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MagyarOnePlus Nord 2 5G smartphone review: High-quality phone for little money
High-end smartphones are getting increasingly expensive, but you can also find fast, high-quality smartphones that meet higher requirements in the range of 400 to 500 Euros (~$472 to ~$590) now. One of the pioneers of this evolution is OnePlus. Several years ago, the Chinese company surprised the world with the OnePlus One, a low-priced device that was dubbed the "flagship killer".
The subsequent generations made the manufacturer popular in the West as well, resulting in smartphones from OnePlus now being found in many trouser pockets, backpacks, or handbags. However, the company quickly found itself forced to sell the devices at increasingly higher prices, which caused OnePlus to move further and further away from its original claim. It wasn't until last year with the OnePlus Nord that a genuinely inexpensive smartphone that was fast and also very well equipped with 5G and a 90 Hz display was available again.
At first glance, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G already offers some improvements this year: Stereo speakers, a larger battery, faster charging, and faster Wi-Fi. That does sound promising. Needless to say, however, we won't trust the manufacturer's advertising blindly, but we'll take a very close look at the OnePlus Nord 2 5G ourselves instead.
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85.1 % | 08/2021 | OnePlus Nord 2 5G Dimensity 1200, Mali-G77 MP9 | 189 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.43" | 2400x1080 | |
| 83.6 % | 07/2020 | OnePlus Nord SD 765G, Adreno 620 | 184 g | 256 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.44" | 2440x1080 | |
| 85.4 % | 05/2021 | Motorola Moto G100 SD 870, Adreno 650 | 207 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 2520x1080 | |
| 85.9 % | 05/2021 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G SD 780G 5G, Adreno 642 | 159 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.55" | 2400x1080 | |
| 83 % | 04/2021 | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G SD 750G 5G, Adreno 619 | 189 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 |
Case – Plastic and Gorilla Glass
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is available in three colors worldwide: Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, and Green Woods, although the latter isn't available in Central Europe. All colors come with slightly different finishes, but they always feature a smooth glass surface. Gorilla Glass 5 is used on the back as well as on the front.
In terms of design, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is inspired by the more expensive OnePlus models, namely the OnePlus 9. The sides of the screen are flat, and the material transitions are quite smooth. Minor tradeoffs have to be put up with when it comes to the material of the frame: Only plastic is used here. As a medium-sized smartphone, the device could also be an option for users with somewhat smaller hands.
There's no IP certification. Regarding water and dust protection, OnePlus says that all their devices undergo the same tests and that they shouldn't be affected by fresh water in principle. Nevertheless, just like with the vast majority of smartphones with IP certifications, there's no guarantee against water damage. Therefore, users are responsible for any damage. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G was at least able to survive a soak under the faucet without any problems in our test.
Connectivity – OnePlus with a lot of storage
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G has borrowed both the storage variants as well as the prices from its predecessor:
- 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage: 399 Euros (~$471)
- 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage: 499 Euros (~$589)
However, the storage has become even faster since it's of the UFS 3.1 type now, something that's still rarely found in this price range. A microSD can't be used in the OnePlus Nord 2; this is only available in the very low-priced OnePlus Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 models.
A USB-C port is found at the bottom of the smartphone, which offers USB 2.0 speed and is also in charge of audio output. NFC and Bluetooth 5.2 are on board.
Software – OxygenOS with three years of updates
The manufacturer has named its custom interface OxygenOS 11.3; it's based on Android 11, but it still offers an independent design and some additional features. For example, the look of the icons can be changed. The fact that the interface's controls are mainly located in the lower half of the display so that they can be reached more easily has been borrowed from Samsung's OneUI. However, it still makes sense, especially for users with smaller hands.
OnePlus installs its own apps like its gallery, for example, but there's hardly any third-party software apart from Netflix. Many apps can also be simply uninstalled when they're not used. A DRM-L1 certification is available, allowing users to enjoy streaming content in HD quality as well.
