I’ve spent the last decade reviewing smartphones, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the mid-range segment is where the real battles are fought. My desk drawer is literally overflowing with devices that promised the moon but delivered a rock. So when the OnePlus Nord 5 landed in my hands last week, my expectations were… let’s say cautiously optimistic.
My relationship with OnePlus has been complicated. I was one of those early adopters who stood in line for the OnePlus One back in 2014 (remember those ridiculous invites?). But somewhere along the way, as prices crept up and Oxygen OS started feeling more like ColorOS, the magic seemed to fade.
Has the OnePlus Nord 5 recaptured some of that original OnePlus magic? Let’s dive in—but I promise this won’t be one of those reviews that reads like it was copied from a press release. You’ll get my unfiltered thoughts after using this phone as my daily driver for the past week in Mumbai’s unforgiving summer heat.
The OnePlus Nord 5 Design | Finally Something That Doesn’t Look Like Everything Else
The first thing that struck me about the OnePlus Nord 5 was… well, actually, it was the color. The “Nebula Purple” variant I received shifts between deep violet and an almost electric blue depending on how light hits it. In a sea of boring gradient finishes, this one actually made my friends ask “What phone is that?” when I pulled it out at a café in Bandra.
But looks aside, what actually impressed me was the build quality. OnePlus has finally brought back the alert slider to the Nord series (where were you all this time, old friend?). The frame is plastic—no surprise at this price point—but it doesn’t feel cheap. It’s that weird kind of plastic that almost convinces you it might be metal until you tap it with your fingernail.
The front glass is Gorilla Glass Victus, which should theoretically survive most pocket drops. I say theoretically because I’m not brave (or rich) enough to test this claim. Sorry, dear readers, my journalistic dedication has limits.
At 7.9mm thick and weighing 182g, the OnePlus Nord 5 feels substantial without being heavy. After using those massive battery bricks that pass for flagships these days, this feels refreshingly manageable.
One thing though—and this drives me nuts—why is the camera bump so unnecessarily large? It’s like OnePlus decided bigger equals better in consumers’ minds. The phone rocks like a seesaw when placed on a flat surface without a case. Speaking of which, yes, they do include a decent clear case in the box. At least there’s that.
OnePlus Nord 5 Specifications | The Numbers Game
Let’s cut through the spec sheet fluff. The OnePlus Nord 5 comes with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor. Is it the fastest chip around? No. Will it handle everything you throw at it? Most likely. I ran BGMI on it (because what’s a phone review in India without testing BGMI, right?), and it maintained a steady 60fps on “High” settings with occasional dips during intense firefights. Not bad at all. The thermal management seems improved from previous Nord models—I played for about 40 minutes and the phone got warm but never uncomfortable.
Here’s where I need to give credit where it’s due. The 6.74-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate is genuinely excellent. OnePlus has always done displays well, and they haven’t skimped here. It gets bright enough (1100 nits peak) to be visible even under direct Delhi summer sunlight—and that’s saying something.
RAM and storage options are pretty standard: 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, and 12GB/256GB. I’ve got the middle variant, and honestly, for most people, that’s the sweet spot. The RAM management is surprisingly good—I could keep about 15 apps in memory without noticeable reloads.
Wait, I almost forgot—the fingerprint sensor. It’s an optical under-display sensor that works about 9 times out of 10. That’s decent, but not as reliable as Samsung’s ultrasonic ones. Then again, at this price point, I can’t really complain too much.
The Real Deal | OnePlus Nord 5 Price in India and What You’re Getting For It
Let’s talk money, shall we? The OnePlus Nord 5 starts at ₹29,999 for the base 8GB/128GB variant and goes up to ₹35,999 for the 12GB/256GB model. Is that competitive? Well, yes and no. When the first Nord launched, it felt like an absolute steal. The Nord 5 doesn’t quite give me that same feeling. It’s priced fairly for what it offers, but it’s entering a bloodbath of a segment where Realme, Poco, and even Samsung’s A-series are fighting for every rupee.
What makes the pricing more palatable are the bank offers. If you have an ICICI credit card, you can knock off another ₹3,000, bringing the effective price down to ₹26,999. That suddenly makes the OnePlus Nord 5 much more attractive.
But here’s a thought that keeps bugging me: if you can stretch your budget by just ₹5,000 more, you’re in Nothing Phone (2a) Plus territory, which offers a more distinctive design and comparable performance. And if you can go ₹7,000-8,000 higher, you’re looking at the OnePlus 12R with its flagship-class processor.
The Nord series used to be about offering “a little extra” at its price point. The Nord 5 doesn’t quite recapture that magic, but it’s still a solid option if you catch it during sales. Oh, and availability? It’s selling on Amazon, the OnePlus website, and offline retail partners starting next week. Expect the usual flash sale nonsense for the first couple of weeks before regular availability kicks in.
Camera Capabilities | Is the OnePlus Nord 5 Finally a Camera Contender?
Let’s be honest—mid-range phones and cameras have historically been a compromise at best and a disappointment at worst. So where does the OnePlus Nord 5 land? The camera system includes a 50MP Sony LYT-600 primary sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide, and the obligatory 2MP macro that nobody asked for. The front gets a 16MP selfie camera. In good lighting, the main camera is genuinely impressive. The colors are vibrant without being oversaturated (I’m looking at you, Samsung), and there’s a surprising amount of detail. OnePlus has finally found a good balance in its image processing.
I took it to Marine Drive during sunset, and the dynamic range handled the challenging light surprisingly well. The Mumbai skyline against the setting sun came out looking Instagram-ready without any editing.
