OnePlus Nord 2 5G: New edition of the mid-range smartphone presented

It has been an open secret for quite some time that OnePlus will give its best-selling Nord from last year a successor. Now, the manufacturer has officially unveiled the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, which will be released with strong specs as early as the end of July.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G with Warp Charge 65 & new processor

The Nord 2 5G represents the latest addition to the manufacturer’s affordable lineup, offering flagship-level hardware at a fair price. “With advances in smartphone technologies even in the mid-range, we are now able to deliver premium experiences on a wider range of devices. We believe the Nord 2 is a worthy successor to the original OnePlus Nord,” said Pete Lau, founder of OnePlus.

The new smartphone is equipped with the brand new 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI processor, which features an ARM A78 architecture. According to the manufacturer, the chip provides 65 percent faster CPU performance and 125 percent higher GPU performance than the OnePlus Nord released in July 2020. Unlike the standard Dimensity 1200, the new chip is said to have greatly improved AI-based features.

Like the flagship models in the OnePlus-9 series, the Nord 2 features a 4,500 mAh battery that can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in under 35 minutes thanks to Warp Charge 65. In addition, the Nord 2 reduces the time it spends on a 100 percent charged battery to ensure good battery health when charging overnight.

The 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display boasts a refresh rate of 90 Hz. New features like AI Color Boost and AI Resolution Boost are said to improve colors and upscale the resolution of popular apps.

OxygenOS 11.3 is used, which comes with features such as Dark Mode, Zen Mode, convenient one-handed operation and various Always-on-Display (AOD) options. It also has additional personalizations, gestures and customizations for games, like the new OnePlus Games app on OxygenOS 11.3.

50MP AI triple camera with optical image stabilizer

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is also strong in terms of camera. The manufacturer equips the smartphone with a triple camera. For the main sensor, the device relies on a 50MP Sony IMX766 main sensor complete with optical image stabilizer (OIS), which can capture 56 percent more light than the Sony IMX586 of the first Nord. A new Nightscape Ultra mode is also used for even more detailed night shots in low-light conditions. The Nord 2 5G is supported on the back by an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 119.7-degree field of view.

On the front, the manufacturer relies on a 32 MP selfie camera positioned in a punch hole in the upper left corner of the screen. Thanks to Sony’s IMX615 sensor, the manufacturer promises the highest-resolution front-facing camera on a OnePlus device so far. Thanks to the new Group Shots 2.0 feature, the smartphone is able to recognize up to five faces at the same time and optimizes aspects from skin tone to facial details.

In addition, the Nord 2 is equipped with AI video optimization that improves the brightness, color, and contrast of video recordings in real time. AI optimization also intervenes in photos and is said to recognize up to 22 different shooting scenarios, automatically adjusting settings to achieve better results.

Two 5G SIM card slots can be found in the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, allowing 5G download speeds of up to 2.95 Gbps. A pair of stereo speakers is also said to provide good sound. The manufacturer also assures the new model of long-term support: the OnePlus North 2 5G will receive major Android updates for two years and security updates for three years.

Price and availability

The OnePlus North 2 5G is available in two colors, Blue Haze and Gray Sierra, and in two different configurations. The cheaper model comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage and is priced at an MSRP of 399 Euros. For 499 Euros, OnePlus equips the smartphone with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G will be available from July 28, 2021 on the Website of OnePlus, at Amazon and a variety of additional partners such as Telekom, 1&1, Sparhandy, DeinHandy, Mobilcom Debitel, Congstar, Otto and Galaxus.

Pre-orders on oneplus.com and Amazon will begin at 5 p.m. on July 22 and end at midnight on July 27. All customers who purchase the OnePlus Nord 2 5G during the pre-order period on oneplus.com will be the first to receive the device with early shipping starting July 26. The manufacturer is also offering a 10 percent discount on Nord 2 cases and the screen protector, as well as a 50 percent discount on the OnePlus Buds Z.

Partners like 1&1 and Sparhandy, DeinHandy and Mobilcom Debitel offer the OnePlus Nord 2 as a bundle with the OnePlus Buds Z at launch. For gaming fans, there is also a bundle with Google Stadia that grants access to a free Stadia Premiere Edition, consisting of a Stadia controller and a Google Chromecast Ultra, with the purchase.