We Tested OnePlus Nord in the US. Here’s What We Think!
OnePlus’ last shot at the budget market
Pros
Four lens setup on the back - 48 MP lens, 119° Wide-Angle, 5 MP Depth Sensor, 2 MP Macro Lens,
Two lens setup on the front - 32MP front-facing camera ,secondary 8MP ultra-wide
90 Hz AMOLED
Up to 256 GB of storage and 12 GB RAM
5G enabled Snapdragon 765G Processor
4,115 mAh battery
Warp Charge
Cons
No wireless charging
No telephoto lens
Single speaker set-up
We were fortunate enough to be a part of the 50 member Nord Beta Program in the US and Canada. Our first impressions? They were overwhelmingly positive, but confusing at the same time.
The Nord boasts a 6.44” AMOLED display, along with an impressive 90 Hz display - a feature missing on most other budget devices. The screen covers 86% of the front and has an in-display fingerprint sensor - something OnePlus managed to borrow from the Nord’s more expensive siblings. The screen is definitely in line with the likes of flagship smartphones such as the iPhone 11 Pro and the Galaxy S20.
The back of the phone isn’t less impressive either. Four cameras are placed on a new and unique “Gray Onyx '' color, which is OnePlus lingo for a shiny gray finish. The main lens is a whopping 48 MP, along with an 8MP ultrawide lens; one that covers a huge 119° field of view. The back is also complemented by a 2 MP macro lens and a 5 MP depth sensor.
Although photos taken with the main camera’s 12 MP mode are in line with the price point of the phone, the inclusion of the wide-angle and 48 MP lens is really what makes a range of great shots possible. Switching to the 48 MP lens allows the capture of high detail shots, as good as the iPhone 11 Pro. Night mode is a great addition as well. In fact, we took it to Apple’s headquarters in California in the late evening to compare it with the iPhone’s capabilities (these photos can be found in the video in this article’s conclusion).
We wouldn’t be doing the Nord justice if we didn’t mention the capabilities of the front camera setup. The front setup comes with a 32 MP camera, great for classic one-person selfies. It also comes with a secondary 8 MP wide-angle camera, a feature absent on the latest Samsung Galaxy and iPhone, but perfect for large group or “socially-distanced” selfies.
For storage options, OnePlus offers two variants, 128 GB and 256 GB. The 128 GB option comes with 8 GB of RAM and the latter comes with 12 GB of RAM - something not found on most computers in 2020. All configurations are powered by the 5G enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor. We tested the phone’s gaming capabilities and it fared very well in PUBG Mobile, Asphalt 9, and other graphics hungry games. The Nord handled all these seamlessly at the highest settings.
When it comes to juice, OnePlus packed this beast with a huge 4,115 mAh battery, something pretty much non-existent on other budget phones. In our tests, it lasted a day or two depending on daily usage.
But, the Nord isn’t perfect. Considering the low price of the phone, OnePlus was forced to cut some corners. The Nord lacks wireless charging - but is redeemed by OnePlus’ flagship Warp Charge technology. It also lacks a telephoto lens, something that would have been a better alternative to the included macro lens and depth sensor. Also, the single-speaker set-up, though it does get quite loud, is definitely inferior to a more commendable dual-speaker set-up. It’s really up to the consumer on whether these features are worth the price cut. Overall, we really think that the features OnePlus hasn’t been able to provide don’t compromise the experience.
Conclusion:
The phone is an undoubtedly good competitor in the $400-500 price range. The combination of a 5G Snapdragon 765G, 8-12GB of RAM, and a 90Hz AMOLED makes this a good deal even for phones in the $700-800 price range. OnePlus has done a great job crafting the Nord to embrace their roots: flagship performance for a not so flagship price. The Nord has kept up OnePlus’ former glory of being the “flagship killer.”
The confusion we had mentioned in the article’s introduction was simply this: why isn’t Nord available in the U.S and Canada yet? We received this phone through a beta test in the U.S and Canada, and after checking it out, we see no reason for the company not to introduce it!
And on that note, to everyone in the U.S. and Canada - we would hold off on importing the Nord until they officially bring it over. It doesn’t work on all carriers or with U.S. and Canadian 5G yet.
OnePlus is known for being a company that creates phones to “kill” big brand name flagships. And, the OnePlus 9T would be no different! But, with the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro already being great phones, some tech enthusiasts are questioning the need for a phone in the middle.