OnePlus Nord 5 Delivers Value Along With Performance – Is This The Right Choice For You?
The smartphone market sees new models every month, but when it comes to performance and value for money, the competition gets even more interesting. The OnePlus 13 series has performed quite well this year, and now the spotlight is on the new OnePlus Nord 5. Coming in the Rs 30,000 price bracket, this phone comes with quite a few upgrades that make it a tick mark list for maximum buyers – a combo of reliable hardware, right battery size, and software optimisation. We tested the OnePlus Nord 5 for a week to see if the phone really lives up to its hype.
OnePlus Nord 5 Glass Finish Returns – A Little Mix Feeling in Design
Last year Nord 4 won the hearts of many people with its metallic finish, but OnePlus Nord 5 has chosen a glass design again. It looks premium, but durability is slightly compromised. With a weight of more than 200 grams and a thickness of 8.1mm, this phone is neither too heavy nor very lightweight. The vertical camera setup on the back panel and the clean design approach have been used, which looks a little different, but does not change drastically.
The phone has an IP65 rating, which offers protection from dust and low-pressure water jets, but not full waterproofing. The frame is made of plastic, which feels a little less premium than the aluminium Nord 4.
OnePlus Nord 5 Display – No compromises made here
There may be some cutbacks in the design, but OnePlus has put in full power in the display department. The 6.83-inch AMOLED panel with 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and sharp colours make for a great experience. There is Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection, which is decent, but there are better options available in this range as well.
Be it watching content or playing games, this display is a treat. Deep blacks and punchy colors make it more attractive. Although 144Hz is fully used only in gaming, the rest of the apps run smoothly at 120Hz.
OnePlus Nord 5 Performance – Good News for Gaming Lovers
The Nord 5 comes with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which is a solid upgrade from the Nord 4’s 7+ Gen 3. Yes, you can get the latest 8s Gen 4 with the Poco F7 or iQOO Neo 10, but the Nord 5 is no less. Its performance is smooth during gaming and the vapor chamber cooling system keeps the heat under control.
OnePlus has given it the latest version of OxygenOS, which is feature-rich and does not seem to be loaded with bloatware like other brands. The new Plus Key button has been replaced by an alert slider, which you can customize for features like camera, torch or silent mode.
OnePlus Nord 5 Camera – Fine, but not perfect
Despite the focus being on performance, the cameras of OnePlus Nord 5 give decent output. With a 50MP primary sensor and 8MP ultra-wide lens, this phone captures good detail in bright light conditions. In portrait mode, the edges sometimes look soft, but the colors look quite natural.
Low-light photography needs some improvement, as sometimes the sensor captures extra light. Front camera performance is average, skin tones look a little inconsistent, but is fine for normal use.
OnePlus Nord 5 Battery – Long Race Ka Horse
In the India variant, you get a 6,800mAh silicon carbon battery that supports 80W fast charging. In real-life usage, it easily lasts more than a day. The phone gets charged up to 80% within 50 minutes, which is quite convenient.
The Poco F7 and iQOO Neo 10 come with slightly bigger batteries and could have a little more screen time, but the Nord 5’s performance is also quite competitive.
OnePlus Nord 5 Verdict – Should I Buy It or Skip It?
If you want a phone that offers a combo of performance, battery life, and good display quality, the OnePlus Nord 5 is a strong option. The cameras are average, the design is a bit subjective, but this phone is quite capable for gaming and day-to-day usage.
The competition is tough in the price bracket, but the OnePlus Nord 5‘s OxygenOS experience, reliable performance, and fast charging make it an appealing choice. Yes, if you want the latest chipset and a slightly more premium build, you can look at alternatives, but otherwise this phone lives up to its promise.
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