The smartphone market is bustling with launches, but few releases create as much anticipation in the mid-range segment as OnePlus Nord CE 5. Successor to last year’s Nord CE 4, the CE 5 is designed to refine the user experience while keeping pricing aggressive. In this comprehensive breakdown, we dissect every aspect of the OnePlus Nord CE 5, from unboxing to in-depth camera and performance tests, with a critical look at its improvements, cost-saving decisions, and new AI features.
Introduction: OnePlus Doubles Down on Safe but Smart Improvements
OnePlus has played it strategically safe with the Nord CE 5. Instead of radical redesigns, the company focused on refining core aspects: a larger battery, a significantly improved processor, more robust software support, and enhanced camera capabilities, all while keeping the price steady. For buyers, this means more value for nearly the same money.
Unboxing Experience: Everything You Need, Out of the Box
Inside the box, users find:
- The OnePlus Nord CE 5 handset itself.
- A high-quality protective back cover.
- An 80W SuperVOOC fast charger.
- The essential cable, SIM ejector pin, and user manual.
- Pre-applied screen protector for quick setup and safety.
This unboxing reflects OnePlus’ approach of providing a complete starter kit, ensuring users don’t need to make any immediate accessory purchases.
Physical Overview: Minimal & Modern, With Practical Touches
OnePlus opted for a minimalist design this year. The handset features:
- A flat-frame chassis with rounded corners for comfortable handling, though the size makes it feel ‘double-handed’ and substantial.
- The Nexus Blue variant, alongside two other colors, brings a clean, understated look.
- All the essential ports, along with power and volume buttons on the expected sides. However, the iconic OnePlus alert slider is missing—consistent with the CE series’ cost-saving trends.
- Polycarbonate construction gives the phone a matte finish that resists fingerprints.
- The device weighs just under 200g (specifically, 199g) even with a 7100mAh battery—a notable increase over the previous generation’s 5500mAh, and an impressive balancing act between heft and battery life.
- The phone carries an IP65 rating—it’s splash-resistant, but not meant for submersion.
Audio and Haptics: Cost Cutting, But Careful Execution
There are a couple of areas where OnePlus has chosen to save costs:
- Single Speaker: Unlike rivals offering stereo setups at this price, the Nord CE 5 has only a single loudspeaker. Nevertheless, its loudness and clarity are commendable for a mono arrangement, outperforming many typical single-speaker designs.
- Haptic Motor: The vibration feedback is ‘normal’—less solid than the CE 4, but adequate for routine notifications.
Importantly, connectivity is uncompromised: support for 4G+, 5G, USB 2.0, and the presence of an IR blaster. There’s no NFC, but call quality and data performance (tested with a Jio SIM) are reliable—no dropped calls or signal hiccups witnessed.
Display: Big, Bold, and Bright
The CE 5 features a 6.77-inch Full HD+ 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display:
- 10-bit color support ensures vivid, accurate visuals.
- HDR10 is supported, verified within Netflix as well.
- Outdoor visibility is strong for the segment.
- The under-display optical fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable.
- As for display protection, OnePlus hasn’t specified the exact glass type, so it’s advisable to install a tempered glass screen protector for added peace of mind.
- Always-on display options exist, but ‘permanently on’ mode is inexplicably missing, even though previous OnePlus models provided this.
Performance: Dramatic Gains Over Last Generation
This year, performance is a leap ahead. The key improvements include:
- MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex Processor: OnePlus claims this is a tuned version for better performance, built in partnership with MediaTek.
- UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5X RAM add to overall speed.
- AnTuTu scores hover around 1.4 million, a huge jump from last year’s ~850,000, and higher than several similarly priced competitors (e.g., Nothing Phone 3’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 or Motorola’s Dimensity 7400).
- Base configuration: 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, launching at ₹24,999 (with offer price as low as ₹22,999 after card discounts).
Gaming is smooth for mainstream titles:
- BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) supports up to 90fps, with an Adaptive Frame Booster unlockable at 120fps (actual gameplay saw averages above 100fps without excessive heating).
- Non-gaming focus: While not a dedicated gaming phone, its hardware allows for casual to moderately intensive gaming without major thermal throttling.
