OnePlus Nord N20 5G review

64MP main cameras

Having a 64MP main camera on a smartphone of this price bracket isn't unheard of. However, megapixels alone won't produce clear photos. Image signal processing contributes largely to output image quality and the Nord N20 appears to be equipped for the task. It's worth noting that none of these cameras are optically stabilized and only the main camera has autofocus.

The main camera has a 64MP sensor with an f/1.79 aperture lens and phase-detection autofocus. It appears that the N20 uses the same main camera as its predecessor the N10, so we are expecting to see similar image performance. The other two cameras are each 2MP: one macro shooter, and one depth sensor, each with f/2.4 aperture lenses.

The N20 omits the ultrawide camera that came on the N10 but given the lower price point and other updates to the hardware (including chipset, display, and battery life upgrades), the removal of the ultrawide may be justified.

The front-facing camera is a 16MP fixed-focus punch-hole camera with f/2.4 aperture and support for HDR multi-frame capture. Both the front-facing and rear-facing main camera are limited to capture 1080p video @ 30fps.

Camera app

The camera app's layout is simple and easy to follow. The main photo mode has plenty of settings to play with. There's a shortcut for Google Lens for scanning text, QR codes, or objects. There's another shortcut for "AI retouching" with an adjustment slider for softening skin and facial features.

Viewfinder • Viewfinder settings • Camera settings

There are toggles for flash, AI scene enhancement, HDR (set to Auto by default), and some filters. There's also a self-timer feature and an option to shoot in the main camera's native 64MP resolution. There are three zoom options for the main camera: 1X, 2X, and 5X - all of which are shot with the main camera.

Filters

Other modes in the camera app include Night, Portrait, Pro Expert, Extra HD, Pano, Text Scanner, and Macro.

Still image quality

In the standard shooting mode, the Nord N20 outputs shots in 16MP after pixel-binning. Shots in daylight look good, with well-balanced exposures, nice decently resolved details and manageable noise. Contrast could be a bit better, but overall the images are acceptable.

Daylight shots main camera

Color rendering is quite good on the N20. Upon closer inspection of details, we notice some pixelation occurs in many geometric patterns of the image like windows and building lines. Plus, there's color fringing through some photos and fuzziness in the edges of the frame - a common side effect of lower-cost lenses.

HDR processing, though not visible in the viewfinder, looks better in the final image - especially times in times when the sky in the background is brighter than the subject. Though off by default, there is an AI scene enhancement toggle that recognizes some general scenes like whether you're shooting a sky, building, or a group of people. If it doesn't recognize any scene (most of the time), it helps to liven up colors and slightly improved clipped highlights.

Daylight shots with AI enabled

We notice that the AI feature didn't cause the same pixelation of lines we spotted in other images, but it comes at the expense of some added noise. It also looks like with the AI feature enabled, HDR doesn't kick in, causing some of the images to have its skies blown out. This wasn't always the case with using AI, however.

Here are a few images shot in the camera's full resolution.

64MP samples

Full-res images look quite good and we didn't notice the same pixelation effect caused in the standard photos. The tradeoff here is the added noise that the native camera captures, as well as the lack of any HDR processing in this mode. We've previously noted that using a full-resolution mode of a smartphone isn't worth the trouble, but the Nord N20's full-resolution mode might serve useful in specific situations (with ample lighting) where the user might want to capture something closer to a RAW image with more information to put it through an editor.

Although there is no dedicated zoom hardware, the Nord N20 does have 2X and 5X preset zoom levels, both of which are cropped from the main sensor.

2X digital zoom

These zoomed images aren't bad. Though resolved details are a bit mushy upon close inspection, there is not as much sharpening as regular 1X photos. We also cannot spot the pixelation we saw at the regular zoom level.

We noticed that with AI enabled, we saw slightly better 2X images. Processing looks better because not only are colors a bit more pleasing and contrast a bit better, but there is less of a haze in some of the shots taken in overcast lighting.

2X digital zoom with AI turned on

The tradeoff here is that with AI turned on, the overall image does not apply any noise reduction - though this could be a positive for some who prefer a grainier look to photos.

5X digital zoom

Although you can certainly zoom up to 5X with the N20's camera, it doesn't make for the best photos. It is possible, though at the expense of detail, added noise, and added softness.

Here are some macro shots.

Macro photos

Next up, portrait photos are used in conjunction with the 2MP depth sensor. Check out the resulting portrait shots.

Portrait photos

Portraits look quite good. Dynamic range is great and skin tones look natural. Contrast and colors are also nicely rendered. The subject separation isn't perfect, but it blends the final image decently.

Low light

The Nord N20's standard HDR mode is not ideal for taking nighttime photos. Aside from the lack of OIS, the camera's small sensor can't capture enough light.

Low-light samples

Night mode slightly improves the images, though not by too much. The shots have slightly better exposure and colors are a bit more lively, but textures are extremely soft.

Night mode samples

The 16MP selfie camera outputs images in its native resolution. Here are some samples.

Selfies

Selfies look pretty good. Despite the fixed focus lens, facial features and details look decent. Dynamic range is also generally good, especially useful in backlit scenes. Colors seem a bit more muted than the main camera's and generally fine for selfies.

Selfie portraits

Portrait selfies are decent with convincing subject separation. Otherwise, shots look fine.

The selfie camera was decent in low light, there's a selfie-flash feature that brightens up the display when taking a selfie though there is no dedicated Night mode for the front camera.

Night selfie Flash: Off • On

Video recording

The Snapdragon 695's ISP limits the Nord N20's to record video at just 1080p @ 30fps. There's a dual-view mode that records from the front and rear cameras simultaneously, though.

Video shot in Full HD looks average. The picture somehow looks soft and over sharpened at the same time. Colors look good and exposure is perhaps slightly on the bright side. Contrast looks good though, and noise isn't a problem.