Thinking about upgrading your smartphone without breaking the bank? The OnePlus Nord CE 5 might just be the midrange marvel you’re looking for. With a sleek design, huge battery, and AI-powered features, it’s more than just a pretty face.
Let’s look into what makes this phone stand out (and where it falls short) in the fiercely competitive ₹25,000 segment.
Design
The Nord CE 5 sticks to OnePlus’s signature style — clean, modern, and comfortable to hold. Despite having a plastic body, it doesn’t feel cheap. The Nexus Blue color looks stunning under light, and the overall design feels refined. At 199g, it’s not the lightest phone, but it’s well-balanced.
You get a familiar camera layout at the back, with an IR blaster hidden creatively between the cameras. The screen is a 6.77-inch OLED with slim bezels and a punch-hole selfie camera up top. There’s no alert slider or stereo speakers — small trade-offs for a phone at this price.
Software
Running Android 15 with OxygenOS 15, the Nord CE 5 delivers a clean, bloat-free experience. You’ll get four years of OS updates and six years of security patches — that’s flagship-level support.
AI features like VoiceScribe and screen-translate work surprisingly well, though you’ll miss the AI Plus Key found on more premium models.
Apps run smooth, and multitasking is a breeze. Just remember to uncheck any unwanted apps during setup — Amazon, Cred, and Candy Crush come pre-selected.
Performance
The MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex is the real MVP here. It’s a beast in this category, offering a 25% boost in multi-core performance over the previous model. Whether you’re editing videos, playing games, or just browsing, the Nord CE 5 doesn’t stutter.
Here’s how it stacks up against the competition:
| Phone | Chipset | AnTuTu Score | Geekbench Multi | 3DMark Wild Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnePlus Nord CE 5 | Dimensity 8350 Apex | 14,12,373 | 3,989 | 11,038 |
| Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | Dimensity 7400 | 6,49,652 | 3,049 | 3,675 |
| Vivo T4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | 7,80,665 | 3,043 | 4,090 |
| Nothing Phone 3a | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | 8,04,179 | 3,255 | 4,175 |
Gaming? Absolutely buttery smooth. COD: Mobile, BGMI, and Asphalt ran without hiccups, even after 40-minute sessions.
Display
The 6.77-inch OLED display is bright, colorful, and responsive. It supports 120Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling, making scrolling and gaming feel fluid. It handles outdoor brightness well, even when your fingers are wet — a nice touch.
You’ll want to disable the ProXDR mode in the Photos app, though, as it changes how images look on the phone versus other screens.
Camera
The main 50MP Sony IMX600 sensor captures detailed and natural-looking shots. Colors pop just enough without being over-the-top. Low-light performance is solid for the price, especially with the night mode.
Ultrawide photos? Decent in daylight but struggle in the dark. There’s noticeable edge warping and noise. Selfies, on the other hand, are crisp and clear thanks to the 16MP front camera, and thankfully, no over-aggressive beauty filters by default.
Video recording maxes out at 4K 60fps on the rear, and 1080p 60fps on the selfie cam. Optical image stabilization (OIS) helps a lot in keeping shots steady.
Battery
Here’s where the Nord CE 5 really shines — a massive 7,100mAh battery. It comfortably lasts two full days on a single charge. Even power users will struggle to drain it in one day.
With 80W SuperVOOC charging, you’ll go from 0 to 100% in just over an hour. Here are the synthetic test results:
- Video Loop Test: 27 hours 10 minutes
- PCMark Battery Test: 17 hours 44 minutes
Pretty impressive, right?
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE 5 is a solid midrange choice if you want top-tier battery life, reliable performance, and long-term software support. Sure, it lacks stereo speakers and the ultrawide camera isn’t the best. But for ₹24,999, you’re getting more than your money’s worth.
Planning to upgrade? Put this one on your shortlist — especially if battery life and software support matter to you.
FAQs
Is the OnePlus Nord CE 5 good for gaming?
Yes, it runs popular games smoothly with high settings.
Does Nord CE 5 have a headphone jack?
No, the phone does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack.
How long does the battery last?
Up to 2 days of moderate to heavy use per charge.
Does it support 4K video recording?
Yes, the main camera supports 4K at 30/60fps.
Is the software clean and bloat-free?
Mostly yes, but some apps are pre-selected during setup.
