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OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G smartphone review conclusion: Can less sometimes be more?

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is a mild evolution of the first-generation Core Edition smartphone.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is a mild evolution of the first-generation Core Edition smartphone.
The Nord CE 2 5G is the continuation of OnePlus's Core Edition series, and an overall improvement. However, we would have liked to see more effort put into the display, and the updated SoC is not without its downsides.

The Nord CE 2 5G is a well-equipped mid-range OnePlus smartphone at a fair price. For around $400 you get among others fast charging with up to 65 W, which is usually only to be found on high-end devices. Plus, the Chinese OEM includes a SUPERVOOC-compatible charger in the box by default.

The rest of phone is not half bad either. This dual SIM-capable smartphone features a triple card slot, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and very good battery life. Its 90 Hz OLED panel is solid, especially considering its price, although we should add that Xiaomi managed to do a better job with the Poco F3 and the Mi 11 Lite 5G. In addition, the display is basically identical to that of the Nord CE 2 5G’s predecessor.

OnePlus’s Core Edition smartphones are supposed to offer all the basics and necessities of a modern smartphone. As always you have to ultimately decide for yourself which aspects of a smartphone are important to you and which ones are not, and we found quite a few aspects in need of improvement.

Take, for example, the Nord CE 2 5G's mono speaker or its overall performance, which is lacking compared to other Qualcomm-equipped mid-range competitors. In addition, we would have liked a more premium case as the Nord CE 2 5G is made almost entirely of plastic (frame, rear cover, buttons, card slot cover).

If you are looking for an affordable mid-range smartphone with fast charging the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G might be right for you. Find out more in our extensive review.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G smartphone review conclusion: Can less sometimes be more?
Marcus Herbrich, 2022-03-20 (Update: 2022-03-20)