OnePlus Nord 2 5G review

Alternatives

The 8/128 version of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is priced around €400 in Europe, and that immediately puts it on the fast track to the flagship killer segment. It has the looks, the screen, the performance, the camera, and the battery of a high-end phone, so pricing it right was the only thing left. And OnePlus certainly did it.

Of course, this lucrative bracket is already jam-packed with smartphones, so we've picked a few sensible alternatives for you to explore.

We start with the €449 Realme GT 5G. For the extra €50 on top of the Nord 2, you'd get a faster 120Hz AMOLED screen and the current best chip - the Snapdragon 888. We were very impressed with the GT's main camera, too, though it omits OIS. But HRR gaming is a definitive No on the Realme GT, and it can throttle a lot under pressure.

The Poco F3 now costs €299, €100 cheaper than the Nord 2. It has a faster 120Hz AMOLED screen, runs on the Snapdragon 870 chip and is officially IP53 rated for splash resistance. Its camera department is inferior, though, the charging is slower, and the Poco launcher is, well, not nearly as great as Oxygen. Still, €100 less is enough to make up for these, we think.

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is not that different from the Nord 2 5G. It swaps the Dimensity 1200 for the Snapdragon 750 5G chip, has one speaker and recharges slower. The camera department, while with similar logic, relies on different primary sensors, too. This Nord is €100 cheaper than the new Nord 2 5G, and if the OIS main camera and the stereo speakers aren't as important, but you do want the Fluid AMOLED + OxygenOS, then do explore this option.

Samsung is selling the Galaxy A52 at about €350 right now. It cannot match the top-notch performance and super-fast charging of the Nord 2, but it can offer a 90Hz Super AMOLED screen packed within an IP67-rated body and outdo the camera department with a better ultrawide camera and an additional 5MP macro snapper.

Realme GT 5G • Xiaomi Poco F3 • OnePlus Nord CE 5G • Samsung Galaxy A52

Finally, if you are after a great mobile gaming experience, you may want to consider the €499 Black Shark 4 or the €499 nubia Red Magic 6R. Both offer 144Hz AMOLED screens, hardware gaming triggers and high-end Snapdragon chips - 870 for Black Shark and 888 for the Red Magic. They offer a good camera experience, the charging options are not as fast but they excel in HRR gaming.

Xiaomi Black Shark 4 • ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R

Our verdict

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a glimmer of hope that the flagship killers may be finally coming home. It's been a while since OnePlus offered us a phone worthy of its pioneered title, but here is the Nord 2 successfully reclaiming just that.

The OnePlus Nord 2 offers a thoughtful pick of flagship features at a mid-range price. There is a 90Hz Fluid AMOLED, the best MediaTek chipset right now - Dimensity 1200, a flagship-grade 50MP Sony camera with OIS, and impressively fast 65W Warp Charge coming lifted from the OnePlus 9 series.

The Nord 2 not only handles very well under pressure, but it also offers loud stereo speakers, good photo and video quality, long-lasting battery life, one impressive connectivity suite and everything is wrapped within a mesmerizing body designed to impress. Of course, nothing will work this well if it weren't for the fan-favorite OxygenOS - one of the fastest launchers on the market to date.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a worthy smartphone offering an excellent pick of flagship features and sold at a very lucrative price - a flagship killer, if you will. One that easily earns our recommendation.

Pros

• Outstanding design, solid build.
• Bright and colorful 90Hz Fluid AMOLED, HDR10, AOD available.
• Great battery life, blazing-fast charging.
• Loud stereo speakers.
• OxygenOS is the snappiest launcher to date.
• High-end performance; no throttling in real-life cases.
• Good photos and videos all day long.

Cons

• No official IP rating.
• Only one game can go north of 60fps (for now).
• The camera's HDR processing is too heavy-handed.