OnePlus Nord 2 is a more capable smartphone in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment in the company's portfolio. With the launch of the new Nord smartphone, customers now have two excellent options from OnePlus under Rs 30,000 - the Nord CE and the Nord 2.
While the Nord CE covers the lower spectrum of the price segment, the Nord 2 is a better smartphone for users looking for a more powerful device without spending a bomb. The Nord 2 price in India starts at Rs 27,999 for the base 6GB RAM and 128GB storage model and goes up to Rs 34,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model. There's also an 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model priced at Rs 29,999.
Talking about the Nord 2, it is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI processor, which comes with AI enhancements built on top of the standard Dimensity 1200 SoC.
There are some features that will be loved by many, and we have said the same in many words in
our OnePlus Nord 2 review, which you can read here
, and it delves in-depth into the device's overall performance. But this is also a long read. So, if you want some key takeaways around the OnePlus Nord 2, it comes with a decent display, capable cameras, and a battery that lasts long.
Here's a quick recap of the OnePlus Nord 2 review in five points that will be handy for you if you are short on time.
Point 1:
The first thing that did strike us was the premium-looking design of the OnePlus Nord 2. The smartphone comes with a glassback design with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. As a result, it feels premium and comes with curved edges that help with grip. The Nord 2 has a slight weight that helps in grip and daily use. But because it uses a glass panel, it feels slippery when used without a case or back cover. During the review, we felt that the phone could have a slightly better weight balance, with which one-hand operations could have been more comfortable. The smartphone is available in Blue Haze, Grey Sierra, and Green Wood. The design feels solid, and at no point, we felt that OnePlus has compromised on the design front. However, the biggest letdown for us was the striking similarities with the OnePlus 9. As a result, there's no element about the design of the Nord 2 that feels fresh. Right from the front panel to the rear camera placement. The phone comes with a bright and vibrant display that feels right for the price.
OnePlus 9 (on the left) and OnePlus Nord 2 (on the right)
Point 2:
Ahead of the launch of Nord 2, OnePlus marketed the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI processor as an all-new iteration of the already existing Dimensity 1200 processor. The company claimed that it has built some AI enhancements on top of the standard SoC. We tested the Nord 2 up to its limits and found that the processor is a capable one. It can handle multi-tasking, heavy-graphic games, and other everyday tasks without any hassle. We found the Nord 2 to be extremely well built for gaming, where we tested the phone with popular titles like Need for Speed, Asphalt 9, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Battlegrounds Mobile India. The phone managed to run all these games smoothly. However, during the review, we felt some heating issues when we played games for a couple of hours. Another advantage of the OnePlus Nord 2 is the OxygenOS UI, which, like always, comes with a number of good enhancements.
Point 3:
The Nord 2 also packs a decent set of cameras. We tested the phone in varied situations and found that the primary 50-megapixel camera works well in most conditions. However, the low-light performance was average. During the day, the Nord 2 can match most flagship-grade Android phones. The smartphone offers accurate details and produces decent colours. We liked the colour accuracy more on outdoor shots than in indoor photos. The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera also offers decent performance, but we fail to understand the love from the company for the 2-megapixel mono lens. It is fitted for a very limited use case, and the company could have shipped a telephoto lens. During the review, we noticed that the camera UI isn't the quickest and got stuck at times while clicking pictures, and this means, OnePlus needs to update the camera UI on the Nord 2.
Point 4:
The battery performance is another positive thing about the Nord 2. It packs a bigger battery than the original Nord. During the review, it lasted for more than a day with heavy usage and the Warp Charge 65 fast charging support is a great add-on.
Point 5:
The OnePlus Nord 2 comes with an aggressive starting price of Rs 27,999 that should help the phone against rivals. However, the Poco F3 GT has already got an advantage with a slightly lower starting price, but that should not be a deal-breaker for people who plan to buy the Nord 2. During the review, the Nord 2 performed extremely well in terms of performance, display and battery. The design is subjective, but the use of glass back increases the premium appeal. The cameras do well during the day, but low-light performance could be enhanced with software updates. Overall, the Nord 2 is definitely a phone good enough to give any premium smartphone a run for their money.