At the time of testing, the security patches are from June 2021; therefore, they should be brought up to date again soon. The manufacturer promises two years of new operating system versions and three years of security updates.
Communication and GNSS – Wi-Fi 6 in the Nord phone
Wi-Fi 5 is usually the best you can get in the price range of the OnePlus smartphone, but the Nord 2 even comes with Wi-Fi 6, i.e. WLAN according to the 802.11ax standard. Consequently, it also proves to be very fast in our tests with the Netgear Nighhawk AX12 reference router, but there are similarly expensive smartphones like the Motorola Moto G100 or the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G that are able to keep up.
It's nice that the OnePlus phone supports multiple 4G frequencies, because this means that you have very little restrictions when you're traveling. Of course, 5G is also available, and the range of frequencies has also been expanded compared with the predecessor. The 4G network reception is quite decent during our test, even indoors, and we usually get 4/5 bars. There are many smartphones that manage less than that.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G100 | |
| OnePlus Nord | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G100 | |
| OnePlus Nord | |
| Average of class Smartphone (last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | |
There's a slight delay before our location is determined outdoors with an accuracy of a good three meters. The SBAS support network for even more accurate tracking is available on the smartphone, as well as all major satellite networks for positioning.
In our real-world test, a bike ride where we also take the Garmin Edge 520 along as a comparison device, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G proves to be quite accurate, as long as you're riding in comparatively open areas. On the other hand, the positioning becomes less accurate in narrow old town streets. Overall, the smartphone is suitable for navigation but not 100% accurate.
Telephone and call quality – Internally good, but mediocre for hands-free calls
OnePlus uses Google's standard app for phone calls. VoLTE and VoWiFi are supported.
The voice of the person on the other end of the line can get quite loud if desired, and it sounds clear for the most part. Our voice is also transmitted quite well. However, the speaker that is used for the hands-free mode sounds rather mediocre in terms of volume, and it also shows pronounced high tones. In addition, we have to speak fairly loudly for our voice to be picked up.
Cameras – One lens less
Compared with its predecessor, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes with one camera lens less, which is naturally surprising at first. As a result, you'll have to skip extreme close-ups because the macro camera is absent. The depth-of-field camera also offers fewer megapixels, but that's hardly noticeable in everyday use.
With 50 megapixels, the main camera offers a slightly higher resolution than in the predecessor. It's great that the camera has an optical image stabilizer, which isn't always a given in this price range. Pictures look quite detailed, but the camera is only average when it comes to image sharpness. The reproduction is good in low light and high contrasts, but dynamics could be even better.
The wide-angle camera takes solid photos, but you shouldn't enlarge the pictures too much because details are hardly reproduced. There's no hybrid zoom between the lenses, which means that you can only switch directly between them.
Both the wide-angle and the main camera can be used to record videos. The maximum resolution is 4K at 30 fps. 60 fps is also possible in 1080p mode. Moreover, the lens can't be changed while recording. The photo and video app from OnePlus comes with a few filters that can be used to customize the video. The autofocus responds very quickly and subtly, and exposure is also adjusted almost seamlessly and quickly as well.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main camera - FlowerMain camera - SurroundingsMain camera - Low lightWide-angle lens
The OnePlus smartphone's main camera has to prove itself in the lab as well. It exhibits decent contrasts in good light, and a crisp image that becomes slightly blurrier towards the edges, though. Even at an illumination of only 1 lux, some image content is still recognizable, but colors are clearly distorted here.
Accessories and warranty – Online accessories store
A 65-watt charger, a USB-C cable, a SIM tool, and a bumper case for the smartphone are included with the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. A new charger can be purchased from the manufacturer for just under 40 Euros (~$47), and the iconic red and white USB cable is available for just under 20 Euros (~$24). Special cases for the OnePlus Nord 2 5G with custom designs or with the the sandstone look of the original OnePlus One are available from 22 Euros (~$26) and up.
