OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: No(rd)t Gonna Lie, It’s Almost Great

I’ve been using the OnePlus Nord CE5 as my daily driver for a few days now, and it’s looking like a compelling smartphone that strikes a balance between performance, battery life, design, and affordability. It’s packing a massive battery, a vibrant display, and a suite of AI features, trying to cater to a wide audience. 

However, it’s not without its shortcomings. After extensive hands-on time, here are my detailed thoughts on what works brilliantly, what falls short, and whether it’s worth your investment at the ₹22,999 offer price. Let’s dive deep.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Design and Build

The Nord CE5’s design is a blend of elegance and practicality, though it leans on plastic for the frame and back to keep costs down. The Nexus Blue variant I’ve been using features a textured finish that feels nice. You also have Black Infinity and Marble Mist options. 

Weighing just 199g and with a slim profile, it feels comfortable in hand, even with the large 7,100 mAh battery inside. There is also the IP65 rating which provides peace of mind against dust and light splashes, though it’s not submersible like IP68-rated phones.

However, the absence of OnePlus’s signature alert slider is a noticeable omission, and the plastic build, while durable, lacks the premium heft of glass or metal. The USB 2.0 Type-C port, hybrid dual SIM tray (with microSD support), and IR blaster are well-laid out, but the lack of NFC or eSIM is disappointing.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Display

The 6.77-inch Super Fluid AMOLED display is a standout feature. It has a resolution of  2400 x 1080 and with a buttery 120Hz refresh rate, it handles scrolling, gaming, and video playback with ease. The 1,430 nits peak brightness (1300 nits HBM) ensures excellent visibility outdoors, even in direct sunlight (though it’s not the best).

OnePlus says that Ultra HDR enhances color depth and contrast for compatible content on platforms like YouTube and Netflix. The Aqua Touch feature allows you to use your phone even with wet or oily fingers but I found it to be a hit and a miss.

Bezels are slim for the price but they are not even on all sides. Unfortunately, OnePlus doesn’t disclose the protection type (likely no Gorilla Glass), making a screen guard a wise investment. It does come with a pre-installed scratch guard though. 

The PWM is not revealed by OnePlus but I found it to be fine. I didn’t experience any eye strain whatsoever. Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE5 delivers a great display experience in the segment.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Speakers and Haptics

The single bottom-firing speaker is a downgrade from the CE4’s stereo setup, a compromise to accommodate the larger battery perhaps. It’s sufficiently loud for casual use and avoids distortion at max volume, but it lacks bass and stereo separation, falling short of expectations for a ₹25,000 device. 

Haptics are a more significant disappointment. The vibration motor feels cheap and imprecise, and on top of that, it even lacks the proper OHaptics integration that you would expect from a OnePlus phone.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Software

OxygenOS 15, running on Android 15, is a polished and efficient experience. The multitasking and app launches are fast, with no slowdowns detected over weeks of use. OnePlus commits to 4 years of major OS updates and 6 years of security patches, a very good promise in the mid-range segment that future-proofs the device.

The AI Toolbox 2.0, accessible via a sidebar, is a productivity powerhouse. Features like AI Summary, Translation, Writer, and Reply adapt to your current app, allowing you to draft emails, summarizing articles, or reply to messages. 

The AI Creativity suite, including Detail Boost, Unblur, Reflection Eraser, and AI Eraser are also available here. You also have the AI Recompose feature which allows photo editing with intelligent suggestions for crops, aspect ratios, and filters, all with minimal effort.

The Nord CE5 also supports both Circle to Search and Google Gemini, which even syncs with OxygenOS apps (Notes, Calendar, Clock) and Google services. Gemini Live is also available.

The Nord CE5 also features both AI MindSpace and the new AI Search feature. MindSpace allows you to swipe up with three fingers and save any content to your MindSpace. You can add reminders from that or save it for later. The new AI search feature allows you to search anything on your device locally with the help of AI. Like, for example, searching for the auto brightness setting or your flight details.

AI Voice Record supports Hindi transcription and call summaries, a practical touch for Indian users. You also have AI VoiceScribe for recording, transcribing, and translating everything in real time in any app, including WhatsApp and YouTube.

