OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G Review

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is an Android device that was released in India on 17 February 2022 that supports a 5G network connection. We got a look at the device's design in the brand's teaser trailer. The power button is on the right side of the device, and the volume up and down controls are on the left side. The gadget has a flat display with a single punch-hole cut out for the selfie or front camera, which is placed to the Left. The device includes a triple rear camera arrangement on the back. It is manufactured in India by OPPO Mobiles India Private Limited. OnePlus Nord CE 2 is available in two color variants, i.e., Gray Mirror and Bahama Blue finishes.

Device Specifications

1) Dimensions

This device is pretty slimmer, with a thickness of 7.8mm and a weight of 173 grams. It has a height of 16.06cm and a width of 7.32cm.

2) Display

i) Parameters

It has a display of 6.43 inches with 2400 x 1080 pixels resolution. The aspect ratio is 20:9 with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It is HDR10+ certified and made up of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 material.

ii) Features

This device supports Ambient Display, Dark Mode, and AI Color Enhancement.

3) Performance

This device supports Oxygen Operating System, which is based on Android 11. It has a storage of 128 GB with RAM of 6GB/8GB. It has a 65W 4,500 mAh battery that can stay up to one full day with only fifteen minutes of charging.

4) Camera

This device has 16 Megapixels camera at the front and a triple setup of the rear camera at the back which includes 64 Megapixels Main Rear Camera, 8 Megapixels Ultra-Wide Rear Camera, and 2 Megapixels Rear Macro Lens. It supports video at 1080p. The camera can zoom up to 0.6x - 20x with Multi Autofocus.

Its camera supports AI Scene Enhancement, AI Highlight Video, Dual-view Video, HDR, Nightscape, Portrait mode, Panorama, Retouching, Filters, Screen Flash, and Face Unlock. It also consists of an LED Flash.

5) Sensors

It consists of various sensors, including an In-display fingerprint sensor for easy password verification, an Accelerometer to track and measure the acceleration of the movements of the device, an Electronic compass to show the direction over maps, a Gyroscope that enables the user to navigate in the device just by tilting it, Ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the screen light, Proximity sensor, and Sensor core.

6) Ports

This device consists of three ports:

A 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB 2.0 Type C charging port, and a Triple Slot port that can contain Two Sim and One Micro SD Card.

7) Buttons

It supports gestures and on-screen navigation. The button on the Left is the Volume key, and the button on the Right is the Power key.

8) Audio

It consists of Super Linear Speaker and Noise Cancellation Support.

What Comes In The Box?

The device OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G, a 65W SUPERVOOC power adapter, a Cable (supports USB 2.0), a Phone case, a pre-applied Screen protector, a SIM tray ejector, a Welcome letter, a Brand sticker, a Red Cable Club membership card, Quick start guide, Safety information, and warranty card are the accessories that are present in the box.

Review

The phones in the OnePlus Nord series have continuously provided excellent value for the money. Two years ago, the original Nord set the standard for the market it served. Since then, we've got the OnePlus Nord 2, its upgraded version, and the OnePlus Nord CE, or Core Edition, which has emerged as the new entry point to the entire OnePlus smartphone experience. OnePlus launched the Nord CE's newer version called the Nord CE 2.

• Price

For 6GB of RAM and 8GB of RAM, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 costs Rs. 23,999 and Rs. 24,999, respectively. There is no 12GB version of this phone. Both versions of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 have 128GB of storage.

• Design And Display

The Nord CE2 prefers simplicity over being fancy and chooses a subtle design over some of the flashier designs we've seen from other brands. The Bahama Blue edition of the phone is a great, vibrantcolor, but it has an understated appearance and might not instantly attract attention.

