Highlights

• OnePlus Nord CE 5 was recently launched in India at a starting price of ₹24,999 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant.
• Other memory variants include the 8GB RAM/256GB storage model at ₹26,999 and the 12GB RAM/256GB model at ₹28,999.
• Available colours – Nexus Blue, Black Infinity and Marble Mist.

It’s been a week with this phone in our pockets. We have used it through traffic, rain and way too many online scrolls. So, based on our hands-on experience with OnePlus Nord CE5, here’s what stood out.

OnePlus Nord CE5 – Key Features

• 77-inch 120Hz AMOLED display
• MediaTek Dimensity 8350 processor
• 8GB/12GB of LPDDR5X RAM
• 128GB/256GB of UFS 3.1 storage
• Rear Camera – 50MP Sony LYT-600 primary + 8MP Samsung OmniVision OV08D10 ultrawide
• Front Camera – 50MP Sony IMX480
• 7100mAh battery capacity
• 80W SUPERVOOC charging (adapter in the box)
• OxygenOS 15
• IP65 Rated

OnePlus Nord CE5 – Unboxing Video

OnePlus Nord CE5 – Pros and Cons

OnePlus Nord CE5 – Design and Build Quality

The first thing we noticed about the OnePlus Nord CE5 in Marble Mist colour is how clean and classy it looks. It’s got this nice matte glass back that feels premium every time you pick it up. The good thing about this back panel is that it doesn’t attract fingerprints or smudges. This means you don’t have to keep wiping it down every few minutes. We don’t want to name it, but at first glance, OnePlus Nord CE5 reminds us of a popular premium phone from another brand.

The sides are made of polycarbonate, but it doesn’t feel cheap. The flat edges and rounded corners give it a solid, well-balanced feel in the hand. Even with that big battery packed in, the phone doesn’t feel too heavy and OnePlus has managed to keep the weight pretty standard. It’s actually pretty easy to carry around and grip, whether you’re scrolling through reels or texting one-handed.

The camera setup also keeps things neat with a pill-shaped module tucked into the top-left corner. It blends in well and doesn’t stick out awkwardly.

The absence of the Plus Key is not something we can get behind. But overall, the Nord CE5 pulls off that minimalist, polished look without trying too hard.

Also worth noting that it’s IP65 rated, which means it can handle a few splashes or a surprise drizzle. So if you get caught in the rain or accidentally drop it near water, you’re good.

OnePlus Nord CE5 – Display

The display on the Nord CE5 is seriously one of its strong points. It has a big 6.77-inch Super Fluid AMOLED screen with full HD+ resolution. Right out of the box, the screen looks sharp, vibrant and feels smooth. Whether binge-watching, playing games or just scrolling social media endlessly, the display supports everything you can possibly use the phone for.

The colours pop nicely thanks to support for sRGB, Display P3, and 10-bit colour depth. It’s also HDR10+ certified, so the Netflix and Prime Video content not only runs in HD but also looks extra crisp and detailed in HDR. Both platforms are officially certified for it, so no tricks or workarounds needed.

The display is quite bright and can hit up to 1430 nits peak brightness. This keeps outdoor visibility solid even under harsh sunlight. Regular usage brightness hovers around 800 nits, which still feels more than enough indoors. High Brightness Mode (HBM) also kicks in when needed and it does make a noticeable difference.

Scrolling and swiping remain smooth throughout, thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. We also didn’t face any touch responsiveness issues, and the display feels snappy and fluid. There’s up to 300Hz touch sampling support via OTA.

OnePlus has also packed display features like Eye Comfort, Night Mode, Dark Mode and even a Bedtime Mode. You can tweak the screen colour and temperature too, so it looks exactly how you like it.

All in all, it’s a fantastic screen for this price. It is big, bright, smooth and great for content.

OnePlus Nord CE5 – Hardware, Software and Performance

Nord CE5 runs on the new MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex. Now, this might not sound super flashy or underwhelming at first, but OnePlus claims 79% faster performance and it shows. With clock speeds going up to 3.35GHz, it handles everything from daily apps to intense gaming smoothly. We have used the device as our primary smartphone for over a week now and it has hardly had any noticeable issues.

Our review device was a combination of 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This basically should be more than enough for an average user. The apps open instantly, multitasking feels snappy and we never noticed the phone lagging.

Here are some benchmarking results.

We tried random switching between apps and have played back-to-back BGMI sessions on this phone but Nord CE5 ran without breaking a sweat.

Speaking of gaming, if you’re into it then this phone will feel perfect for you. It supports up to 120 FPS gameplay on supported titles like CODM and BGMI. That extra FPS definitely gives an edge, especially in fast-paced sessions. There is also HyperBoost Game Engine with a special Championship Mode to optimise performance even further.

CryoVelocity Graphene Vapor Chamber with a massive 7041mm² cooling area. That’s bigger than what most phones in this segment offer and it definitely helps keep the phone from heating up during long gaming sessions.

