OnePlus Nord CE Review – Back to the core
The OnePlus Nord CE is a great smartphone that performs well on many points. The light and thin casing fits comfortably in the hand, the screen is of good quality and the battery not only lasts a long time, but can also be charged very quickly. The fine and smooth OxygenOS software is updated longer than on last year’s cheapest Nord devices, but OnePlus does not have the best ‘update promise’ in the mid-range segment. Perhaps the weakest link in the whole is the camera system. In addition, the Nord CE does not have the most luxurious extras or the fastest chipset you can get for this amount, although it already has 5G.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Very fast charger
- 90Hz Amoled screen with good color reproduction
- Fast fingerprint scanner
- Fine OxygenOS software with three years of updates
Cons
- Camera is disappointing
- No memory expansion
- No stereo speakers
After years of releasing one, at most two (semi-) high-end devices per six months, OnePlus has been looking to expand since mid-2020 and is fully committed to the busy middle segment. It does this with success: although OnePlus’ first mid-range, the OnePlus Nord , was not equipped with a high-end soc, like previous OnePlus devices, it turned out to be a well-balanced smartphone that offered an excellent user experience. With a suggested retail price of 500 euros, it was also much cheaper than the numbered OnePlus devices in the high-end segment. After the first Nord came the Nord N10 and Nord N100 at the end of last yearwhich were supposed to take the OnePlus experience to an even lower price point. The Nord N100 even cost only 199 euros. A lot of concessions had to be made for this, so much so that the OnePlus character was lost a bit with this duo. For example, the casing was completely made of plastic, the specifications were quite meager, the characteristic slider on the side was missing and the software support – generally a strong point at OnePlus in recent years – was very short with these devices.
With the Nord CE, in full ‘Core Edition’, OnePlus recently introduced its first 2021 device in the Nord series. In OnePlus’ story, it is the successor to the original Nord from last summer, but based on the suggested retail price (and rumors of a new Nord in the 500-euro class), this device seems to replace the Nord N10. The cheapest Nord CE variant, with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage capacity, is now priced at 329 euros in our Pricewatch, making it even slightly cheaper than the Nord N10 at release; it cost 349 euros at the time. For 399 eurosis a version of the Nord CE for sale with a generous 12GB ram and 256GB storage capacity. The further specifications of the Nord CE are also better than those of the Nord N10, with a Snapdragon 750G soc with 5G support and a full-HD Amoled screen. In addition, OnePlus promises two years of Android upgrades and three years of security updates for the Nord CE, just as the brand’s high-end smartphones also get.
At first, glance, purchasing the Nord CE seems like a great deal. However, if you’re looking for a new smartphone and can spend around 300 euros, you won’t be short of good alternative options, for example, the super-fast POCO X3 Pro and F3 or the distinctive Samsung Galaxy A52 . In this review, we look at whether the Nord CE can hold its own in that fighting market.
Casing and screen
Weighing in at 170g and measuring 7.9mm thick, the Nord CE is thinner and lighter than previous Nord smartphones, as well as slimmer than most other mid-range smartphones. Many other devices are several tens of grams heavier, which may not seem like much, but still ticks if you hold them for a while. The corners of the Nord CE are a bit more rounded than, for example, those of the Galaxy A52, so in our opinion the Nord CE feels nice in hand.
As far as the use of materials is concerned, OnePlus is fully committed to plastic with the Nord CE, perhaps one of the reasons that the device can be so light. This is usual for a mid-range device in this price range, but with the more expensive Nord from last summer, the back was still made of glass and only the frame in the middle of the plastic. Glass is harder than plastic and the earlier device therefore feels a bit firmer, with the plastic cover of the new smartphone also sounding hollower when you tap it. As a whole, the case of the OnePlus Nord CE seemed no less sturdy than that of the Nord, when we tried to bend both devices in half with two hands. A plastic tailgate also has a specific advantage; the back of the Nord CE isn’t likely to shatter into a thousand pieces if you drop it once. It is striking that this time OnePlus does not indicate which type of glass the front is made of, while Gorilla Glass was still indicated on the specification list with the Nord and Nord N10. OnePlus probably switched to a different reinforced glass type for cost reasons. As usual in this segment, an IP rating for water resistance is not included, although the competitors mentioned in the introduction do have one.
