The OnePlus Nord offers flagship features for less money. That’s the easy pitch – one that suggests the company is getting back to its roots.
OnePlus first made a name for itself when it launched its debut smartphone, which offered well-balanced flagship features in 2014 at a price that beat the competition for hundreds of dollars. More recently, however, the company’s phones have come closer to the latest iPhone and Galaxy devices, but with varying degrees of success.
Now OnePlus is focusing on the mid-range segment again – and it’s doing a big deal with it too (just check out the drip feed for teasers and tech specs!). Seriously, there wasn’t much I didn’t know when the Nord finally came out earlier this week.
OnePlus’ return to mid-range smartphones is facing stiff competition from older flagships as well as the current range of budget devices. It has a large 6.4-inch screen that can be operated at 90 Hz for a smoother software experience. OnePlus has also built-in enough camera technology to ensure the Nord takes decent photos with the flexibility of a four-sensor setup. With 5G and an almost good enough processor, the price is right, although this phone is unlikely to make it to the US.
And many specs suggested the Nord might be worth the hype. A 6.4-inch 90 Hz screen, four rear cameras, two selfie cameras, and 5G capabilities. That’s a lot of flagship phone bullet points.
However, for less than $ 500 (£ 379 in the UK and EUR 399 in Europe) there are tradeoffs. If you’re considering a reduction from an older top phone or want to save hundreds over a 2020 flagship, it sure does. After a week with the OnePlus Nord, most of these compromises didn’t matter.