The phone takes several design influences from the OPPO Reno7 5G. It has a flat-screen up front and a glass back that gently curves and fits into the frame. The camera module is set up in a bump that appears and feels like glass, which looks interesting, while the polycarbonate back is simple with the OnePlus logo in the center. Although the back panel is still made of plastic, the display is now constructed of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. This shiny coating has the unfortunate side effect of being a major fingerprint magnet. The previously mentioned module features two large camera sensors, along with a smaller sensor on the side and a flash.

A power key can be seen on the right side, while the left side holds the SIM tray and separate volume keys. The product is well-made and comfortable in the hand, giving the impression that it costs more than its asking price. It is small, light, and, at 7.8mm, also quite slimmer. It is appreciated that OnePlus includes a sturdy-looking case and a pre-applied screen protector along with the box, immediately providing effortless use of the phone.

• Cameras

The 64MP camera produces unexpectedly high-quality photos in daylight. The photographs have excellent color accuracy and are properly exposed. Even with some over-sharpening, the 16MP image's detail and resolution are outstanding.

The image has problems mostly with contrast and dynamic range. We can't even see what the sensor is actually capable of because there isn't a RAW capture, which is disappointing.

The phone has no telephoto lenses. Therefore, all zooming is carried out digitally, and zooming more drastically decreases the quality of the photograph.

As we move on to the ultra-wide camera, we are grateful for the noticeably greater field of view that is provided. However, the limited 8MP sensor only produces images of average quality, with little detail and resolution.

The main camera's 4K video is essentially useless. Although the image quality is good, there is no stabilization at all. Even if you try your best to replicate a tripod, the video you get is highly unstable. There is no purpose in shooting in 4K on this phone unless you use a real tripod.

• Battery life

The Nord CE2 has a strong battery life. The 65W SUPERVOOC charger is included with the phone from OnePlus. A full charge takes 45 minutes with the included charger, while a 15-minute charge yields 48% battery from 1%. Even if you attach one of the older OnePlus chargers, SUPERVOOC appears on the screen.

• Performance

Performance wasn't really a problem with the OnePlus Nord CE, and it's not a problem at all with the CE 2. It comes pre-installed with OxygenOS 11, not OxygenOS 12, which is the same version with which the OnePlus 9RT was introduced. There are several shortcuts and gestures to experiment with, and everything moves quickly and smoothly. According to OnePlus's guarantee, the Nord CE 2 will receive three years of security upgrades and two years of Android updates. The face recognition is swift, and the in-display fingerprint sensor performs wonderfully. On the OnePlus Nord CE 2's display, videos, in general, looked excellent. The brightness was more than adequate, and the colors had good saturation and impact.

Games and films on the OnePlus Nord CE 2's screen looked excellent. Even with rapid multiplayer titles like Call of Duty: Mobile, the touch sensitivity works quite well. Stereo speakers would have improved the experience. However, any wired earbuds can be plugged into the device's earphone jack for lag-free listening. The back of the phone may slightly heat up for playing video games continuously for some time, but not in a way that's unbearable.

Conclusion

Overall, it's a phone worth taking a closer look at, but only after weighing all of your options. If you haven't already purchased an earlier model, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is a great buy. The performance of this model is enhanced in comparisonto the original. It's essentially an Oppo Reno 7 that costs less but doesn't have the annoying spamming apps, which is a good deal.

The Nord CE 2 has a high-end design, solid performance, long battery life, lightning-fast charging, and decent still-photography cameras. Its weakness is video recording, but aside from that, it's difficult to find anyproblem. The battery life and user interface of the Nord CE 2 5G are the two vital points. Hardcore gamers could still find the performance to be lacking, and the cameras may require a little effort. The absence of the stereo speakers is annoying. One can use the memory expansion slot and 3.5mm headphone jack without sacrificing dual-SIM features. The display does not actually support HDR, despite what the manufacturer claims.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is far from perfect, and it lacks a few things that other smartphones in this market do have. Although they are not a deal-breaker, having these would be good.

In conclusion, the Nord CE 2 should be suitable for most cases if you're a casual photographer, but it might not be the right choice if you're seeking more from your camera.