At first glance, you would not deduce from the design that the Nord CE is made entirely of plastic. As with the Nord, the frame has a shiny, metallic coating on the sides. The turquoise back cover with subtle purple gradients on the sides has a matte finish that is reminiscent of the frosted glass that OnePlus uses on its top models, and it makes fingerprints not easily visible. The design also resembles that of the Nord, with the same narrow, lateral elevation for the cameras. That looks minimalistic, now that competitors are betting on strikingly designed camera modules this year. The camera part of the Nord CE still protrudes the same distance, so placing it on the table without wobbling is not an option.
The screen of the Nord CE has the usual ‘double chin’ in this segment, but otherwise the edges look modern and narrow. OnePlus has opted for one camera on the front, so the left camera hole can be a lot smaller than on the Nord, which had two front cameras. The fingerprint scanner is also located under the screen on the Nord CE. As usual, it is an optical copy and, just like with the Nord, the scanner works very well: it is in a logical place and unlocks the device very quickly. OnePlus does appear to have saved on the vibration motor with the Nord CE. Its feedback feels weak and vague, similar to that of the average mid-range model, while more expensive smartphones give small, sharp taps when you press the buttons on the on-screen keyboard, for example.
As with the Nord N10 and N100, the three-way slider on the side is unfortunately missing with which you can switch between silent, vibrate and ring signal. This is a handy feature that most Android smartphones do not have, but many previous OnePlus devices do, including the Nord. For the cheaper segment of the midrange series, an extra physical button is apparently an expensive extra. We do appreciate that OnePlus put in a 3.5mm jack, which the Nord didn’t have. Most competing devices that are sold for a similar amount to the Nord CE also have one.
Like the OnePlus Nord – but unlike the Nord N10 – the Nord CE has an OLED screen, in the latter case an Amoled screen to be precise. At 6.43 inches, it is almost the same size as that of the Nord and the resolution is also the same at 2400×1080 pixels, as is the maximum refresh rate of 90Hz. Some devices in this segment already go up to 120Hz. As usual, the Nord CE can automatically lower the refresh rate to extend battery life.
During our test of the Nord CE, an update was received for the device, with version number 11.0.2.2.EB13BA. According to the release notes, this update should also improve the color reproduction of the screen. We have our SpectraCal C6 colorimeter and Calman softwareSo I grabbed it a second time to measure the screen. Indeed, the new software leads to a more accurate color reproduction. Gamma and color temperature are more in line with the desired 2.2 and 6500K after the update. As a result, the average gray error of the screen (expressed in a ΔE2000 value) drops from 3.9 before the update to 2.1 after. The latter is very low and comparable to the score of much more expensive smartphones. OnePlus does not have to be ashamed of an average color error of 2.3 either; only a score above 3 indicates a deviation that is noticeable to the naked eye.
The screen of the OnePlus Nord CE is not a winner in all respects. The maximum brightness of 702cd/m² on a 33 percent window is slightly lower than the best OLED screens in this segment and the panels that you find in the most expensive devices. However, the screen can be a lot brighter than the LCD of the Nord N10. The minimum brightness of the Nord CE is on the high side, but in any case lower than that of the OnePlus Nord, whose screen was a bit bright on the eyes in the pitch dark.
Software and system performance
The OnePlus Nord CE is of course equipped with Android 11 with the OxygenOS skin over it. It has made a name for itself with its smooth user experience, clear layout and lack of extra bloatware. Outwardly, the skin is much more similar to stock Android than the software of Samsung, Oppo and Xiaomi, for example, although it is no longer the ‘stockest’ skin. If that’s what you’re looking for, it’s better to look at devices from Motorola or Nokia in this segment. According to OnePlus, the software of the Nord CE is almost identical to what is on the OnePlus 9 series, which in turn has had few software updates since the OnePlus 8T. For a more extensive impression of OxygenOS, you can read the reviews of those devices.
Compared to high-end smartphones, the Nord CE naturally lacks a number of high-end options that you will find in the settings screen of the 9 series, such as Turbo Boost 3.0 (which opens apps faster because storage space is used as working memory) or screen options such as ‘Comfortable Tone’ and ‘Hyper Touch’. Those features require more expensive hardware that the Nord CE doesn’t have. However, unlike the Nord, the Nord CE has an always-on display function with all the options that you will also find on the high-end devices. You just have to miss the second hand of the clock on this screen.
