OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G smartphone review: 120 Hz screen and 3 years of updates at a budget price
Three criteria are particularly important for smartphone buyers: the display, the camera and the battery life. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G aims to win over buyers in all three aspects in the mid-range cell phone category. The 6.59-inch smartphone has an IPS screen with 120 Hz, a 64 MP main camera with electronic image stabilization, and a 5000 mAh battery which is recharged via a 33-watt fast-charging power adapter.
The "CE" in the product name stands for "Core Edition", which means that the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G focuses on good mid-range equipment at an affordable price. The non-core elements, on the other hand, are cut in order to keep costs low. For example, there is a plastic chassis instead of a glass back cover and mono instead of stereo sound.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, available for a RRP of around US$300, is the slimmed-down version of the Nord CE 2 5G, which is officially only US$50 more expensive. The review sample does without the AMOLED screen of the MediaTek Dimensity 900-powered sister model and uses the somewhat slower Snapdragon 695 5G.
Read on to find out whether all this is sufficient against the in-house competition and other mid-range rivals.
Possible Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80.8 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2022 | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 195 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.59" | 2412x1080 | |
| 81.7 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2022 | Motorola Moto G82 5G SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 173 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.60" | 2400x1080 | |
| 84.1 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2022 | OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G Dimensity 900, Mali-G68 MP4 | 173 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.43" | 2400x1080 | |
| 82.4 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2022 | Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 173 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.43" | 2400x1080 | |
| 80.5 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2022 | Realme 9 Pro SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 195 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2412x1080 | |
| 83.2 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2022 | Samsung Galaxy A33 5G Exynos 1280, Mali-G68 MP4 | 186 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.40" | 2400x1080 |
Case - Sturdy plastic chassis with protective film
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is not too light at a weight of 195 grams, but it scores with even gaps, solid build quality and feels good in the hands thanks to its rounded back cover.
The back dents slightly under strong pressure, but the 6.59-incher is a sturdy smartphone overall. Under testing, the OnePlus proved to be largely resistant to all twisting attempts and did not respond with creaking or any other kind of noise. IP certification is absent.
OnePlus offers the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G in the matte color variants Black Dusk and Blue Tide. Both make the back cover largely fingerprint resistant. If you prefer a more eye-catching color, you can opt for the turquoise blue version. Depending on the viewing angle, the back cover of the Blue Tide occasionally has a stronger hue, while at other times it appears more pastel-colored, which looks pretty sleek.
The back is brighter at the level of the camera unit and, unlike the rest of the smooth back cover area, has a slightly rubberized surface that offers more grip. If you need even more grip, you can make use of the included transparent protective cover. However, the smartphone still wobbles slightly on flat surfaces due to the camera unit protruding a few millimeters from the back.
Without the protective cover, you'll notice that the camera unit has sharp edges and thus does not feel particularly high-quality. The same applies to the factory-fitted screen protector on the IPS panel with its recess for the punchhole selfie camera. The edge of the protective film can be clearly felt and slows down finger movement, for example, when swiping down from the top edge of the screen to open the quick settings.
Unlike the Nord CE 2 5G (Gorilla Glass 5), OnePlus does not provide any information about the screen's protection class. The fingerprint sensor is located in the power button.
Equipment - 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage
In the EU region, OnePlus only offers the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Lite in one storage variant (6 GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128 GB UFS 2.2 storage) which officially costs EUR 299 (around US$300). More options are offered in the Asia-Pacific region, where the phone is also offered in an 8/128 GB variant, for example in India and Malaysia.
The internal storage of the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Lite can be expanded via a micro-SD card, which can be up to 1 TB in size. Around 104 GB of the 128 GB in our review sample was available upon running it up for the first time.
The USB-C port of the OnePlus smartphone works at USB 2.0 speed and also supports peripheral devices and external storage media via USB OTG. A 3.5 mm jack and a mono speaker are also included.
