OnePlus Nord – Not outstanding, but good all-round
Why would I rate the OnePlus Nord a “not out” smartphone? Indeed, at OnePlus Nord, we can hardly find anything that makes OnePlus Nord a superior smartphone in this price segment.
If OPPO is always featured in the camera factor, especially the selfie camera with many unique features, even has super-fast SuperVOOC 2.0 charging, or Xiaomi has an attractive performance over price, then with OnePlus Nord, the device gives a very normal, normal experience in almost all factors, from the screen, camera, fast charging to battery life …
However, ordinary things are inherently good, don’t we always want a normal life? OnePlus Nord does well in every respect, and users can count on it.
Unlike the “brother” OPPO Reno, the OnePlus Nord is equipped with a more advanced glossy glass back with curved sides. This design is indeed a very ordinary design, but it gives a very good grip experience, both luxurious and sturdy, not rickety like smartphones with plastic backs.
Of course, in the lower segment, the back of the OnePlus Nord is not designed as matte as the OnePlus 8 Pro. In return, the feeling of holding OnePlus Nord in your hand is better due to the lighter machine. For those who always appreciate the compactness and use two smartphones at the same time as me, the OnePlus Nord I appreciate this factor.
Design and Build Quality
The OnePlus Nord has a design that feels kinda modern , but also minimal if you look closer. You get a glass front and back along with a plastic frame, so yeah it might seem like a small compromise compared to those metal frames you see on flagship phones, however still the Nord feels sturdy enough and honestly a little premium when you hold it , in a way that surprises you. On the front and the rear there is Gorilla Glass 5, it does provide pretty good protection from scuffs and small falls, though it’s not quite as tough as the newest Gorilla Glass versions used in higher end models.
A thing that really stands out is the color options. The most picked one is Blue Marble and it gives the device this bright lively look that catches your eye. There’s also Gray Onyx, more muted and polished, for people who want something more classic. The glass back has a glossy finish, looks slick and “fresh” but it also acts like a fingerprint magnet, so expect to wipe it down more than you’d like, or just use a case to keep the surface looking clean.
In terms of the size, it measures 158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm and weighs 184g, so it’s pretty comfortable for one hand use, even if the back can feel a little slick. The camera bump sits at the top left on the back, and it’s slightly raised, which can make the phone wobble a bit when you set it on a table. Still, this is a fairly normal trait across a lot of today’s smartphones, not exactly something only the Nord does, you know?
On the right side of the device, you’ll find OnePlus’s signature alert slider , it lets you switch pretty fast between silent vibrate, and ring modes. Honestly this bit is a fan favorite and it adds this small layer of convenience that a lot of other Android phones just do not have. The power button is placed just below the alert slider , meanwhile the volume rocker sits on the left side of the device. The buttons themselves are clicky and responsive, with a kind of satisfying tactile feel.
Down at the bottom of the phone, there’s a USB-C port for charging, a single speaker firing downward, and a SIM card slot that supports dual SIMs but not microSD card support for extra storage. That missing expandability could be a real drawback for some people, especially those who like to keep loads of media files or bigger apps on their device. That said, the Nord comes with 128GB and 256GB storage choices, so for most users it should be enough.
Overall, the OnePlus Nord’s design feels clean and modern, and the build quality comes across as premium even though the frame is made from plastic. It’s a phone that looks and feels more expensive than the price tag suggests , which fits OnePlus’s design philosophy pretty well. Still, no water resistance, and the absence of expandable storage are both notable gaps that might swing a few buyers , depending on what they care about.
The OnePlus Nord’s display is also nothing short of striking. The device is equipped with a 6.44 inch Fluid AMOLED screen, Full HD + resolution, and a 90Hz refresh rate. This screen has a “mole” design with a 32MP + 8MP dual selfie camera, it can be seen that it is quite similar to the previous OPPO Reno3 series.
Due to the use of the screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, the experience of using OnePlus Nord is very smooth, especially when combined with the OxygenOS platform, which has always been rated as the smoothest user interface on Android.
The in-display fingerprint sensor is also an indispensable feature. This fingerprint sensor provides fast and accurate unlocking speed.