OnePlus promises two years of Android upgrades and three years of security updates for the Nord CE. That’s exactly the same update period as the manufacturer’s high-end devices, and a good step up from the Nord N10 and Nord N100, which only received one version upgrade to Android 11 and received two years of updates. Now that Samsung also gives its mid-range smartphones three version upgrades and four years of updates, the Nord CE still doesn’t give you the best ‘update promise’ you could get with a new device.
The OnePlus Nord CE is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G-soc. That is one of the faster options in the mid-range segment and in terms of CPU and GPU performance, it is roughly comparable to the Snapdragon 765G in the OnePlus Nord. The Snapdragon 690 in the Nord N10 scores a lot less when it comes to GPU performance. All three are blown by the POCO X3 Pro and POCO F3 on sheer computing power. These two devices are equipped with a Qualcomm soc from the 800 series and thus achieve by far the best performance of all devices in this segment. As also appeared in the review of those devices, you will notice such a difference especially if you play demanding 3D games. In practice, the Nord CE feels superbly responsive and snappy when scrolling through the interface or across websites, and when opening and switching between apps. If you choose the 256GB model, you also have a particularly large working memory of 12GB so that the Nord CE rarely has to throw an app from the memory. This prevents a small delay when switching between apps. The 128GB model is equipped with 6GB or 8GB of RAM.
The attractive thing about the Snapdragon 750G is that this chipset has a built-in 5G modem, which is very modern on the specification list. At the moment, however, it is not very useful in the Netherlands and Belgium. Perhaps OnePlus would have been better off also releasing a 4G model of the Nord CE, as Samsung does with the Galaxy A52. Within the purchase price of 300 euros, the 5G hardware swallows up the necessary budget, which could also have been used to build in luxury components that make more of a difference to the practical experience.
In addition to 5G, the Nord CE offers everything you expect in terms of connectivity, but no extras such as an FM radio or infrared blaster, which you sometimes encounter elsewhere. The built-in 5G modem in the Snapdragon 750G doesn’t support Wi-Fi ax like the Snapdragon 800 series copy. However, WiFi ac, bluetooth 5.1 and NFC are present. Although two SIM cards fit in the device, there is no room for a microSD card. With at least 128GB of built-in storage, you may be able to do without, but many competitors will give you the option of memory expansion.
Camera
The OnePlus Nord CE’s camera setup is very similar to that of the Nord N10, except for the macro camera, which the Nord CE lacks. Although we can absolutely miss the 2-megapixel macro camera of previous Nords due to the deplorable quality, it is a pity that OnePlus has given up completely with this camera. A macro camera gives you a nice extra perspective and competitors such as the Galaxy A52 and POCO F3 both have a 5-megapixel copy on board with which you can shoot quite nice photos.
Just like the Nord N10, the Nord CE has a primary camera with a 64-megapixel sensor behind an f/1.8 lens, as is usual for a mid-range camera without optical image stabilization. The OnePlus Nord had this feature, but combined it with a smaller 48-megapixel sensor. By default, you take 16-megapixel photos with the Nord CE because the sensor uses 4-in-1 pixel binning. Like the Nord and Nord N10, the Nord CE has an ultra-wide-angle camera with a limited resolution of 8 megapixels. Camera three on the Nord CE is a 2-megapixel depth sensor, so you can’t take photos. Under the camera hole on the front is another 16-megapixel camera, just like the Nord N10. The Nord had two front-facing cameras instead. including a 32-megapixel one.
For the practical comparison, we also included the OnePlus Nord in addition to the OnePlus Nord CE, to see to what extent the ‘Core Edition’ is indeed a true successor to that device. In addition, we have included the Samsung Galaxy A52, which is an interesting challenger in terms of price and is also equipped with a relatively good camera for this segment. Initially, the autofocus on our test sample of the OnePlus Nord CE was extremely slow, resulting in constant failed shots. The aforementioned update to OxygenOS version 11.0.2.2.EB13BA fixed that problem. This update would also improve other camera features, so all photos in the gallery were taken with this software version on the device. At the time of writing this was also the most recent version.
