OnePlus Nord 2T review

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The OnePlus Nord 2T doesn't bring many updates over the Nord 2. But that's not entirely OnePlus fault, as the industry hasn't enjoyed its finest days lately with all the supply shortages and economic challenges. Plus the Nord 2T was never intended for the Nord 2 users, but for those looking for a decent smartphone on a reasonable price.

The 128GB model of the Nord 2T is currently priced around €380, while the 256GB one will set you back €470-€480. Let's see what else you can get within the same price bracket.

The first smartphone that we could think of was the Xiaomi 12 Lite. Its 256GB version costs the same as the 256GB Nord 2T and we found this 12 Lite to be one of the best phones you can buy around the €450-€500 mark. It offers a magnificent AMOLED with Dolby Vision support, 120Hz refresh and 12-bit native colors. The 12 Lite runs on a similarly powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset and features a similar triple-camera on the back sans the OIS for the primary. If you fancy one of the best screens on the market and don't mind using MIUI, you may want to consider the Xiaomi 12 Lite.

The Realme GT Neo 3T has a more powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset, a faster 120Hz OLED screen and longer battery life. The OnePlus Nord 2T on the other offers slightly better camera quality and OIS. The base 128GB version of this Realme is slightly more expensive than the Nord 2T, but the 256GB pricing is a match.

The Galaxy A53 is a good alternative if you want a water-resistant smartphone. The starting price of the A53 is about €40 cheaper than the Nord 2T and it comes with a faster 120Hz Super AMOLED screen. The performance is inferior to the Nord 2T, but you will get a more versatile camera experience with a higher resolution ultrawide camera.

And, finally, we want to mention the Nothing Phone (1). It has a great OLED screen with 120Hz refresh and 10-bit color, there is also one of a kind Glyph LED notification system, similar performance, and excellent camera experience. The weak points of the Nothing Phone (1) are the lack of a charger in the box and the mediocre audio quality through wired headphones. The 128GB Nothing Phone (1) is about €80 more expensive than the Nord 2T, but it may be worth the extra money for the better screen, cameras and the Glyph LEDs.

Xiaomi 12 Lite • Realme GT Neo 3T • Samsung Galaxy A53 5G • Nothing Phone (1)

Our verdict

The OnePlus Nord 2T is an excellent smartphone with all-round balanced specs, one that delivers on every promise that was made on its official website. The Nord 2T has a beautiful design, solid 90Hz OLED screen and great performance courtesy of the Dimensity 1300 chipset.

We also enjoyed its excellent main camera and the loud stereo speakers. The long battery life and the fast charging are also worthy of mentioning, even if the 80W speeds aren't actually faster than 65W.

Finally, the Nord 2T costs about €380, which is an attractive price tag, and one we'd say makes it a great deal.

The lack of official water protection is an important downside to mention as well as the fact that you can get 120Hz panels in this price range.

Pros

• Attractive dual-glass design - frosted or glossy back panel.
• Bright enough OLED, 90Hz refresh.
• Loud speakers.
• Fast charging.
• Great CPU and GPU speed.
• Excellent photo and video quality.

Cons

• Minor update over the Nord 2.
• The speakers' audio output could have been better tuned.
• Average sustained performance, limited HFR gaming.
• No official IP rating.