Introduction and Specs
The OnePlus Nord 5 is here — and it’s easily one of the most exciting mid-range phones the brand has launched in a while. With a refreshed design, upgraded display, and the first-ever Snapdragon 8-series chip in the Nord lineup, OnePlus clearly wants this one to stand out.
The Nord 5 carries a new look that feels familiar — almost iPhone-like — but with its own twist. Thankfully, OnePlus kept the design simple without going overboard on the camera island like many others do these days.
Under the hood, the Nord 5 runs on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a powerful chipset that brings near-flagship GPU performance at a mid-range price. It’s also the first OnePlus phone to feature a 144Hz display, paired with a 6.83-inch OLED screen.
Battery life differs by region: Indian buyers get a huge 6,800mAh battery, while European users have to settle for 5,200mAh.
Design
OnePlus took a different route this year — the all-metal build of the Nord 4 is gone, replaced by a plastic back and frame. Sure, it’s not as premium, but it’s still lightweight and feels good in the hand. The flat edges and subtle curves make it comfortable to hold, even if it’s a bit slippery.
The design is neat and minimalistic, with a tidy camera island and three soft, classy colors: Marble Sands (white), Dry Ice (blueish), and Phantom Grey. We tested the Dry Ice version — and it looks cool (pun intended).
Display
If you love smooth, vivid screens, the Nord 5 won’t disappoint. The phone packs a 6.83-inch OLED display with 144Hz refresh rate and a 1272 x 2800px resolution. It supports HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and even Ultra HDR in photos.
In real-world use, the display is impressively bright — reaching up to 1330 nits in auto mode and 787 nits manually. You’ll have no problem using it outdoors.
Battery Life
Depending on where you buy it, you’ll either get a 5,200mAh or 6,800mAh battery. Sadly, European users get the smaller version, which is a downgrade from last year’s 5,500mAh unit.
Despite that, OnePlus has done some great optimization work. The phone still delivers excellent endurance, especially for web browsing and daily use.
Charging Speed
While the Nord 5 drops from 100W (on the Nord 4) to 80W fast charging, it’s still among the fastest in its class. A full charge takes around 42 minutes, and you can hit 80% in just 30 minutes.
There are also smart charging options like battery health protection, bypass charging for gaming, and even wired reverse charging at 5W.
Software
Running OxygenOS 15 on top of Android 15, the Nord 5 feels clean, fluid, and familiar. OnePlus promises 4 major OS updates and 6 years of security patches, which is a big plus.
AI features take the spotlight here, with OnePlus AI Plus Mind acting as your personal smart assistant — designed to learn and adapt to your habits over time.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 delivers a noticeable performance jump over the Nord 4’s chip. Paired with Adreno 735 GPU, it handles multitasking, gaming, and everyday use smoothly.
You can choose between 8GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB variants, both featuring UFS 3.1 storage for speedy app loading and transfers.
Camera
The 50MP Sony LYT-700 main camera does a great job, capturing crisp and well-balanced shots in most conditions. The 8MP ultrawide, however, is quite basic and lacks autofocus.
On the bright side, the selfie camera sees a notable improvement, and the camera app itself runs super smoothly — even in low light.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 5 ticks a lot of boxes — great display, long battery life, fast charging, solid performance, and clean software. It’s easily one of the most balanced mid-range phones right now.
However, it’s not without its flaws. The plastic build, weaker ultrawide camera, and downgraded battery in some regions might disappoint some users. Also, with competition heating up, you might find better value elsewhere — or just wait a few months for the price to drop.
Bottom line: The OnePlus Nord 5 is stylish, reliable, and fast — but not quite the no-brainer upgrade OnePlus fans might’ve hoped for.
I’m Sirish Chandran, lead author of techtipsguide.com. With a MBA degree and over 3 years of writing experience, I cover automobiles, gadgets, and the latest news in a simple and reliable way. My goal is to deliver accurate and engaging content that helps readers stay informed and make better decisions. Stay connected with rfbindia.com for the latest updates from the tech and auto world.