In the galleries below you always see the photo of the OnePlus Nord CE first (left), followed by photos of the Nord and the Galaxy A52.
The shots we took during the day with the OnePlus Nord CE’s primary camera look decent, but aren’t above average. To start with the good news: the HDR function is able to recover many details in shadows and highlights under sun-drenched and therefore difficult conditions, sometimes even more than the HDR function of the Galaxy A52 and certainly more than that of the original Nord . With the latter device, the photos often have rather dark shadows when it becomes difficult in terms of lighting conditions. You can see that nicely in the third photo of the flat in the gallery above, for example. The tree in front of the flat remains most clearly visible at the Nord CE.
The result can seem a bit artificial with the Nord CE, which is not only due to the low contrast in HDR photos. We also find the color reproduction not very successful, because photos often have a purple-blue, cool color balance. For example, look at the fifth photo. That makes the images of the Nord CE not as attractive as those of Samsung’s competitor, although the Galaxy A52 in turn is not the epitome of accurate color reproduction, with its sometimes very saturated palette. A further disappointment with the Nord CE is the mediocre level of detail, which is only noticeable when you view the photos in a larger format. Despite the 64-megapixel sensor, you sometimes see less really fine details in the distance than in the photos of the Nord with its 48-megapixel camera. OnePlus seems to opt for a different balance between noise and detail than Samsung anyway; in the photos of the A52, more noise is often visible, especially in the shadows. However, this means that the level of detail is higher.
In night photos, the lack of optical image stabilization (ois) on the primary camera makes itself felt. ois allows a device to take pictures with a slower shutter speed without the shot failing due to camera shake. The lack of ois is not rectified if you use night mode, which is what we did with the photos above. The individual shots from which the device calculates the end result remain of lower quality. Especially in areas where there is really little light, like in the shadow of the church in the first recording, the photos from the Nord CE contain rather little detail and a lot of noise. The colors are generally faded. For example, the Galaxy A52 and Nord display the colored lights of the terrace in the fourth photo with more saturation and also approach reality better in terms of white balance.
The night photos of the Nord CE are certainly not better than the competition’s plates. In the direct comparison, it is also striking that the Nord CE, in contrast to the Nord, crops a bit on the sensor when you switch on the night mode. The lack of ois will also be the reason why the separate tripod mode is missing from the Nord CE. With that mode, a device can use extra slow shutter speeds, up to 30 seconds. The Nord – and more expensive OnePlus devices – do have that extra option in night mode.
The ultra-wide camera with a resolution of 8 megapixels logically does not produce great results if you compare them with the ultra-wide plates of the Galaxy A52, which has a 13-megapixel copy of this camera. The level of detail is low with the Nord CE and Nord, especially towards the corners, and the lens also suffers from color fringing in high-contrast transitions. At night you certainly want to use the night mode to keep the image quality somewhat up to standard, so it’s a good thing that that mode can also be used on this camera with the Nord CE. In any case, they are certainly not pictures to hang on the wall in a large format.
The Nord CE’s selfies aren’t bad. Although our test photo is less sharp than the photos taken with both competitors, the Nord CE has little trouble with the lighting conditions in the tricky backlit scene in the gallery above, so the photo looks better overall. Compared to the Nord, you miss the extra wide perspective of the second front camera. However, the ability to easily photograph an entire group will cost you an extra large bite out of the screen with that device.
The Nord CE, like the Nord and most competitors in this segment, can film in a maximum of 4k resolution with 30 frames per second. You can also opt for 1080p/60, but not with the ultrawide camera, which is limited to 1080p/30. For some reason, the Nord can film with this camera in 4k resolution, just like the Galaxy A52. The quality of the images from the Nord CE is reasonable, but in the daytime shots you again see a purple tint, where the dynamic range is not the greatest, while the camera collects little light in the evening. The Nord CE also crops a lot on the sensor during filming, so the image is ‘zoomed in’ quite far.
Battery life and charging
The OnePlus Nord CE is equipped with a 4500mAh battery, which is a higher capacity than the batteries of both the Nord and the Nord N10. Loading should be fast; the box contains a 30W adapter that works with OnePlus’ fast charging technology Warp Charge 30T.