It is being shipped with OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15. It comes with some bloatware but the UI otherwise is clean. OnePlus is promising 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security updates, which is rare to see at this price. That means the phone will stay fresh and secure for a long time.

OnePlus Nord CE5 – Camera Performance

In the camera department, OnePlus Nord CE5 has kept things pretty balanced. It has a 50MP Sony LYT-600 main sensor with both OIS and EIS support. Alongside it, there’s an 8MP ultra-wide camera OmniVision OV08D10, which is fine for group shots or wide landscapes.

The camera does its job well. The daylight shots look sharp with decent detail and the dynamic range is mostly good. But sometimes the colours can feel a bit off in the background. It either gets a bit too punchy or slightly washed out, depending on the lighting. Contrast is also a bit inconsistent, but for the most part, the photos are totally social-media ready. As for the ultra-wide lens, it is not flagship-grade but it gets the job done in good lighting. Don’t expect the same clarity or detail as the main sensor though.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Daylight Camera Samples

OnePlus Nord CE5 Night Camera Samples

Zooming is all digital with up to 20x for photos and 10x for videos. While you won’t be getting super-crisp results at higher zoom levels, it’s still handy for occasional use.

As for selfies, there’s a 16MP Sony IMX480 sensor up front with EIS. It captures decent selfies with natural skin tones in daylight. There’s also Portrait, Night Mode and a bunch of filters and retouching options.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Daylight Video

OnePlus Nord CE5 Night Video

On the video side, the rear camera supports 4K at 60fps with OIS+EIS working together, footage is fairly stable even while moving. It also offers slo-mo at up to 960fps even though that’s limited to 720p. It comes with time-lapse, dual-view video and even tilt-shift modes. Video from the front cam tops out at 1080p 60fps, and it stays reasonably stable thanks to EIS, especially for casual vlogging or video calls.

Overall, the camera setup on the Nord CE5 is not extraordinary but it’s reliable and good enough for most people’s daily needs.

OnePlus Nord CE5 – Battery Life and Charging

The battery of the Nord CE5 is one of the biggest upgrades this time. The phone packs a massive 7100mAh battery. According to OnePlus, users are easily looking at 2.5 days of regular use. The brand also says you can continuously stream YouTube for 27+ hours and play games for 9+ hours on a fully charged phone. Now, we have used the phone continuously for a week and during all testing and playing around, we easily managed one and a half days without reaching out for the charger.

You also get an 80W SUPERVOOC fast charge support with an adapter bundled in the box. A quick 10-minute top-up with this easily gives almost 7 hours worth of average usage. Moreover, it takes around 40 to 45 minutes to get a full charge. There is also the Bypass Charging feature, which is a perfect addition since the phone is aimed at gamers.

OnePlus is promising 4 years of battery health with the battery still holding at least 80% of its capacity after all that time.

Verdict – Should You Buy OnePlus Nord CE5?

OnePlus Nord CE5 gets all the basics right for a phone in this price segment. It comes with a sharp AMOLED display, smooth performance thanks to the Dimensity 8350 Apex chip and an OxygenOS experience with 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security support. The cameras are decent, especially the 50MP main sensor. But where this phone really shines is battery life, you get a massive 7100mAh with fast 80W charging. All things considered, the Nord CE5 is a balanced mid-range phone.

If you’re after a phone that looks sleek, comes with a stunning display and packs serious everyday power, the OnePlus Nord CE5 is absolutely worth considering.

Reasons To Buy

• Nice display
• Good for gaming
• Great battery and charging
• Nice design and build

Reasons Not to Buy

• Camera isn’t versatile
• Subpar speakers

Alternatives

POCO X7 Pro – ₹23,998

iQOO Z10 – ₹21,998

vivo T4 – ₹21,772

Motorola Edge 60 Fusion – ₹22,898

FAQs

Q1. What is the starting price of the OnePlus Nord CE5 in India?

Answer. OnePlus Nord CE5 was recently launched in India at a starting price of ₹24,999 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant.

Q2. What memory variants are available for the OnePlus Nord CE5?

Answer. Other memory variants include the 8GB RAM/256GB storage model at ₹26,999 and the 12GB RAM/256GB model at ₹28,999.

Q3. What colour options does the OnePlus Nord CE5 offer?

Answer. Available colours include Nexus Blue, Black Infinity, and Marble Mist.

Q4. What are the key camera specifications of the OnePlus Nord CE5?

Answer. Rear camera – 50MP Sony LYT-600 primary + 8MP Samsung OmniVision OV08D10 ultrawide; Front camera – 50MP Sony IMX480.

Q5. What are some key features of the OnePlus Nord CE5?

Answer. It features a 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 8350 processor, 7100mAh battery, 80W SUPERVOOC charging, IP65 rating, and OxygenOS 15.

Also Read: OnePlus Nord CE5 Goes on Open Sale in India Starting July 12

Also Read: OnePlus 15 and OnePlus Ace 6 Tipped for Joint October Launch