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amazon OnePlus Nord reviews
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 boasts a design that is both modern and minimalistic. It features a glass front and back with a plastic frame, which might seem like a compromise compared to the metal frames found on flagship devices, but the Nord still feels solid and premium in the hand. The Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back offers decent protection against scratches and minor drops, although it’s not as durable as the latest iterations of Gorilla Glass found on higher-end models.
One of the standout design elements of the Nord is its color options. The most popular is the Blue Marble, which gives the phone a vibrant and eye-catching look. There’s also a more subdued Gray Onyx option for those who prefer a more classic appearance. The glass back has a glossy finish, which looks sleek but is a fingerprint magnet, so you might find yourself wiping it down frequently or opting for a case to keep it clean.
The phone’s dimensions (158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm) and weight (184g) make it comfortable to hold and use with one hand, although the slippery back can be a bit tricky to grip without a case. The camera module, located in the top left corner on the back, is slightly raised, which can cause the phone to wobble when placed on a flat surface. However, this is a common design trait in many modern smartphones and is not unique to the Nord.
On the right side of the device, you’ll find OnePlus’s signature alert slider, which allows you to quickly switch between silent, vibrate, and ring modes. This feature is a fan favorite and adds a layer of convenience that many other Android phones lack. The power button is located just below the alert slider, while the volume rocker is on the left side of the device. All the buttons are clicky and responsive, with a satisfying tactile feel.
At the bottom of the phone, there’s a USB-C port for charging, a single downward-firing speaker, and a SIM card slot that supports dual SIMs but no microSD card for expandable storage. This lack of expandable storage might be a drawback for some users, especially those who prefer to have a lot of media files or large apps on their devices. However, the Nord comes in 128GB and 256GB storage options, which should be sufficient for most users.
Overall, the OnePlus Nord’s design is clean and modern, with a build quality that feels premium despite the use of plastic for the frame. It’s a phone that looks and feels more expensive than it is, which is a testament to OnePlus’s design philosophy. However, the lack of water resistance and expandable storage are notable omissions that might affect some users’ purchasing decisions.
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, which is a popular choice for mid-range smartphones. This octa-core processor is paired with an Adreno 620 GPU, and the phone comes with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, depending on the model. While the Snapdragon 765G is not as powerful as the flagship Snapdragon 865 or 870 series, it offers a good balance between performance and power efficiency, making it well-suited for the Nord’s target market.
In everyday use, the OnePlus Nord performs admirably. The phone handles multitasking with ease, with apps opening quickly and running smoothly in the background. The generous amount of RAM ensures that even with multiple apps open, the phone remains responsive and fluid. The 90Hz refresh rate further enhances the user experience, making interactions feel snappy and reducing any perceived lag.
Gaming performance on the Nord is also solid. While it may not be able to handle the most demanding games at the highest settings with the same finesse as a flagship device, it still provides a smooth and enjoyable experience for most titles. Games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt 9 run well on medium to high settings, with only occasional frame rate drops during particularly intense scenes. The phone also manages heat efficiently, with the plastic frame helping to dissipate heat without making the device uncomfortable to hold during extended gaming sessions.
Benchmark scores for the OnePlus Nord place it firmly in the upper-mid-range category. In AnTuTu, the Nord scores around 320,000, which is impressive for a phone in this price range. Geekbench results show single-core scores of around 610 and multi-core scores of about 1900, again reflecting the phone’s strong performance for a mid-range device. These scores indicate that the Nord is more than capable of handling everyday tasks, including light to moderate gaming, without any significant slowdowns.
One area where the OnePlus Nord stands out is in its 5G connectivity, thanks to the Snapdragon 765G’s integrated 5G modem. This makes the Nord one of the more affordable 5G-capable smartphones on the market, which is a significant selling point for users in regions where 5G networks are being rolled out. While 5G coverage is still limited in many areas, the Nord’s future-proofing in this regard adds to its overall value proposition.
Overall, the OnePlus Nord’s performance is more than adequate for most users. It strikes a good balance between power and efficiency, delivering a smooth and responsive experience across a wide range of tasks. Whether you’re a heavy multitasker, a casual gamer, or someone who simply wants a phone that can handle the basics with ease, the Nord has you covered.
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.
where can you get a OnePlus Nord online
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