The manufacturer offers a 24-month warranty. If the device needs to be repaired outside of this period, the website offers prices for replacement parts so you can assess if fixing the device is worth it.
Input devices and handling – Fast touchscreen
Thanks to the 90 Hz display and its 180 Hz touch sampling rate, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G can be operated very smoothly. OnePlus also pays a lot of attention to making the software feel sleek and, for example, keeps transition animations as short as possible.
The fingerprint reader is located underneath the display, and it's placed quite far down on the screen. It works quickly and reliably, even from within the always-on display, but not when the display is completely turned off. In combination with face recognition, unlocking the device is even faster.
Display – No HDR in the OnePlus Nord 2 5G
The second edition of the OnePlus Nord comes with an AMOLED display with 2400x1080 pixels.
The display is about the same size as the predecessor's, but it has a much higher maximum brightness. Although it can't keep up with the Boost modes of Xiaomi's or Samsung's displays, 594 cd/m² on average is a decent brightness value that makes the smartphone suitable for outdoor use. Furthermore, the brightness is distributed very uniformly.
As is typical for OLEDs, the display flickers at full brightness, so sensitive users should take a look at the display before buying the device.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 99 %
Center on Battery: 594 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.74 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
128.2% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.278
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.43 | OnePlus Nord AMOLED, 2440x1080, 6.44 | Motorola Moto G100 IPS/LTPS, 2520x1080, 6.70 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.55 | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G Super AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 11% | -31% | 15% | 17% | |
| Brightness middle | 594 | 529 -11% | 562 -5% | 863 45% | 744 25% |
| Brightness | 594 | 531 -11% | 535 -10% | 860 45% | 749 26% |
| Brightness Distribution | 99 | 94 -5% | 90 -9% | 93 -6% | 98 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.57 | ||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.74 | 2.53 8% | 3.99 -46% | 3.2 -17% | 2.2 20% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6 | 4.52 25% | 9.74 -62% | 5.2 13% | 7 -17% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.2 | 1.7 60% | 6.5 -55% | 3.9 7% | 2.1 50% |
| Gamma | 2.278 97% | 2.249 98% | 2.174 101% | 2.33 94% | 2.06 107% |
| CCT | 7322 89% | 6462 101% | 6882 94% | 7299 89% | 6516 100% |
| Contrast | 986 |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 119.6 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 119.6 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 119.6 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Theoretically, an AMOLED display offers complete blacks, which also means an infinite contrast. This makes colors look more vibrant. You can choose between two modes of color reproduction on the OnePlus Nord 2 5G: The "Vivid" mode makes colors more vibrant, but at the same time, they're displayed a bit less accurately. The "Mild" mode does a better job here, but an overall truly accurate color reproduction isn't achieved due to a misrepresentation of white and light gray tones.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 3 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 17 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 5 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 15 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Outdoors, it's better to stay in the shade when there's direct sunlight, since this makes the display much easier to read.
As is typical for OLEDs, viewing angles are perfect.
Performance – MediaTek SoC is very powerful
The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 aims to compete with the high-end SoCs of other manufacturers, even though MediaTek's SoCs had been rather positioned in the mid-range so far.
In fact, the Nord 2 5G is a good deal faster than the predecessor, and it even beats some devices with Snapdragon SoCs from the 700 series, such as the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. The Motorola Moto G100 is even faster, but it also has a higher entry price.
The phone's AI unit, which OnePlus claims to have further optimized together with MediaTek, is particularly impressive. However, the Mali-G77 MP9 deserves respect in terms of graphics performance as well; the fps is more than doubled compared with the OnePlus Nord in some benchmarks.