Other features include Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, a dual-SIM slot and the option of mirroring screen content via Miracast. However, an Always On display and a notification LED are not available.
microSD Card Reader
The microSD card reader of the OnePlus achieves good read and write rates with our Angelbird AV Pro V60 reference card. The copy performance also gives us nothing to complain about.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G (Angelbird V60) | |
| Realme 9 Pro (Angelbird V60) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Angelbird V60) | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G (Angelbird V60) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software - Even Android 14 should also function on the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
OnePlus equips the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G with Android 12 and its user interface OxygenOS 12.1. Alongside the Google apps, there are some OnePlus apps such as a file browser or a clone tool. Third-party apps are limited to Netflix and TikTok, both of which can be uninstalled. Because the OnePlus smartphone supports DRM Widevine L1, it can also play streams in HD quality.
OnePlus promises two Android updates and security updates for three years for the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. So this means that Android 14 should be able to run on the smartphone. However, this is not guaranteed for the sister model Nord CE 2 5G because it only ships with OxygenOS 11, based on Android 11.
At the time of review (end of July 2022), the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G received an update consisting of Android security patches dating from June 5, 2022.
Communication & GNSS - WiFi 5 and good GPS
Possessing only 13 5G radio frequencies, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is not a globetrotter, but it hardly should have any reception issues, at least in the EU region.
The smartphone uses Wi-Fi 5 in local networks. It achieves good and very stable Wi-Fi transmission rates of around 350 MBit/s in both the send and receive directions when connected to our reference router (Asus ROG AXE11000). The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is not much faster, although it does have a Wi-Fi 6-capable modem, the potential of which is hardly exploited.
For localization, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G uses satellite navigation systems ranging from GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou to QZSS. Accuracy is up to three meters both indoors and outdoors.
Our real-word test revealed that the smartphone provides its apps with precise localization data. The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G recorded the route of our 4-kilometer bike tour almost as accurately as the Garmin Venu 2 professional navigation device.
Telephony & Voice Quality - Dual SIM with WLAN calling and VoLTE
The OnePlus offers true dual-SIM. In addition to two nano-SIM cards, the smartphone also accommodates a micro-SD card. WLAN calling and VoLTE are supported.
The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G offers good voice quality. When held to the ear and in hands-free mode, the caller can be understood perfectly. Loud ambient noise is suppressed quite reliably.
Cameras - 64 MP sensor, but no wide-angle camera
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G uses almost the same camera setup as the Nord CE 2 5G. It is even identical on the front.
The selfie camera has a resolution of 16 MP, uses Sony's IMX471 as the camera sensor, and takes decent photos in good lighting conditions. Like the main camera, the selfie camera is able to record videos at up to 1080p at 30 frames per second.
Unlike the Nord CE 2 5G, there is no ultra-wide-angle camera on the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. Instead, a 2 MP bokeh camera is on board. On the other hand, the 64 MP main camera - with electronic image stabilization and a 2 MP camera that takes macro pictures up to a distance of 4 centimeters - is the same as in the Nord CE 2 5G.
The pictures taken with the main camera are impressive in daylight. They score with good dynamics, coherent colors and display many details. However, the image sharpness decreases somewhat towards the edges. Due to the lack of a telephoto lens, the user has to make do with a digital 6x zoom, which still delivers decent results even at maximum magnification.
In contrast, the main camera does not succeed very well in night pictures. The night mode brightens the subjects a bit, but cannot prevent blurry and noisy pictures.
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.
Daylight shot 1Daylight shot 2Low light shot
Under controlled lighting conditions, the main camera can reproduce grayscale quite accurately. The precision of colors is not quite as high at a maximum Delta-E of 16.3. At 1 lux residual light, almost nothing can be seen of the otherwise sharply reproduced test chart.
Accessories & Warranty - 33-watt power supply included
The scope of delivery of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G includes a 33-watt power supply, a red USB 2.0 cable (type C to A), a transparent protective cover, a SIM tool as well as a quick-start guide, a welcome card and a booklet with safety instructions. Accessories such as headphones and protective cases are available in OnePlus' web store.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G comes with a 24-month warranty in Germany. This may differ at your location, so be sure to check with your supplier before purchasing.