Low light, however, remains a mixed bag. Night mode helps, but photos still look soft and processed. It’s better than previous Nord models but still not in the same league as flagships or even the Pixel 7a.
The ultrawide is… functional. There’s a noticeable color shift between the main and ultrawide cameras, and the edges get soft. It’s there when you need it, but I wouldn’t rely on it for important shots.
Portrait mode deserves a special mention—it’s actually quite good. Edge detection is accurate most of the time, and the bokeh looks natural rather than the artificial blur some phones produce. Video recording tops out at 4K/30fps, which is standard for this segment. The footage is stable thanks to OIS, but nothing that will make smartphone videographers switch from their iPhones or Galaxy S devices.
For social media and casual photography, the OnePlus Nord 5‘s cameras are more than adequate. For anything beyond that, you’ll still want a proper camera or a flagship phone.
Battery Life and Charging | The OnePlus Nord 5 Won’t Leave You Hunting for Outlets
Battery anxiety is real, folks. And after using phones that die by dinner time, the 5,000mAh battery in the OnePlus Nord 5 feels liberating. On a typical day of moderate use—about 5 hours of screen time including some social media, messaging, calls, a bit of BGMI, and endless scrolling through Instagram Reels—I ended the day with around 30% left in the tank. That’s impressive.
The included 80W SUPERVOOC charger is the real MVP here. It juices up the phone from empty to 100% in about 35 minutes. I timed it during my morning routine—I plugged it in when I started brewing my chai, and it was fully charged before I finished getting ready. Coming from an iPhone, this still feels like magic.
What’s missing? Wireless charging. But at this price point, that’s a luxury few phones offer. Would I have liked to see it? Sure. Is it a dealbreaker? Not really.
One thing to note—the 80W charging does make the phone warm. Not alarmingly hot, but you’ll notice it. OnePlus says this is normal and won’t affect battery health, but only time will tell how the battery holds up after a year or two of rapid charging.
How Does the OnePlus Nord 5 Stack Up Against the Competition?
The ₹25,000-35,000 segment is fiercely competitive in India right now. So how does the OnePlus Nord 5 compare to its rivals? Against the Realme GT Neo 5 SE, the Nord offers a better software experience but loses out slightly on raw performance. The Poco F5 has a slightly better processor but doesn’t feel as premium in the hand. Samsung’s Galaxy A55 has better cameras and longer software support but lags in charging speed and performance.
Then there’s the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, which offers similar specs with a more distinctive design and clean software. It’s really a matter of priorities.
What gives the OnePlus Nord 5 an edge for many Indian users is the offline service network. OnePlus has greatly expanded its service centers across India, even in tier-2 cities. When your phone needs repair, having a physical location to visit instead of dealing with courier pickups and weeks of waiting makes a huge difference.
The other advantage is OxygenOS. Despite becoming more ColorOS-like in recent years, it still offers a relatively clean experience with less bloatware than you’ll find on Realme, Poco, or even Samsung devices. Yes, there are some preinstalled apps, but most can be uninstalled.
For what it’s worth, I’ve found the software experience on the OnePlus Nord 5 to be surprisingly good. It’s responsive, the animations are smooth, and everything just works without weird glitches or lag.
FAQ:
Is the OnePlus Nord 5 waterproof?
The OnePlus Nord 5 comes with an IP54 rating, which means it’s protected against limited dust ingress and splashes of water. This doesn’t mean you should take it swimming or use it in the rain, but it should survive accidental splashes and light rain. Unlike flagship OnePlus models that offer IP68 protection, the OnePlus Nord 5‘s water resistance is more basic—enough for everyday mishaps but not for underwater photography or monsoon season adventures without a case.
How long will the OnePlus Nord 5 receive software updates?
OnePlus has promised 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches for the OnePlus Nord 5. This means it should receive Android 15, 16, and 17, keeping it current until 2027. This is a step up from earlier Nord models that typically got 2 years of updates. However, OnePlus’s track record with timely updates for mid-range devices has been spotty, so while the promise is there, actual implementation might vary. The OnePlus Nord 5 launches with OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14 out of the box.
Does the OnePlus Nord 5 support 5G networks in India?
Yes, the OnePlus Nord 5 supports all 5G bands currently available in India, including bands n1, n3, n5, n8, n28, n40, n41, n77, and n78. This ensures compatibility with both Jio and Airtel 5G networks across the country. I’ve personally tested it with a Jio 5G SIM in Mumbai, and the speeds were excellent—around 300Mbps in areas with good coverage. The phone also supports carrier aggregation for better network performance in congested areas.
How does the OnePlus Nord 5‘s display compare to other phones in this price range?
The OnePlus Nord 5‘s 6.74-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate is among the best in its price segment. It offers 1100 nits of peak brightness, which is excellent for outdoor visibility even under direct sunlight—a common issue in India’s bright outdoor conditions. The display supports HDR10+ content and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Compared to competitors like the Realme GT Neo 5 SE or Poco F5, the OnePlus Nord 5‘s display has better color accuracy and slightly better brightness levels, though the differences are subtle.
Is the OnePlus Nord 5 good for gaming?
The OnePlus Nord 5 handles most games very well. With its Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor and up to 12GB of RAM, it can run popular titles like BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and Genshin Impact smoothly. BGMI runs at “High” graphics settings with a stable 60fps, with occasional drops during intense moments. The phone includes a gaming mode called “Game Space” that optimizes performance and blocks notifications while gaming. The cooling system manages heat effectively during extended gaming sessions, though it does get warm after about 30-40 minutes of intensive gaming—something to consider if you play for hours in India’s hot climate.