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord | |
| Motorola Moto G100 | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (534286 - 540464, n=2) | |
The Nord phone performs rather moderately in the browser benchmarks, but you only have to wait a bit for images to load when scrolling in everyday use, and websites are loaded fairly quickly.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=173, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| OnePlus Nord (Chrome 84) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (51.1 - 51.8, n=2) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (108.8 - 117.6, n=2) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (last 2 years) | |
| OnePlus Nord (Chrome 84) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=157, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chome 90) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| OnePlus Nord (Chome 84) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (50.2 - 54.1, n=2) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chome 92) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (39 - 304, n=122, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| OnePlus Nord (Chrome 84) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (69 - 70, n=2) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=211, last 2 years) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (26207 - 29912, n=2) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| OnePlus Nord (Chrome 84) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| OnePlus Nord (Chrome 84) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (Chrome 89) | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G (Chrome 92) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G (Chrome90) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (1444 - 1809, n=2) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=173, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G100 (Chrome 90) | |
* ... smaller is better
"UFS 3.1 storage for 400 Euros (~$472)? Sure, why not!", was probably what OnePlus thought and simply installed the fastest storage type currently used in smartphones.
As a result, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G achieves top rates. Apart from the slightly more expensive Moto G100 from Motorola, no comparison device manages to keep up.
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | OnePlus Nord | Motorola Moto G100 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G | Average 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -52% | -7% | -28% | -39% | 11% | -2% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 1827 | 956 -48% | 1730 -5% | 949 -48% | 927 -49% | 1760 ? -4% | 1505 ? -18% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 1256 | 473.1 -62% | 717 -43% | 710 -43% | 484.6 -61% | 1134 ? -10% | 1112 ? -11% |
| Random Read 4KB | 223.7 | 126.7 -43% | 253.6 13% | 207.9 -7% | 176.1 -21% | 281 ? 26% | 247 ? 10% |
| Random Write 4KB | 239 | 104.5 -56% | 252.9 6% | 206.9 -13% | 179.2 -25% | 311 ? 30% | 271 ? 13% |
Games – 60 fps is possible
Despite the 90 Hz display, 90 fps gaming isn't possible in most games. OnePlus and game developers need to do further optimization here. Armajet, which is actually a fast game, only offers a maximum of 30 fps, but PUBG Mobile at least manages just under 60 fps at low quality levels. We perform our measurements with GameBench.
At least that's a significant improvement compared with the predecessor, where only 30 fps was possible most of the time. Other smartphones, such as the Motorola Moto G100 or the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G, achieve at least 60 fps in various settings.
There's nothing to complain about in terms of controls: The touchscreen and the position sensor respond quickly and allow users to control the game character reliably.
Emissions – Heavy load, high temperatures
Temperature
This brings us to a disadvantage that the OnePlus Nord 2 5G has compared to its predecessor: The OnePlus Nord already warmed up a lot, but the Nord 2 gets even hotter with 48.7 °C (~120 °F) in our load test.
And it also throttles its performance significantly so as not to overheat even further, something that is revealed by the 3DMark stress tests. A third or even almost 40% of the performance is lost when the smartphone is under load for a prolonged period of time.
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.7 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 45.5 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.5 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
In contrast to the OnePlus Nord, the successor now features stereo speakers. This is a hybrid system, which means that the top speaker also serves as earpiece when making calls.
Sound can get reasonably loud if desired, but it's also a bit high-pitched. In general, the resulting sound pattern is average and can't compete with hi-fi systems or even with the best smartphone speakers, but it's definitely sufficient for everyday use.
You can also forward audio signals to external devices via Bluetooth or using the USB-C port. This works smoothly, and the aptX HD codecs are also available in wireless mode.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 28.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 38% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 54% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 58% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 35% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
OnePlus Nord audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 74.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 74.7% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 74.7% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (113.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 85% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 13% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 95% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 4% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life – Super fast charging
Energy consumption
Overall, the OnePlus phone is frugal in terms of energy consumption, as long as you don't stress it too much. Consumption can increase up to 10.9 watts under load, which is the highest rate in our comparison field.
