OnePlus Nord includes excellent modern hardware at an affordable price. It is an attractive option for those eager to upgrade but have been discouraged by higher and higher price tags. In fact, if you’re a former OnePlus customer, Nord’s $ 380 retail price is much closer to the company’s original value proposition.
Going head-to-head with the OnePlus 8 flagship series was never in Nord’s mission statement. But does the average budget ranger offer a worthwhile upgrade for some of OnePlus’s older flagships? Here is a summary of how phones compare to help you decide.
OnePlus Nord vs OnePlus 5 and older
If (in any way!) You keep rocking the OnePlus 5 or an even older OnePlus phone, there’s no question that the Nord represents a compelling upgrade option. Believe it or not, Nord’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor offers comparable, if not better, performance than the Snapdragon 835 and earlier. It is also based on a more efficient manufacturing process, which means longer battery life.
Not forgetting all the modern benefits of the phone, including 5G network support, more RAM (if you need it), a much more flexible camera package, a larger 90Hz AMOLED display, an on-screen fingerprint scanner, and charging. faster than 30W. In the future, the Nord will also see more support for future versions of Android. Overall, it’s a good time to upgrade your old OnePlus device without breaking the bank.
Read more: OnePlus phones: a history of the entire company line up to now
OnePlus Nord vs OnePlus 6
Comparisons with OnePlus 6 are not as one-sided. On the performance side, the OnePlus 6 and its Snapdragon 845 processor have a marginal advantage over the Nord. Although it is not a clue, you will notice a lot for daily tasks, unless you are a serious gamer. We wouldn’t recommend upgrading just for performance, but the Nord’s larger battery and more efficient processor make it a more durable option.
Again, the Nord supports faster 5G data, though you’ll want a 5G contract to take advantage of that. There’s also a faster charge of 30W vs. 20W and a slightly more flexible camera package that includes a wide-angle selfie option. Not forgetting the benefits of a 90Hz display and a more discreet on-screen fingerprint scanner.
While a little slower in gaming, the Nord includes enough modern features to make it a decent affordable upgrade over the OnePlus 6, even after just a couple of years. Although if you’re really a fan of headphone jack, the Nord will disappoint you.
OnePlus 6 review: The spiritual successor to the Nexus.
OnePlus Nord vs OnePlus 6T
The OnePlus 6T’s hardware is virtually identical to the 6, so you can practically copy and paste the above here.
However, the OnePlus 6T does have Corning Gorilla Glass 6, ahead of the OnePlus 6 and Nord’s Gorilla Glass 5. The 6T also features an in-display fingerprint scanner, a slightly larger 3,700 mAh battery, and a little more than screen space, everything you require away from some of the points we previously awarded to the Nord.
There are still worthwhile reasons to upgrade the 6T to the Nord, particularly if you’re looking to take advantage of 5G data, don’t like the notch, or are just looking for a more modern design. But the OnePlus 6T is still a solid phone and still an attractive mid-range pick if you can find a new one. Although the Nord is more proof of the future.
OnePlus 6T review: Fundamentally cool
OnePlus Nord vs OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro
With just over a year, OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro are still very competitive high-end models. Although the Nord still features a new feature or two more than the more affordable 7-series.
For example, there is no 90Hz display on the standard OnePlus 7, it still has the 20W slower charge option and a considerably more basic depth and main sensor rear camera and a unique selfie setup. Instead, the OnePlus 7 Pro is more of a complete feature combination for the Nord. The 7 Pro has the advantage of a 3x telephoto lens and both offer much better gaming performance thanks to their high-end Snapdragon 855 processor.
We would not recommend downgrading from OnePlus 7 Pro to mid-range OnePlus Nord. However, the brave budget option scores some designs wins over the OnePlus 7 which probably makes it the best overall package. I personally would not sell my OnePlus 7 for a Nord, but would opt for the latter if it were on the market for a new affordable OnePlus phone.
OnePlus 7 review: The real ‘flagship killer’ | OnePlus 7 Pro review: Bigger and brighter, but is it better?
OnePlus Nord vs OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro
OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro are still close to the forefront of OnePlus technology, and the Nord really removed many of their features from these phones.
All three offer 90Hz AMOLED displays, 30W fast charging, high-end Bluetooth codecs, Gorilla Glass 5, lots of RAM, on-screen fingerprint scanners, and the latest version of OxygenOS. But OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro also benefit from better camera setups, slow-motion video recording, and the Pro model has a fun motorized selfie camera instead of a notch or hole in the Nord’s case.
The only thing they lack is the Nord’s 5G mount and wide-angle selfie camera, but it’s really not worth going from iconic to mid-level performance. Instead, the OnePlus 8 series is a more appropriate, albeit more expensive, 5G upgrade path for existing 7T series owners.
OnePlus 7T review: The professional you always wanted | OnePlus 7T Pro review: Very good, but very similar?
Looking back on the OnePlus series, it’s clear that OnePlus has done a great job bringing previously high-end hardware to a more affordable price. Customers with a OnePlus 6T phone or a previous generation will surely find plenty of good reasons to upgrade to the Nord.
OnePlus Nord
After years of launching only top-notch flagships, OnePlus is back in the mid-range category with OnePlus Nord. It cuts some corners, but we think a lot of people will really like this phone, especially due to its £ 379 price tag.
