Oneplus Nord 2

Are you looking for a cheaper alternative to the OnePlus flagship smartphone? The brand has brought OnePlus Nord 2. It brings all the semi-flagship features you need i.e. Fluid AMOLED screen, In-display FR, Dimensity 1200-AI chipset, 5G connectivity, massive RAM and ROM, brilliant cameras, and a long-life battery with 65W Fast Charge.

Pros

High-Res Cam with EIS OIS

Solid Performance (6nm chip)

100% life in 30min (65W Charge)

Cons

Plastic body (No IP rating)

No 120Hz, just 90Hz

No audio jack

Design

The front is identical to the original Nord. The only difference on front is a single selfie lens rather than a dual. On the back, there is a triple camera setup cornered to the left, also holding a LED flash. Following the footsteps, Nord 2 lacks a 3.5 mm jack sadly. Fingerprint Sensor remains under the screen, working fast as of predecessor.

Instead of Metal, Nord 2 (despite being a mid-ranger) is fabricated with Plastic, shielded by Gorilla Glass 5 for both front and back. Avoid splashes, as it has no IP rating. Only 5 grams weightier than the previous Nord, or just say it weighs in at 189 grams.

Display

Measuring 6.43 inches diagonally, Nord 2 display wraps up 85.8% of the front. The technology being used is Fluid AMOLED, which shows deep blacks and eye-searing contrast. Having a 20:9 aspect ratio, the OnePlus mobile offers a wide range of dynamic colors and views, thanks to HDR10+. The given 90Hz refresh rate is okay, but the downside is the absence of 120Hz mode (while other phones in the same price range carrying 120Hz display).

Software

Android 11, wrapped in OxygenOS 11.3, offers all modern features i.e. better navigation, dynamic media controls, built-in screen recorder, greater control over the conversation, notification history (recalling cleared notifications), and temporary permission for apps for better privacy, and Schedule Dark Theme.

Camera

Sony IMX766 50MP lens is holding the responsibility of the main camera. It can take outstanding shots, thanks to its wide f/1.9 aperture for capturing more light. 4k movie option is available, oh-yes along with Optical and Electronic Image Stabilization. The saturation level, dynamic range, and white balance are all okay. Secondary is an 8MP ultrawide lens, having an f/2.3 aperture and 119-degree field of view. A 2MP monochrome makes it fun with black and white photos. You won't regret a 32-Megapixel Selfie Camera (Sony IMX615), quite impressive.

Internals

Switching to MediaTek from Snapdragon is aggressive, but thankfully the chip OnePlus used is a top-tier one. Dimensity 1200-AI chip is built on 6nm node, working better than 7nm SD765 SoC of previous Nord. Scoring 624,572 on the AnTuTu benchmark, OnePlus Nord 2 plays PUBG and other games efficiently. Two memory configurations are there, 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM, while 12GB RAM and 256GB Storage. No card slot means you have to choose carefully.

With a 4500 mAh battery, the OnePlus Nord 2 bears 24 hours of talk time, 16 hours of web browsing, and 16 hours of video playback. Compatible with a 65-watt fast charge, the device took 30 minutes to go from 1% to 100%.

Verdict

If you can manage with a 90Hz screen, there is no reason to leave behind the OnePlus Nord 2 at this price point, especially when it comes to a fast charger. To have more in your bucket, you need to pay more. Or else, choose an alternative from OnePlus sister companies like Oppo and Vivo. A non-Chinese competitor in this price range is Samsung Galaxy A52 5G.