Input Devices & Operation - Responsive 120 Hz display
The 6.59-inch display of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G implements inputs quickly and precisely. Thanks to the factory default refresh rate of 120 Hz, image changes and scrolling through websites and menus are very smooth. Alternatively, you can switch to 60 Hz.
The fingerprint sensor in the power button responds very quickly and works reliably. The smartphone is unlocked almost without delay when the finger is placed on it. Authentication via the not quite-as-secure 2D face recognition takes a little longer because you have to turn on the screen first.
This can be shortened by enabling the "Lift to wake" option in the "System settings" under "Gestures and movements". The screen then turns on as soon as you lift the smartphone and the face recognition can be used right away. The screen can also be automatically brightened in low-light conditions in order to increase the hit rate.
Display - IPS panel up to 600 nits
OnePlus supplies the North CE 2 Lite 5G with a 2412x1080 IPS display. The extended Full HD resolution is standard in this price range.
The IPS display is almost a step backwards, since similarly priced mid-range smartphones with comparable features, such as Motorola's Moto G82 5G or Samsung's Galaxy A33 5G, already offer an AMOLED display.
At an average of 581 cd/m², the OnePlus' fairly evenly illuminated IPS screen has good brightness and scores with its high-contrast display. We were able to elicit a maximum brightness of 603 cd/m² from the screen (APL18 measurement).
Sensitive users are well served with the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G because the IPS display does not require PWM for brightness control.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 590 cd/m²
Contrast: 1553:1 (Black: 0.38 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.15 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 7.1 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
98.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.143
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G IPS, 2412x1080, 6.6" | Motorola Moto G82 5G OLED, 2400x1080, 6.6" | OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G OLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G OLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | Realme 9 Pro IPS, 2412x1080, 6.6" | Samsung Galaxy A33 5G Super AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 21% | 20% | 29% | -0% | 45% | |
| Brightness middle | 590 | 635 8% | 601 2% | 602 2% | 541 -8% | 693 17% |
| Brightness | 561 | 640 14% | 596 6% | 599 7% | 541 -4% | 695 24% |
| Brightness Distribution | 92 | 96 4% | 98 7% | 96 4% | 96 4% | 98 7% |
| Black Level * | 0.38 | 0.44 -16% | ||||
| Contrast | 1553 | 1230 -21% | ||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 5.15 | 2.96 43% | 3.35 35% | 2 61% | 4.42 14% | 1.3 75% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 10.35 | 7.63 26% | 6.72 35% | 5.2 50% | 8.77 15% | 3.5 66% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 7.1 | 4.8 32% | 4.6 35% | 3.7 48% | 6 15% | 1.3 82% |
| Gamma | 2.143 103% | 2.214 99% | 2.363 93% | 2.26 97% | 2.074 106% | 2.14 103% |
| CCT | 8540 76% | 6970 93% | 7372 88% | 6996 93% | 8049 81% | 6530 100% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Series of measurements with a fixed zoom level and different brightness settings
Two picture modes can be selected in the display settings: "Vivid" (preset) and "Nature". However, neither of them are able to reproduce precise colors.
The "Nature" mode is the most accurate with delta E values of 7.1 for grayscale and 5.15 for colors, but it still far from the ideal values. In addition, the color temperature of 8540 K is clearly too high, which makes the display appear bluish. Overall, the display quality is average at best.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 12 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 8 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 28 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 27 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 15 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 12 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 33 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). | ||
The OnePlus can be used well outdoors as long as direct sunlight is avoided. As is typical for IPS, viewing angles are very good, even from extreme angles. The display brightness can decrease slightly from time to time, but this does not affect content legibility.
Performance - Mid-range power with the Snapdragon 695 5G
The Snapdragon 695 5G is a fast mid-range SoC in OnePlus' Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. The eight-core processor with its Adreno 619 graphics unit is also used in many competing smartphones, including the Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G, Motorola's Moto G82 5G and the realme 9 Pro.
