On June 21, 2021, OnePlus released its new Nord CE 5G, or Core Edition, 5G smartphone for Europe and India. It will go on sale for $299. Also released was the new Nord 2 5G, costing $400. The new CE offers many of the essential features of the OnePlus Nord at a lower cost.
During the Summer Sale, OnePlus has reduced the price of its Nord CE models from $349 (8 GB 128) and $399 (12 GB, 256 GB) to $299 and $349. OnePlus is also offering a new set of Budz Z headphones for free while the sale is underway.
OnePlus Distills the Original Nord Features for the Nord CE 5G
Last year’s OnePlus Nord dominated Europe as a best-selling device and set a milestone for OnePlus’ first-day sales. For this release, the company is hoping for a repeat performance. With the CE, OnePlus has distilled the best features from the original Nord into a much more budget-friendly package.
Hardware and Technical Specifications
The first thing most people notice about the Nord CE 5G is how smooth and thin it is. Weighing in at only 170g and measuring 159.2 × 73.5 × 7.9 mm, OnePlus sized this unit to slide easily into most pockets.
Topping the list of features is the ultra-fast 5G capability and the Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750 octa-core chipset. The latter of which delivers up to 20% increases in CPU performance and 10% increases in GPU performance versus the previous version.
The CE also strips away one of the original Nord’s four rear cameras in favor of a 64 MP triple rear camera setup. For faces, the 16 MP selfie camera can capture all of your best hair days. Finally, this unit records crisp 4K at 30 FPS and 1080P HD at 30, 60, or even 120 FPS for mobile video fans.
The CE is available in both 8 GB, 128 GB, and 12 GB 256 GB versions and comes in Blue Void or Charcoal Ink colorways.
Display and Audio
The 6.43-inch fluid AMOLED display on the Nord CE is capable of 1080 × 2000 resolution at 90Hz. The screen also packs in a gigantic 64 million pixels. That means all of your apps, photos, text, and videos are going to look terrific.
One upgrade over the original OnePlus Nord is the inclusion of a 3.5 mm headphone jack. While the CE will tackle Bluetooth connections without problems, nothing beats the dependability and convenience of having a wired headphone connection. Additionally, the Nord CE 5G has a loudspeaker if you’d like to skip the headphones altogether.
Battery and Connectivity
The phone also offers a fast-charging 30W 4500mAh Lithium-polymer battery that can be juiced up to around 70% in about 30 minutes. That means no more waiting for your phone to charge before the next adventure begins.
Onboard Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and GPS tick all the usual boxes, and like many other units out there, the Nord CE can function as a mobile hotspot for other devices. Additionally, with 5G speeds of up to 2.95 Gbps, you’ll be downloading videos and sharing memes faster than you can say “TikTok.”
The Android-Based Operating System
Controlling all of this delicious hardware is OnePlus’ proprietary OxygenOS Android 11 installation. If you’ve never heard of OxygenOS before, OnePlus created the Android-based OS with smartphones like the Nord CE 5G in mind.
The key feature of OxygenOS is that it takes advantage of the golden ratio, a ratio often found in beautiful objects, to maximize the user experience. As a result, the OS is delightful to view, and there is something uniquely satisfying about how images and icons display on-screen.
Exclusive to European and Indian Customers. For Now.
While the Nord CE 5G has some excellent features, only European and Indian markets will get to experience the OnePlus panache. Folks outside those markets will have to choose another option. Despite this limitation, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G looks like a successful budget smartphone entry. The phone is sleek and slim, and if it ever releases globally, some US-based smartphone manufacturers will be in trouble.
Currently, OnePlus’s Summer Sale is offering $10 off, if you use code NEW10 on the company’s website. The first 100 orders during the sale will get a free pair of OnePlus Buds Z. Check out the site for details.