Software and Updates: Industry-Leading Promise
The CE 5 ships with Android 15, layered with OnePlus’ clean OxygenOS 15. Crucially:
- 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patch support—superior to most peers in its class.
- OnePlus dialer is now standard (vs. Google Dialer previously), allowing call recording without announcement, a practical touch for some users.
- Limited pre-installed bloatware—only a few select apps need manual uninstalling.
AI Features: Smart Additions for Everyday Utility
OnePlus leans heavily into AI-powered features, such as:
- AI Summary for automatically condensing texts or pages.
- AI Writer for composing and rewriting on the fly.
- AI Replies, even integrated with third-party apps like WhatsApp for quick messaging.
- Voice Scribe: transcribe voice notes and more.
- Mind Space: swipe up with fingers to enter this ‘smart hub’ for organizing info, tasks, and links.
- AI Search: quick search across your personal phone data, with Gemini integration.
- Circle to Search: familiar Google Gemini features.
- In the camera app, tools such as AI Unblur, Reflection Eraser, and AI Object Removal elevate photo editing.
These additions make the phone far more than just a hardware update; they upgrade the daily usability.
Camera: Step Up in Imaging
The camera department has seen real upgrades:
- Main rear camera: 50MP Sony sensor.
- Ultra-wide: 8MP.
- Selfie shooter: 16MP.
Improvements over Nord CE 4 include:
- Rear camera supports 4K at 60fps recording (vs. 4K 30fps previously).
- Selfie camera does 1080p at 60fps (no 4K here, but frame rate bump is important).
- Side-by-side video samples show visibly better color, stabilization, and dynamic range on the CE 5.
- Photos: Sometimes slightly over-saturated, but the CE 5 mostly manages highlights and colors better than the CE 4, especially in low light and artificial lighting.
- Portrait mode: Good edge detection and digital 2x zoom in portrait, with consistent results in most scenarios.
- Selfies: Decent detail and exposure.
- Video recordings: Acceptable quality, with notably improved stabilization. Audio quality in video capture is also reasonable, as demonstrated in in-video tests.
Battery Life: Massive Upgrade, Efficient Delivery
A standout feature is the 7100mAh battery, making it one of the largest in the category:
- Despite the huge cell, weight is managed under 200g, avoiding an unwieldy feel.
- With ‘normal usage’ (excluding heavy gaming), real-world Screen On Time (SOT) approaches two full days.
- Fast charging via the included 80W charger keeps downtime minimal.
- No separate bypass charging mode is highlighted, but sustained gaming and heavy use do not result in uncomfortable heating or battery drain.
Real World Impressions: Balanced, Not Perfect
Who is this phone for?
- Users wanting the OnePlus brand, a clean Android experience, and futureproofed software update guarantees, but with a budget below ₹25,000.
- Those who value battery life, display quality, and daily reliability over niche flagship features.
Where it falls short:
- No stereo speakers: A dual speaker setup is glaringly absent at this price.
- No NFC for contactless payments.
- Plastic build may lack a ‘premium’ feel for some.
- The signature OnePlus alert slider is missing.
- Always-on display is not truly always on.
However, none of these are dealbreakers given the competitive pricing and the leap in practical usability over its predecessor.
Comparison to Standard OnePlus Nord 5
OnePlus also released the Nord 5 alongside the CE 5. For users with a slightly higher budget (~₹30,000), the Nord 5 offers a more premium build, improved haptics, and flagship software extras. Animation, UI fluidity, and possibly camera processing will feel a notch above. However, for value, Nord CE 5 is with few true rivals for its combination of battery, display, and ongoing software support.
Final Verdict: The Sweet Spot for Value Seekers
The OnePlus Nord CE 5 is not for those seeking the ultimate in camera capability or premium build. Instead, it targets pragmatic buyers who want the maximum possible for their ₹25k, without sacrificing long-term dependability or core performance. It stands out for:
- Reliable day-to-day power.
- Strong battery endurance.
- Useful AI and software enhancements.
- A display that looks and moves like more expensive alternatives.
- Seriously improved after-sales update commitment.
If you’re a OnePlus fan with a tight budget or just looking for a reliable all-rounder, the Nord CE 5 is easily among the best in its class—especially considering the iterative, steady improvements over last year’s model.