The power of the Snapdragon 695 5G is sufficient for most apps without restrictions. The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G with its Exynos 1280 and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G (MediaTek Dimensity 900) are a little faster. However, this minor performance is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use.
| CrossMark - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (187 - 2044, n=160, last 2 years) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (521 - 606, n=18) | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| AImark - Score v2.x | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (4924 - 5839, n=10) | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 | |
| T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| GFXBench 3.0 | |
| on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| GFXBench | |
| on screen Car Chase Onscreen | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=164, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (48.6 - 105.3, n=19) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G (Chrome) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G (Chrome 102) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G (Chrome 99) | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G (Chrome 103) | |
| Realme 9 Pro (Chrome 99) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (38.7 - 80.1, n=16) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G (Chrome 99) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G (Chrome) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G (Chome 102) | |
| Realme 9 Pro (Chome 99) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=79, last 2 years) | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G (Chrome 103) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (75 - 156, n=12) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G (Chrome 102.0.5005.99) | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G (Chrome 102) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G (Chrome 99) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=205, last 2 years) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G (Chrome 99) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G (Chrome 102.0.5005.99) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (17849 - 31647, n=21) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G (Chrome 102) | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G (Chrome 103) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G (Chrome 103) | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G (Chrome 102) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G (Chrome) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (1298 - 2501, n=18) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G (Chrome 99) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=163, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
The UFS 2.2 storage of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is not the fastest, which can be seen in the occasionally longer load times. Then again, other smartphones equipped with the Snapdragon 695 5G do not fare any better in terms of read/write performance.
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | Motorola Moto G82 5G | OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | Realme 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | Average 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -2% | 65% | -7% | -29% | 14% | 21% | 158% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 509.21 | 473.4 -7% | 999 96% | 498.54 -2% | 494 -3% | 512.84 1% | 728 ? 43% | 1859 ? 265% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 482.15 | 445.7 -8% | 857 78% | 438.49 -9% | 105.3 -78% | 487.66 1% | 527 ? 9% | 1445 ? 200% |
| Random Read 4KB | 179.02 | 180.8 1% | 253.4 42% | 155.32 -13% | 148.3 -17% | 216.48 21% | 191.7 ? 7% | 278 ? 55% |
| Random Write 4KB | 147.46 | 155.5 5% | 212.9 44% | 143.54 -3% | 120.4 -18% | 194.12 32% | 185.8 ? 26% | 310 ? 110% |
Gaming - Potential of 120 Hz screen remains untapped
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is unable to fully exploit its 120 Hz screen in games. Although the Snapdragon 695 5G and its Adreno 619 graphics chip are certainly good for higher frame rates, our test games Armajet and PUBG Mobile (setting: HD/high) remain limited to 30 fps each. The frame limit is probably set for energy-saving reasons, which is common in other smartphones.
Frame rates were determined with the Gamebench tool.
Emissions - Maximum power available at all times
Temperature
Under load, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G heats up to a maximum of 42.1 °C and thus falls in an absolutely harmless thermal range. However, the smartphone may become uncomfortably hot in the hand on particularly hot days.
Internally, the Snapdragon 695 5G runs stably and without significant performance losses even under constant load.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.2 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.1 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.9 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G82 5G | |
| Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G | |
Speakers
The mono speaker of the OnePlus phone produces balanced mids and trebles, but a thin sound overall. But the sound quality is acceptable for the occasional playback of a video or music track. Voices are also conveyed well by the speaker.
Headsets and speakers can be connected to the 3.5 mm jack or paired wirelessly with the smartphone via Bluetooth 5.2. The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G supports Bluetooth codecs aptX, aptX HD, AAC, LDAC, LHDC and SBC.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 52% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 40% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 70% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 24% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy A33 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 7.1% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (2.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 29% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 63% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 48% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 44% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - Two days of continuous use pose no problem
Power Consumption
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G requires comparatively little power when idle and under load and is more energy-efficient overall than the Motorola Moto G82 5G, Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G and realme 9 Pro, which are also equipped with the Snapdragon 695 5G.
