OnePlus has long been known for delivering feature-rich phones at prices far below premium flagship levels. The OnePlus Nord 5 continues that tradition—offering many high-end features, yet with few compromises. In this review we’ll dig into what makes the Nord 5 shine, where it falls short, and whether it’s the one to get in 2025.
Overview of OnePlus Nord 5
| Feature | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Design & Build | Plastic chassis, matte rear in three color options (Light Blue, White with marble effect, Dark Gray). Lacks metal frame of predecessor. IP65 rated (dust & strong water jet protection) but not waterproof. Weight: ~211g. |
| Display | 6.83-inch AMOLED, 144 Hz refresh rate. Very bright outdoors (up to ~1162 cd/m²). Resolution of 2800×1272 (~450 PPI). Excellent viewing angles. Some PWM flicker at low brightness. |
| Performance | Powered by Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 + Adreno 735. Offers a noticeable leap in raw processing & graphics over the prior generation. Smooth in daily tasks & gaming, though storage is UFS 3.1, which is slower than UFS 4.0 used in Nord 4. |
| Cameras | Rear: 50 MP main cam with OIS, 8 MP wide-angle + macro. Strong daylight performance; in low light, good sharpness but shadows and dark areas less well handled. Front: 50 MP selfie cam with solid detail. Videos up to 4K/60fps. |
| Battery & Charging | 5,200 mAh battery (Europe model), 80W wired fast charging. Battery life is good but slightly lower than Nord 4 due to smaller battery & greater power draw. No wireless charging. |
| Connectivity / Other Features | WiFi 6, dual nano-SIM, NFC, infrared blaster. No microSD slot, no eSIM. Plus-key (replaceable function) replacing legacy notification slider. OxygenOS based on Android 15, with 4 OS updates + security patches until ~2031. |
Pros & Cons of OnePlus Nord 5
Pros
- Elegant design and premium feel, despite plastic build
- Bright, fluid AMOLED screen at 144 Hz
- Strong performance via Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
- Long software support and updates promise
- Good speaker quality and a fast fingerprint sensor
- Excellent front-camera performance for selfies
Cons
- Storage downgraded from UFS 4.0 to UFS 3.1
- Only wired charging, no wireless option
- Chassis is plastic, which may feel less premium to some
- Case gets warm under heavy use
- No eSIM, no microSD card expansion
- PWM flicker at low brightness may bother sensitive users
Detailed Specifications
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Display | AMOLED, 6.83″; 2800 × 1272 pixels; 144 Hz; Gorilla Glass 7i |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3; Adreno 735 GPU |
| Memory & Storage | Base model: 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage; option for 12 GB + 512 GB |
| Rear Cameras | 50 MP main (OIS), 8 MP wide-angle & macro combo |
| Front Camera | 50 MP |
| Battery | 5,200 mAh; 80W wired charging; small reverse wired charging 5W |
| Weight / Dimensions | ~211 g; thickness ~8.1 mm |
| OS & Updates | OxygenOS on Android 15; promise of 4 major OS versions + security updates until 2031 |
Display & User Experience of OnePlus Nord 5
The 144 Hz AMOLED panel of the Nord 5 is one of its standout features. It delivers smooth animations and scrolling. Outdoor visibility is excellent with high peak brightness. Color reproduction is vivid, though somewhat exaggerated out of the box if you want around-photo accuracy. Low brightness usage shows PWM flicker which users sensitive to flicker might notice.
Input devices like the fingerprint sensor are fast and reliable. The physical removal of the notification slider in favor of a more flexible “Plus key” is polarising: some will miss the slider; others will appreciate having a customizable hardware key.
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Performance & Gaming of OnePlus Nord 5
Everyday tasks—social media, web browsing, video playback—feel snappy and fluid. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 gives the Nord 5 a performance edge over many rivals in its price bracket. Graphics performance is strong enough for demanding mobile games, though the UFS 3.1 storage slows down large file transfers and loading times compared to phones with UFS 4.0.
Thermals are good under moderate load; under extended gaming the device warms up, and some throttling might occur.
Cameras of OnePlus Nord 5
The rear camera setup is largely carried over from the Nord 4. The main 50 MP shooter with OIS does very well in daylight, rendering details sharply, colors punchily, with good HDR performance. The wide-angle/macro combo is serviceable but not exceptional—edge sharpness drops off, and macro images lack consistency.
Selfies via the 50 MP front cam are impressive, especially in good lighting. Low light selfies show reasonable brightness and detail.
Video: Up to 4K at 60 frames per second, with stable performance and good autofocus response.
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Battery & Charging of OnePlus Nord 5
Battery capacity is 5,200 mAh in the reviewed model with solid endurance. For regular usage—calls, chat apps, media streaming—you should easily get through a full day. Heavy gaming or long screen-on time will bring you close to needing a recharge in the evening.
Charging is fast at 80W wired, so recharging is quick. Note: no wireless charging, which is a drawback for users used to that convenience.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 5 delivers a compelling package for its price segment. If you’re looking for a phone with high refresh rate display, cutting-edge performance, reliable software support, and strong selfie performance, the Nord 5 is hard to beat under ~$500.
It has some trade-offs: slower storage, plastic build, no wireless charging, and minor camera/editing compromises. If those are deal-breakers, you might consider its predecessor (Nord 4) or other phones in similar price ranges.
Should You Buy OnePlus Nord 5?
Choose the Nord 5 if you value:
- Speed, fluidity and performance in real-world usage
- Great front camera for selfies
- Long software support
- A premium feel without paying flagship prices
Maybe skip or consider alternatives if you need:
- Wireless charging
- Expandable storage / microSD
- Metal or glass premium build
- Perfect color-critical displays
Final Rating Summary
| Aspect | Rating out of 10 |
|---|---|
| Design & Build | 8 |
| Display | 9 |
| Performance | 9 |
| Camera System | 8 |
| Battery & Charging | 7.5 |
| Overall Value | 8.5 |
On balance, OnePlus Nord 5 is an excellent choice in its class, offering more strengths than weaknesses. If you accept its compromises, it’s a smartphone that overdelivers for the price.