Introduction: The Return of the Mid-Range Marvel
OnePlus has long been a major player in the smartphone market, initially gaining fame for its "flagship killer" strategy. While their mainline series now competes with the high-end giants, the Nord series continues to carry the torch of delivering exceptional value. The latest contender to the throne is the OnePlus Nord 5, a device that promises a premium experience at a remarkably accessible price point—specifically, under €450. With a striking 50MP dual camera system and a generous 256GB of internal storage, the Nord 5 enters a fiercely competitive mid-range arena. This in-depth review will put the OnePlus Nord 5 through its paces, examining its design, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and overall value proposition to determine if it truly lives up to the hype.
Design and Build Quality: A Sleek and Familiar Feel
The OnePlus Nord 5 continues the aesthetic evolution of the Nord lineup, blending sleek design with practical functionality. The phone features a flat, modern design with a subtle curve at the edges, ensuring a comfortable grip. The back is crafted from a matte-finished material, which effectively resists fingerprints and gives the device a premium feel, a notable step up from some of its glossy competitors.
The camera module is a standout feature, a minimalist rectangle housing the two main lenses. It’s an understated yet stylish design choice that sets it apart from the more elaborate camera bumps of its rivals. At 8.2mm thin and weighing around 185g, the Nord 5 strikes a perfect balance between a robust build and a lightweight feel. OnePlus has also maintained its signature Alert Slider, a beloved feature that allows users to quickly switch between Ring, Vibrate, and Silent modes, a convenience often missing from other phones in this price category.
The front of the phone is dominated by a large, uninterrupted display with minimal bezels. The punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera is small and unobtrusive, contributing to an immersive viewing experience. The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, and we found it to be one of the best in its class, providing quick and secure access to the device.
Display: Vibrant, Smooth, and Bright
The OnePlus Nord 5 boasts a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display, a panel type that has become a hallmark of the OnePlus experience. It offers a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) and a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The combination of AMOLED technology and a high refresh rate results in deep blacks, vibrant colors, and incredibly fluid animations. Scrolling through social media feeds, playing games, and navigating the OxygenOS interface feels remarkably responsive.
With a peak brightness of 1,100 nits, the screen remains perfectly legible even in direct sunlight. This is a crucial feature for anyone who uses their phone outdoors frequently. The display also supports HDR10+, which enhances the viewing experience for movies and shows on platforms like Netflix and YouTube. OnePlus has also included its signature "AI-powered color calibration," which automatically adjusts the display's color temperature based on ambient lighting, reducing eye strain during long periods of use.
Performance: A Mid-Range Powerhouse
At the heart of the OnePlus Nord 5 is the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chipset, a powerful and efficient processor designed for mid-range and upper-mid-range devices. Paired with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, our review unit with 12GB handled everything we threw at it with ease. Multitasking was seamless, with no noticeable lag even when switching between multiple demanding applications.
Gaming performance on the Nord 5 is excellent. We tested several popular titles, including Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact, and PUBG Mobile. The phone consistently delivered high frame rates on high graphics settings with minimal heating. The Dimensity 8300, along with OnePlus's HyperBoost gaming engine, ensures a stable and enjoyable gaming session.
The phone comes with a massive 256GB of internal storage as standard, which is a significant advantage over many competitors that offer lower base storage tiers. This UFS 3.1 storage provides blazing-fast read and write speeds, which translates to quicker app loading times and file transfers. The absence of a microSD card slot might be a drawback for some, but with 256GB of storage, most users will never need to worry about running out of space.
Camera System: The 50MP Dual Camera Experience
The camera is often the most critical feature for smartphone buyers, and the OnePlus Nord 5 doesn't disappoint on paper. It features a dual-camera system led by a 50MP main sensor with a large f/1.8 aperture and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The secondary camera is a 2MP macro lens, a surprising choice that we'll discuss in more detail.
Main 50MP Camera:
The primary 50MP sensor is the star of the show. In well-lit conditions, it captures stunningly detailed photos with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range. The images are sharp, and the OIS ensures that your shots are crisp and blur-free, even in low light. The sensor’s large size allows it to capture more light, resulting in impressive low-light performance. Photos taken at night retain a good level of detail and are surprisingly clean with minimal noise. OnePlus's software processing, powered by its AI-driven algorithms, does a great job of balancing sharpness and noise reduction.