The Open Canvas feature is also available here, and it enables a 90:10 split-screen mode, enhancing the multitasking experience. It’s a game-changer for productivity, in addition to floating windows.

The new OnePlus Dialer’s call recording with transcripts is another plus, though bloatware (e.g., some pre-installed apps) can be disabled. This software earns an 8.5/10 for its richness and customization.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Biometrics

The under-display optical fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable, though its placement could be higher for ergonomic ease. Face unlock, using 2D facial recognition, is less secure but functional for quick access.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Performance

The MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset (4x Cortex-A715 @ 3.55GHz + 4x Cortex-A510), built on a 4nm process with Armv9 architecture, powers this device. This chipset is paired with 8/12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 128/256/512GB UFS 3.1 storage (expandable to 1TB). Here are some benchmark numbers:

Synthetic Benchmarks  

• AnTuTu v10: 1,411,250
• Geekbench 6 (CPU): Single-Core: 1,313; Multi-Core: 4,047
• Geekbench 6 (GPU): OpenCL: 7,438; Vulkan: 8,528
• AnTuTu v10 Storage Test: 143,478
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Test: Best Loop: 3,080; Lowest Loop: 1,007; Stability: 32.7%  

Gaming and Day-to-Day Performance  

Gaming is a strong suit. BGMI hits an average of 115 FPS with frame boost on, thanks to the CryoVelocity VC Cooling (7,041 mm² vapor chamber) keeping temperatures below 40°C. Natively, without frame boost on, you can get an average of 90 FPS.

Genshin Impact runs at 50-55 FPS on High settings, which is also good for this segment. The device doesn’t get abnormally hot either. Day-to-day tasks like navigation, video calls, and scrolling are fine, but there are occasional stutters here and there. 

The RAM management sometimes closes background apps, which needs attention. AI HyperBoost optimizes performance, and, like I said earlier, the phone doesn’t overheat at all. OnePlus has done a decent job with the optimization of the Dimensity 8350 here.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Cameras

The camera setup includes a 50MP Sony LYT-600 main sensor (1/1.95-inch, f/1.8, OIS) with Ultra HDR and Real Tone algorithms, delivering vibrant, detailed shots with good dynamic range. Low-light performance is decent, though there is a lot of softness.

The 8MP ultra-wide does a decent job in daylight with solid exposure but loses detail, typical for its resolution. The low-light shots are not usable.

The portrait mode on the Nord CE5 supports both the 1X and 2X options and you get decent photos with an acceptable edge detection. The skin tones, however, are not great and need some work. Overall, the cameras on the Nord CE5 are okay for the price, but nothing exceptional.

The 16MP front camera captures decent selfies, ideal for video calls, but skin tonrs need work. 

For the videos, the main camera supports 4K30 and 4K60 recording but the ultra-wide only supports 1080p30 while the front camera is capped at 1080p30/60. The footage from the main camera is fine but stabilization is a huge issue. Unfortunately, you cannot stabilize the 4K footage; that is limited to the 1080p60 mode on the main camera only.

OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Battery Life and Charging

The 7,100 mAh battery is a titan, lasting over 2 days with moderate use. I could get a screen-on time of more than 12 hours. Heavy gaming reduces this, but it still outlasts most rivals. The 80W SUPERVVOOC charges from 1% to 100% in about an hour, which is fine.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy the OnePlus Nord CE5?

The Nord CE5 is a mid-range phone prioritizing battery life, performance, and software longevity. The 7,100 mAh battery, Dimensity 8350 Apex, and 4+6 years of updates make it a future-proof choice. Cameras are serviceable, and AI features boost productivity and creativity.

Drawbacks include the single speaker, subpar haptics, no NFC, and occasional RAM hiccups (fixable with updates). At ₹22,999 with bank offers and Nord Buds 2r, it’s a good deal.

Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 8.1/10

• Design and Build: 8.5/10  
• Display: 8.5/10  
• Speakers: 6.5/10  
• Software: 8.5/10  
• Haptics: 6.5/10  
• Biometrics: 8/10  
• Performance: 8.5/10  
• Cameras: 8/10  
• Battery Life & Charging: 8.5/10  

First reviewed in July 2025.

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