friendly smartphone range with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. The Nord 2 succeeds the first Nord with improvements to the camera, performance, charging and design. The phone has a suggested retail price starting at 399 euros.
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OnePlus North 2 5G
The Nord series appears to be a success for OnePlus. The OnePlus Nord N100, OnePlus Nord CE 5G and OnePlus Nord N10 5G are affordable phones for a large target group. The OnePlus Nord and the new OnePlus Nord 2 are phones with flagship features for an attractive price. The phones have therefore taken over a number of parts of the high-end smartphones from OnePlus, but cost a lot less.
Powerful chipset with 5G and smooth screen
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G first comes with the Dimensity 1200, MediaTek’s most powerful chipset with 5G modem. OnePlus opted for a midrange chipset for the first Nord. This chipset is similar to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 and OnePlus wants the super users to put on. The Dimensity 1200 gets the AI addition to highlight the new AI capabilities for the Nord 2.
The OnePlus Nord 2 has a 6.44 inch Fluid AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. This refresh rate makes images appear smoother. New features on the Nord 2 include AI Color Boost and AI Resolution Boost. These should enhance the colors of popular apps like VLC Player and YouTube.
Specifications
| OnePlus North CE 5G | |
| Housing: | Glass |
| Dimensions and weight: | 158.9 x 73.2 x 8.25mm, 189 grams |
| Screen: | 6.43″ AMOLED (HD+ 2400 x 1080 pixels), 410 ppi, 20:9, 90 Hz |
| Processor: | MediaTek Dimension 1200-AI |
| Random access memory: | 8GB + 12GB |
| Storage Memory: | 128GB + 256GB |
| Rear cameras: | 50MP main camera with OIS, 8MP wide-angle camera, 2MP mono camera |
| Cameras for: | 32MP |
| Battery: | 4,500mAh, Warp Charge 65 |
| Android version: | OxygenOS 11.3, based on Android 11 |
| Extras: | 5G, in-screen fingerprint scanner, Alert Slider |
| To colour: | Blue Haze, Gray Sierra |
| Recommended retail price: | From 399 euros |
50 MP camera with optical image stabilization
The OnePlus Nord 2 gets a 50 MP camera with optical image stabilization. Here we see that the mid-range phone gets the same main camera from the high-end OnePlus 9 series. This Sony IMX766 camera sensor is not only larger than the IMX586 of the first Nord, but the camera also comes with optical image stabilization. We don’t see OIS very often with phones in the middle segment.
The phone also focuses heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) for the cameras and works with an improved Nightscape night function. Sony’s larger IMX766 sensor allows more light to enter, which also helps improve nighttime shots.
The double selfie camera of the first Nord makes way for a single, and therefore also a smaller, camera notch in the screen. There is also an 8 MP wide-angle camera and a 2 MP mono camera.
Super fast charging and dual speakers
Another improvement over the Nord is the battery. The first Nord has a 4,115 mAh battery and Warp Charge 30T. This charges the phone up to 70 percent within half an hour. The Nord 2 gets a 4500 mAh battery with Warp Charge 65. This charges it to 100 percent within half an hour.
Following feedback from the community, the Nord 2 has been given dual speakers. The phone also features haptic vibration 2.0.
OxygenOS 11.3
The Nord 2 comes with OxygenOS 11.3, OnePlus’ latest software shell. OxygenOS 11 includes major upgrades including Dark Mode and Zen Mode, one-handed operation, and several always-on display (AOD) options. There is also a new Games app that includes support for Discord.
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G will receive Android updates for two years and security updates for three years, as will the OnePlus Nord and OnePlus Nord CE.
What does the OnePlus Nord 2 not have?
The OnePlus Nord 2 does not have a 3.5mm audio jack like the Nord CE 5G. As with the other Nord phones, there is no IP68 certification either. OnePlus does say that the phone can be submerged in 30 cm deep water for 30 minutes. Wireless and reverse charging is also missing but, like the IP certification, these are not features that are standard in the mid-range.
Buy OnePlus Nord 2 5G
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G will be available for purchase from July 28 via OnePlus.com, Coolblue, T-Mobile and Mobiel.nl. If you purchase the OnePlus Nord 2 5G on OnePlus.com during the pre-order period, you will receive the device from July 26. In addition, you get extra benefits such as a 10% discount on a Nord 2 phone case and screen protector and a 50% discount on the OnePlus Buds Z.
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is available in several colors and storage configurations:
- Buy OnePlus Nord 2 5G (8GB+128GB – Blue Haze, Gray Sierra) – OnePlus.com – 399 euros
- Obuy nePlus Nord 2 5G (12GB + 256GB -Blue Haze, Gray Sierra) – OnePlus.com – 499 euros
