OnePlus Nord 2 5G

Outstanding design, solid build.

No official IP rating.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a worthy smartphone offering an excellent pick of flagship features and sold at a very lucrative price - a flagship killer, if you will. One that easily earns our recommendation.

90Hz display ; Smooth everyday performance ; Software keeps out of the way

Photos lack accuracy ; Pointless monochrome sensor ; No headphone jack

The OnePlus Nord 2 is the company’s latest midrange smartphone. It feels much more like a stripped down flagship than its predecessor, but its limited focus means it does a great job at delivering where it counts.

Speedy performance ; Stylish, restrained design ; Great main camera ; Good battery life + fast charging

Rivals offer better hardware value for money ; No wireless charging support ; Poor ultra-wide camera ; Lack of IP rating

The Nord 2 takes OnePlus back to its flagship killer routes with a balanced mid-range phone that nails most of the essentials.

One of the faster phones in this price class ; Designed like a flagship with a premium glass back ; Epic charging speeds: full charge takes around 30 minutes ; Big improvements to the camera ; Solid battery life ; Incredible value

Tends to heat up with heavier use ; No microSD card support, no IP water protection rating ; No wireless charging ; No headphone jack ; Only 2 years of software updates (3 years of security updates)

Display ; It’s large and bright, and has a 90Hz refresh rate. ; Performance ; This MediaTek chip is every bit as fast as its Qualcomm equivalent. ; Software ; It may be ColorOS, but it’s still easy to use and full-featured. ; Battery ; Close to two-day...

Rear cameras ; The main sensor is okay, but it's not super consistent and the phone is let down further by the poor ultrawide and lack of optical zoom. ; Design ; It’s well put together, but it's ultimately a boring slab that doesn't stand out from the...

Premium build quality and feel ; Great specs for the price ; Camera array is solid

Screen is only 90Hz ; No IPX rating

The OnePlus Nord 2 is an excellent addition to OnePlus’s roster that fits with its core ideal - bringing excellent specs and features at lower prices than the competition. You get great performance, an excellent camera array, and OnePlus’s signature...

90 Hz AMOLED screen ; High-end MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI SoC ; Does not overheat ; Warp Charge 65T ; Solid battery life ; 50 MP main camera lens captured good detail ; 2 Android versions and 3 years of security updates ; Efficient night mode

No dedicated telephoto lens ; No wireless charging/IP rating/microSD port/3.5mm jack ; Unreliable colorimetry in photos ; Inferior photo processing software compared to the OnePlus 9 ; High Performance Mode doesn't tell much

Does the OnePlus Nord 2 offer everything you want in a flagship less than €400? No. But should we give a damn? Or can we give a damn? Yes and no. On the one hand, I always use the manufacturer's promise as a plumb line for my reviews. It is the...