OnePlus Nord 2 5G debuts with Dimensity 1200 AI SoC, 50MP OIS main cam and 65W Warp Charge

2021-09-14

What should a flagship smartphone experience entail and how much should it cost? OnePlus is bringing up this debate with the launch of its Nord 2 5G - the true successor to last year’s highly anticipated original Nord. The term flagship killer is being mentioned here again and Nord 2 certainly brings some high-end specs while still keeping pricing in midrange territory.

OnePlus Nord 2OnePlus Nord 2OnePlus Nord 2
OnePlus Nord 2

Nord 2 packs a 6.43-inch AMOLED with a 90Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution to the table. There’s a single 32MP selfie cam instead of the dual-cam setup on last year’s model which is great for content consumption though you do miss out on the ultrawide action. On the other hand, Nord 2 brings dual speakers compared to the single firing grille on its predecessor.

OnePlus Nord 2 displayOnePlus Nord 2 display
OnePlus Nord 2 display

There are three rear cameras which is one fewer than the original Nord though the main shooter here is certainly more impressive having a 50MP Sony IMX 766 sensor just like on the flagship OnePlus 9 Pro. You get optical image stabilization for shake-free shots and videos and Digital Overlap HDR (DOL-HDR) helping synthesize exposure data from two images into one end shot. There’s also an 8MP ultrawide snapper and a 2MP monochrome sensor for company.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G debuts with Dimensity 1200, 50MP OIS main cam and 65W Warp Charge

Since its inception, OnePlus has always relied on Qualcomm chipsets for its phones but it’s now turning a new page in its history with the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI SoC. The chipset offers close to flagship performance and is paired with 6GB, 8GB or 12GB RAM and 128/256GB storage.

MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC and 65 Warp ChargeMediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC and 65 Warp Charge
MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC and 65 Warp Charge

There’s a 4500mAh dual-cell battery with speedy 65W Warp Charge which should ensure two days of usage. When you do need to top up, expect a full charge from 0 to 100% in just 30 minutes. The software front is covered by Oxygen OS 11.3 with Android 11 and OnePlus is promising two major Android updates and three years of security updates.

Nord 2 comes in three colors – the signature Blue Haze, Gray Sierra with a textured sparkling finish and the India-exclusive Green Woods which has a vegan leather back.

The baseline 6/128GB model starts at €399/ INR 27,999 though pricing will vary depending on the region. First sales in Europe and India start on July 28.

OnePlus Nord 2 in Blue Haze, Gray Sierra and Green WoodsOnePlus Nord 2 in Blue Haze, Gray Sierra and Green WoodsOnePlus Nord 2 in Blue Haze, Gray Sierra and Green Woods
OnePlus Nord 2 in Blue Haze, Gray Sierra and Green Woods

We already got the chance to use the Nord 2 extensively so you can head this way for our full Nord 2 review to see where the phone impressed and where it fell short.