Recharging takes place via the included 33-watt power adapter. A full recharge from completely empty to 100% took 1:13 hours under testing. An 80% fill level is reached after around 50 minutes. Wireless charging is not supported.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.1 Watt |
| Idle |  0.8 / 1 / 1.4 Watt |
| Load |
2.4 / 4.6 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto G82 5G 5000 mAh | OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G 4500 mAh | Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A33 5G 5000 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -17% | -36% | -13% | -47% | -41% | -72% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.8 | 0.9 -13% | 0.9 -13% | 0.69 14% | 0.88 -10% | 0.886 ? -11% | 0.885 ? -11% |
| Idle Average * | 1 | 1.2 -20% | 1.3 -30% | 1.58 -58% | 1.47 -47% | 1.76 ? -76% | 1.451 ? -45% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.4 | 1.4 -0% | 1.6 -14% | 1.6 -14% | 1.52 -9% | 1.92 ? -37% | 1.608 ? -15% |
| Load Average * | 2.4 | 3.3 -38% | 4.5 -88% | 2.59 -8% | 5.38 -124% | 3.86 ? -61% | 6.55 ? -173% |
| Load Maximum * | 4.6 | 5.2 -13% | 6.2 -35% | 4.47 3% | 6.62 -44% | 5.45 ? -18% | 9.92 ? -116% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power Consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery Life
A 5000 mAh battery and economical power consumption allow for very good runtimes on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. Simulated web browsing lasts well over 17 hours, and video playback even almost 21 hours. In everyday life, users should be able to get away with charging the smartphone once every two days.
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto G82 5G 5000 mAh | OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G 4500 mAh | Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G 4500 mAh | Realme 9 Pro 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A33 5G 5000 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 7% | -3% | -15% | -2% | -2% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1985 | 2456 24% | 1873 -6% | 2041 3% | ||
| H.264 | 1255 | 1245 -1% | 1402 12% | 1146 -9% | ||
| WiFi v1.3 | 1064 | 1022 -4% | 962 -10% | 904 -15% | 1047 -2% | 771 -28% |
| Load | 277 | 298 8% | 255 -8% | 347 25% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is a good mid-range smartphone that scores with solid features.
Its strengths include the IPS panel with 120 Hz, a good range of interfaces including a 3.5 mm jack and true dual-SIM, and very good battery runtimes. With 128 GB of storage and the Snapdragon 695 5G as the control center, the 6.59-inch OnePlus phone is well equipped for everyday tasks.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is a good mid-range phone with equally good features. However, the almost equally expensive "non-Lite" version offers much more.
However, OnePlus stands in its own way due to the in-house competition. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G costs practically the same in online stores, but offers even more features. Among other things, you also get an AMOLED screen, a slightly faster SoC, an ultra-wide-angle camera and fast charging at 65 watts.
The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is only one step ahead in offering a more up-to-date Android (12 instead of 11 as in the Nord CE 2 5G). The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G therefore needs to be significantly cheaper (than at the time of review) in order to make it more attractive for buyers and to establish itself as a real alternative to the Nord CE 2 5G.
Other alternatives to the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G are, for example, the Motorola Moto G82 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G. Both are close to the OnePlus in terms of price and features, but offer an AMOLED panel with 90 Hz (Samsung) or 120 Hz (Motorola).
Price and Availability
As the the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G was only released at the end of April, and since supply chain issues worldwide are ongoing, availability appears to be sporadic. We found, for example, that the phone is available via Amazon in Canada (CA$449.00), India (₹19,999.00), France (319,00€) or Spain (289,41€). This list is not exhaustive and the prices (as of 31.07.2022) are subject to change. Readers are thus advised to check regularly online via Amazon (where applicable) or reputable suppliers.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
- 07/28/2022 v7 (old)
Manuel Masiero
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