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  0.8 / 1.2 / 1.6 Watt |
| Load |
5.7 / 10.9 Watt |
    
| |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G 4500 mAh | OnePlus Nord 4115 mAh | Motorola Moto G100 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G 4250 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G 4500 mAh | Average MediaTek Dimensity 1200 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -30% | -13% | -7% | 0% | -2% | -2% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.8 | 1.8 -125% | 0.9 -13% | 0.83 -4% | 0.92 -15% | 0.79 ? 1% | 0.897 ? -12% |
| Idle Average * | 1.2 | 2.1 -75% | 1.5 -25% | 1.92 -60% | 1.78 -48% | 1.53 ? -28% | 1.452 ? -21% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.6 | 2.3 -44% | 2.1 -31% | 1.97 -23% | 1.81 -13% | 1.74 ? -9% | 1.629 ? -2% |
| Load Average * | 5.7 | 3.4 40% | 6.7 -18% | 3.84 33% | 3.86 32% | 4.84 ? 15% | 5.55 ? 3% |
| Load Maximum * | 10.9 | 5.2 52% | 8.5 22% | 8.6 21% | 6.14 44% | 9.84 ? 10% | 8.31 ? 24% |
* ... smaller is better
Energy consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
A 4,500 mAh battery is a bit smaller than the 5,000 mAh battery that has now become common in budget phones or even in the Motorola Moto G100, but it's still sufficient for good runtimes in the case of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, and it also has a significantly higher capacity compared with the OnePlus Nord.
The phone manages 15:58 hours in Wi-Fi mode, which is a 9% improvement over the predecessor as well as the second place among the comparison devices. Although the phone only achieves moderate results when watching movies, in idle usage, and under heavy load, it should still easily be enough for several days of average use without charging.
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G features the same wired charging technology as considerably more expensive smartphones from OnePlus, namely WarpCharge 65, which is capable of charging at 65 watts.
Although it's not the latest WarpCharge 65T version, which is still a bit faster, the second generation of the Nord phone still charges super fast: It takes just under 40 minutes to recharge the 4,500 mAh battery when it's completely empty, and you'll have enough power for several hours of use after just a few minutes of charging.
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G 4500 mAh | OnePlus Nord 4115 mAh | Motorola Moto G100 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G 4250 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A52 5G 4500 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -4% | 21% | -13% | -4% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1926 | 2003 4% | 2846 48% | 1509 -22% | 1917 0% |
| H.264 | 1126 | 1064 -6% | 1285 14% | 1248 11% | 1052 -7% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 958 | 869 -9% | 1049 9% | 734 -23% | 710 -26% |
| Load | 272 | 261 -4% | 302 11% | 223 -18% | 324 19% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict – A worthy contender
We had already liked last year's OnePlus Nord, and it achieved a score of 83%.
OnePlus has made numerous improvements in the successor, and it even challenges its own, significantly more expensive phones in some areas: The OnePlus Nord 2 5G charges very quickly, provides fast Internet, modern communication standards like 5G, good performance scores, and a decent camera system.
Sure, when it comes to an IP certification, case materials, color accuracy of the display, and audio quality or wireless charging, you have to make some sacrifices compared to true high-end phones. But for many users, these are probably minor details, making the OnePlus Nord 2 5G look very good compared to much more expensive phones.
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is once again a real flagship killer. It might not be able to keep up with the priciest smartphones in every single aspect, but it offers very good features for little money.
Therefore, if you don't need the best of the best but can make a few compromises in some areas instead, you will get a really good smartphone for just under 400 Euros (~$472).
In general, the quality of the competition is also very high: The Motorola Moto G100, for example, includes a desktop dock, while the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G also offers a lot of performance and a bright display.
Price and availability
Although the OnePlus Nord 2 5G isn't slated for a US release at the time of writing, you can currently find the configuration with 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM in Walmart's online store for $435. Alternatively, there are a couple of listings on newegg, albeit at slightly higher prices (256/12GB version for $775, for example). Finally, Amazon is always a good place to keep tabs on.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G
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08/31/2022 v7
Florian Schmitt
Pricecompare
