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OnePlus Nord 5 gets a Snapdragon 8 series chipset this year, ditches the metal for glass and some more additions.
The Nord 5 builds on the metal focus of its predecessor and gives more power.
The OnePlus 13 series has proven its mettle to a large extent this year, and now the focus shifts to the latest Nord 5 series in the market. OnePlus Nord 5 has a lot of upgrades that check the list for most buyers. You get reliable hardware, the right battery size, and other essentials which includes the software.
The OnePlus Nord 5 is also priced in the Rs 30,000 bracket where the competition is intense but not very closely fought as you have devices like the Poco F7 really giving it a contest in this aspect. This is also the first Nord phone to feature the Plus Key instead of the alert slider. We got to test the Nord 5 for a week to see if it still offers good value.
The Glass Effect
OnePlus got the metallic touch with the Nord 4 last year but the new version has reverted back to glass which will have its appeal but surely less durable. In the age of lightweight devices, the Nord 5 weighs well over 200 grams and comes with 8.1mm thickness, which is neither too heavy nor too light compared to the other phones in this range.
The basic vertical camera system at the back along with a clean design approach makes the Nord 5 look different from its predecessor but not by much. It only gets IP65 rating which offers durability for dust and low pressure water jets only.
The frame is also made of plastic which again feels less premium compared to the aluminium unit on the Nord 4. We definitely liked the metal finish on the Nord 4 but this one isn’t shabby but not too appealing either.
The No-Compromise Display
While there have been some cutbacks with the design, OnePlus has thrown the kitchen sink for the display on the Nord 5. You get a large 6.83-inch AMOLED 1B colours panel with 144Hz refresh rate along with HDR10+ and decent brightness level. The screen only gets Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection which is decent but not the best you can expect in this range.
The display quality is quite good, and a big unit which makes watching content an enjoyable experience. The panel itself delivers sharp and punchy colours and the content looks vibrant because of the deep blacks. The use of the 144Hz panel is limited to games while the rest of the apps function in the 120Hz universe with a standard display.
Not Dropping The Levels
OnePlus has opted for last year’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset which is a definite upgrade on the 7+ Gen 3 version on the Nord 4. Yes, you can easily get the Poco F7 or the iQOO Neo 10 with the 8s Gen 4 SoC and get the best and latest performance, but the Nord 5 is no slouch itself and the real-life results show its actual quality.
You can enjoy playing games on the device, not only because of its size but how the hardware comes around. It also has a vapour chamber cooling system which keeps the heat away from becoming a discomfort. You also have a wide array of gaming modes which works out nicely in this sense. If you need a powerful gaming handset, the Nord 5 has to be on the list.
You also get the feature-rich OxygenOS version that has some level of pre-loadedness but not as much as the other brands in the segment. You also have the new Plus Key button replacing the alert slider and lets you customise the camera, torch, or even the silent mode.
Cameras Do Settle
Performance is the core focus on the Nord 5 but OnePlus makes sure you don’t feel like settling with the cameras. The 50MP main sensor along with an 8MP ultra-wide lens make up for the system at the back. The primary sensor does well when the conditions are bright and the subject can retain the details.
The portraits do look a bit sketchy but even here the colour tones look balanced. The low light imaging could use some improvements, especially as the sensor captures more light than needed in some cases. Even the selfie shooter is not the best in the segment and does an average job with the skin details yet again.
Running Through Well
The Nord 5 variant in India packs a massive 6,800mAh silicon carbon battery that supports 80W charging speed. The PCMark battery scores tell a different tale but the actual usage of the phone will easily coast through a day and more without really putting it through the strain.
The fast-charging support means you get around 80 percent juice in under 50 minutes. The funny thing is Poco F7 and iQOO Neo 10 pack an even bigger battery and deliver longer screen time usage but the Nord 5 is not bad by any stretch.
OnePlus Nord 5 has many good attributes and hardware is at the top of its focus. The performance from the device will keep most people happy, as well as the robust battery life on offer. The cameras are manageable and the software works in comparison to others in this segment.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
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