OnePlus Nord series: Premium specs at a competitive price
Do you want the speed and luxury of a top-of-the-range phone, but don’t want to pay top dollar? Then the OnePlus Nord series is the perfect choice for you. These phones are known as the ultimate ‘flagship killers’. Whether you go for the brand-new Nord 5 with its stunning 144Hz display or the budget-friendly CE models, you’ll always get lightning-fast charging, clean software and powerful performance.
- Decent performance
- Excellent 50MP camera
- Modern design
- Extra fast 80W charging
- Little difference/improvement from Nord 2
All OnePlus Nord smartphones
Which OnePlus Nord is right for you?
The Nord family is bigger than ever. To help you avoid getting lost in all the names, we’ve summarised the differences for you. That way, you can choose the device that best suits your needs straight away.
1. The Powerhouse: OnePlus Nord 5
This is the top-of-the-range model in the series. With the fastest processor, the best cameras (often featuring optical image stabilisation) and a glass body, it feels like a premium smartphone. Perfect if you do a lot of gaming or photography.
2. The Happy Medium: OnePlus Nord CE (Core Edition)
The abbreviation says it all: this phone focuses on the essentials. You get the key features of its big brother (such as 5G and an AMOLED screen), but in a slightly simpler package. The OnePlus Nord CE 5 is currently the champion in this category, offering an excellent balance between price and quality.
3. The Battery King: OnePlus Nord CE Lite
Are you looking for the lowest price and a battery that’s virtually indestructible? The Lite versions, such as the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G, often have a massive battery capacity (up to 5110mAh) and retain handy extras such as a 3.5mm audio jack and expandable storage.
Lightning-fast charging with SuperVOOC
One of the biggest advantages of choosing OnePlus is the charging speed. Whilst competitors such as Samsung or Apple often cap at 25W or 45W, the OnePlus Nord phones blow past those figures by a mile.
Most models on this list support 80W or even 100W SuperVOOC charging. In practice, this means you can charge your phone from 0% to 100% whilst having a shower and getting dressed in the morning. So no more stress about a flat battery.
OxygenOS: Clean and fast
The hardware is top-notch, but the software completes the package. The Nord series runs on OxygenOS (based on Android). This is known as one of the best operating systems: no unnecessary ad apps, smooth animations and plenty of options to customise your phone to your own taste. What’s more, on newer models such as the Nord 5 and CE 5, OnePlus is offering an increasingly long update cycle.
Cameras: More than just megapixels
Don’t get too hung up on megapixels. The strength of the OnePlus Nord cameras often lies in the Sony sensors and the software.
- OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation): Many models, including the Nord 3 and Nord 5, feature OIS. This ensures your photos remain sharp, even if your hands are shaking slightly or it’s dark.
- AI enhancement: The newer processors in the Nord series use smart AI to correct colours and exposure in real time.