The only thing that makes me unhappy with the design of the OnePlus Nord is that the screen of the device is not designed with two curved edges. Compared to OPPO Reno4 Pro which has a lower price, it is clear that the OnePlus Nord’s screen (not talking about display quality) is not appreciated by me. The curved edge screen makes for an easier swipe experience, especially with Back or Home gestures
The camera continues to be a “normal” element of the OnePlus Nord. It has a cluster of 4 main cameras including: 48MP f / 1.8 wide-angle camera, 8MP f / 2.3 super wide-angle camera, 5MP f / 2.4 depth-measuring camera and 2MP f / 2.4 macro camera.
Photo was taken from the main camera of OnePlus Nord. In general, like the OnePlus 8 Pro, the photo produced by the Nord camera tends to be realistic and the color is a bit lighter than most other smartphones on the market. The dynamic range is quite good and the detail is quite good. In terms of night and portrait photography, the camera also handles quite well, night shots are low noise, bright enough and portrait photos are quite good at separating the background from the subject, although there are still flaws.
With a strong configuration, combined with an optimized ultra-smooth OxygenOS platform, OnePlus Nord becomes an Android smartphone with a smoothness comparable to the iPhone. OxygenOS interface is also designed in a minimalistic style that is not flashy, almost the same as the original Android. This is considered the “heart” of OnePlus smartphones.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset ,and honestly it is kind of a go to pick for mid-range smartphones. You get an octa-core setup inside, along with the Adreno 620 GPU, then the device shows up with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM depending on which variant you grab. Now the Snapdragon 765G is not in the same league as the flagship Snapdragon 865 or 870 line, but it does bring a pretty solid balance between speed and power efficiency, which feels right for the Nord’s intended crowd.
Day to day, the OnePlus Nord works pretty well. Multitasking feels effortless, apps launch quick and stay calm in the background. Having that generous RAM helps a lot too, because even with several apps running at the same time, the phone still feels snappy, responsive and fluid. Plus the 90Hz refresh rate gives everything a smoother feel, so swipes and taps seem faster, and any “oops” lag you might notice on slower panels is basically reduced.
For gaming, it’s also decent, like honestly it holds up pretty well. It might not squeeze out the same high-settings finesse as you get on the top flagship hardware, but most games still feel smooth and enjoyable. Stuff like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt 9 usually runs nicely on medium to high settings, and you only get the occasional frame rate dip when things get really intense . Also the heat control is surprisingly well managed, the plastic frame seems to help move heat away, so after longer sessions the device doesn’t feel too uncomfortable in your hand.
Benchmark scores for the OnePlus Nord put it pretty firmly in the upper mid-range bucket. In AnTuTu, the Nord lands around 320,000, which is pretty impressive for a phone at this price. Geekbench results show single-core scores near 610 and multi-core scores around 1900, which, again, points to strong performance for a mid-range device . So overall these numbers suggest the Nord can handle day to day tasks, and even light to moderate gaming, without any big slowdowns.
One area where the OnePlus Nord really sort of stands out is in its 5G connectivity , mostly because the Snapdragon 765G has an integrated 5G modem kind of built in. So the Nord ends up being one of the more budget friendly 5G-ready phones out there, and that’s a pretty big selling point for people in places where 5G is still being rolled out , like in some regions that are a bit slower or where coverage arrives later. Even though 5G coverage is still a bit limited in many areas, this “future ready” angle with the Nord kind of stacks up nicely and it boosts the overall value.
Overall, the OnePlus Nord’s performance is, honestly, more than good enough for most users. It keeps a decent balance between power and efficiency, and you get a smooth, quick feel across a lot of everyday activities. Whether you’re the type who multitasks a lot, or you’re more of a casual gamer,or you just want a phone that does the basics without much fuss, the Nord has you sorted.
Should I buy the OnePlus Nord?
If you are willing to invest in 5G and do not need to upgrade in 1-2 years, the OnePlus Nord 5G will be a worthy choice in the mid-range / high-end segment.
OnePlus Nord N100 (64GB, 4GB) 6.52″ 90Hz Display, Snapdragon, 5000mAh, Dual SIM GSM Unlocked Global 4G LTE (T-Mobile, AT&T, Metro, Straight Talk) International Model (Midnight Frost, 64GB SD Bundle): Buy it now
OnePlus Nord 5G AC2003 EU/UK Model 8GB+128GB Dual Sim International Version GSM – Blue Marble: Buy it now
ONEPLUS Nord 5G AC2003 EU/UK Model 8GB+128GB Dual Sim International Version GSM – Onyx Gray: Buy it now
ONEPLUS Nord 5G AC2003 EU/UK Model 12GB+256GB Dual Sim International Version GSM – Marble Blue: Buy it now
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.