Macro 2MP Camera:
The inclusion of a 2MP macro lens is a curious decision. While it allows for close-up shots, the low resolution means the images are often lacking in detail. We would have preferred to see a more versatile ultrawide lens in its place, a feature that is becoming standard on many mid-range smartphones. While the main camera's digital zoom is decent for a quick crop, a dedicated ultrawide would have made the camera system far more versatile. This is one of the few areas where the Nord 5 falls behind its closest competitors.
Front Camera:
The 16MP front-facing camera takes sharp and clear selfies. It handles skin tones accurately and offers a good level of detail. Portrait mode on the front camera is also effective, with good edge detection and a natural-looking bokeh effect.
Video:
The OnePlus Nord 5 can record video at up to 4K resolution at 30fps. The video quality is good, with accurate colors and decent stabilization thanks to the OIS. However, the absence of 4K 60fps might be a dealbreaker for some content creators.
Software and User Experience: The Best of OxygenOS
The OnePlus Nord 5 runs on the latest version of OxygenOS, based on Android 15. OnePlus has successfully found a balance between a clean, near-stock Android experience and the useful features that make OxygenOS so popular. The interface is intuitive, fluid, and free of bloatware. The customization options are extensive, allowing users to tailor the look and feel of their device to their liking.
OnePlus has a strong track record of providing timely software updates, and the Nord 5 is no exception. The company has promised two major Android OS updates and three years of security patches, which is a commendable commitment for a device in this price range. This longevity ensures that the Nord 5 remains secure and up-to-date for years to come.
Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power and Blazing-Fast Speeds
The OnePlus Nord 5 is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery, a capacity that has become the standard for all-day use. In our testing, the Nord 5 easily lasted a full day on a single charge with moderate to heavy usage, including a mix of gaming, social media browsing, video streaming, and taking photos. We consistently achieved a screen-on-time of over 7 hours, a testament to the efficient Dimensity 8300 chipset.
What truly sets the Nord 5 apart is its charging speed. The phone supports 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging, a technology that can fully charge the device from 0% to 100% in just over 30 minutes. This is a game-changer and a feature that is typically found on much more expensive devices. The convenience of being able to top up your battery in the time it takes to have a cup of coffee is an incredible advantage. The 80W SUPERVOOC charger is also included in the box, a detail that many other manufacturers have started to omit.
Pricing and Value: A True Mid-Range Champion?
With a starting price well under €450, the OnePlus Nord 5 offers incredible value for money. It combines a premium design, a stunning 120Hz AMOLED display, powerful performance, and incredibly fast charging. While the 2MP macro lens is a weak point, the 50MP main camera is more than capable of capturing excellent photos. The generous 256GB of base storage is a massive selling point, providing peace of mind for users who store a lot of media and apps on their devices.
When stacked against its primary competitors, such as the Google Pixel 7a and the Samsung Galaxy A55, the OnePlus Nord 5 holds its own and, in many areas, surpasses them. The Pixel 7a offers a superior camera system but falls short in charging speed and raw performance. The Galaxy A55 is a strong all-around contender, but the Nord 5’s charging speed and cleaner software experience give it an edge.
Conclusion: The Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 5 is a remarkably well-rounded smartphone that continues the Nord series' tradition of delivering a flagship-like experience at a mid-range price. It excels in key areas that matter most to users: a stunning display, a clean and fluid software experience, powerful performance, and class-leading battery life and charging speeds. The 50MP main camera is excellent, and the 256GB of storage as standard is a fantastic bonus.
While the absence of an ultrawide lens is a noticeable flaw, it's a minor compromise when considering the overall package. For anyone seeking a fast, reliable, and stylish smartphone for under €450, the OnePlus Nord 5 is not just a good choice—it’s arguably the best choice. It is a true mid-range king for 2025, offering a perfect blend of performance, style, and value that is hard to beat.
FAQs:
Does the OnePlus Nord 5 have a headphone jack?
No, the OnePlus Nord 5 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. You will need to use a USB-C adapter or wireless headphones.
Is the OnePlus Nord 5 waterproof?
The OnePlus Nord 5 has an IP54 rating, which means it is resistant to splashes of water and dust. It is not fully waterproof and should not be submerged.
What's included in the box with the OnePlus Nord 5?
The phone comes with an 80W SUPERVOOC charger, a USB-C cable, a transparent case, a SIM ejector tool, and a quick start guide.
Does the OnePlus Nord 5 support wireless charging?
No, the OnePlus Nord 5 does not support wireless charging. It relies on its 80W SUPERVOOC wired charging for power.
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