The OnePlus Nord was a hit, a very well balanced proposal that practically everyone liked equally. that's why this OnePlus North 2 It was born with the challenge ahead of fighting against its own shadow, the worst enemy that any product can have today: surpassing a previous version that was so highly valued.
OnePlus Nord 2, video analysis
Technical characteristics
- Mediatek Dimensity 1200-AI processor
- 8/12 GB of RAM
- 128/256 GB internal storage expandable via microSD
- 6,43-inch AMOLED screen with 90Hz refresh rate
- Resolution FHD +
- 4.500 mAh battery with 65W fast charge (without wireless charging)
- 4G/LTE, 5G, BT 5.2, WiFi ac and NFC connectivity
- USB C data transfer and charging connector
- Biometric security: fingerprint reader under the screen and unlocking by facial recognition
- Front camera: 32MP f2.45
- Rear camera: main 50MP f1.88 OIS, Ultra wide angle 8MP f2.25 and B&W 2MP f2.5 sensor
- Dimensions: 158,9 x 73 2 x 8,25
- Weight 189gr
- Price from $399
design is not a problem
Sometimes generation jumps also involve design changes that are not always as well received. This time the OnePlus Nord 2 does not suffer from this since it inherits that appeal seen in the OnePlus 9.
Unless you know both devices very well, one could easily impersonate the other and no one would notice the difference unless they were told. That means that this Nord 2 is at a very good level and I personally found it a really nice terminal in every way.
Also, here I understand that the chosen shade of light blue will be liked more or less according to each one's preferences, but to me it seemed very successful for the type of phone it is and the public that he really wants to convince to bet on it. Although there will always be some additional option for those looking for something more sober.
From the physical details to highlight it is clear that the Alert Slider button is the most important of all. This button, OnePlus' hallmark in its best terminals, is like the one included in the iPhone and allows you to set three different states that affect the sounds with three positions: vibration and all sounds activated, only the active vibration and absolute silence without vibration.
Honestly, if you have used other OnePlus terminals with this button, getting it back if you had been using other models is great news. Because just by touching the button you can change from one state to another quickly, much faster than entering Android settings to activate or deactivate.
Otherwise, the build quality of the phone is great in every way. It is true that the frame is made of plastic, but having glass in front and behind, the sensation is that of a very well finished phone.
Fluency and user experience as the first keys
Leaving aside the physical, the fluidity and the user experience are the two aspects that OnePlus focuses on with this Nord 2 when it comes to convincing the user to bet on it. And it succeeds, despite the reluctance that the Mediatek Dimensity 1200 AI processor.
The chip used by OnePlus is true that it has its weak points, I'm not going to fool you, but in general terms it does not cause major problems in daily use. Everything runs normally, from games to other types of applications and the operating system itself.
The only drawback that can be put to it at first is that it gets a little hot when it is required for long periods of use. This usually happens using the camera intensively or playing games, but really, and even more so considering that we are in summer, it is something that happens to a multitude of terminals.
For the rest, there is no task that has not been executed well in these days of testing. Also, together with a screen with AMOLED technology and refresh rate of 90 Hz The experience is, as I say, very fluid. Something in which Oxygen OS also has a lot to do, an Android layer that is a hallmark of the brand and a great attraction for many OnePlus fans.
Images that stand out together with good sound
The use of a custom processor with different improvements via AI make the screen of this Nord 2 look a little better thanks to features such as the HDR10+ support. Both with native content and other content enhanced via software, the colors displayed on the screen of this Nord 2 look very good.
In addition, this AI not only improves the color, in some common applications such as Instagram or YouTube it applies a series of changes that seek to increase the resolution and therefore the quality of the user experience.
So all this plus good sound make enjoying videos, music and any other audiovisual content a very pleasant and satisfying experience, no matter what type of user you are, whether normal or very demanding.
Photographic section, at the height of the original Nord?
There is no doubt that the main challenge of the Nord 2 was going to be in the photographic section. The original Nord left a great taste in the mouth, so the first thing any user would ask themselves is to what extent it improves or not? Well, without going into a direct comparison: the Nord 2 is a phone that is photographically speaking very capable. It is not perfect, but it does allow you to obtain very interesting photographs.
The main chamber, composed of a 50MP sensor plus another 8MP ultra-wide angle and a monochrome result in a fairly versatile combination, although in my case a real zoom is always missing and not by cutting the main sensor.
Still, the experience with the main camera as well as the front camera designed for selfies have convinced me. There are moments where the processing and the HDR mode can play tricks, but it must also be said in favor of OnePlus that the camera software is the one that changes the most over the months of the phone's life. So today's results can vary a lot in a matter of a couple of months.
As is the camera software, the Nord 2 seems to me a phone that photographically speaking you can enjoy a lot. That collaboration with Hasselblad that they leave exclusively for the OnePlus 9 and future reference phones is not present here, but in general what you get is very good.
And if all this were not enough, for me that the video is something important, having a movie mode where you fine-tune each of the camera's parameters I find it super interesting compared to the classic automatic mode that allows you little room for maneuver depending on the circumstances. In addition, the power of the processor also allows you to record with the rear and front cameras at the same time.
A mid-range to take into account
The OnePlus Nord 2 is a phone that points to the mid-range, which in its version of 8/128 GB costs only 399 euros and in the 12/256 GB it goes up to 499 euros. Both prices are not the cheapest, but taking into account what it offers in terms of user experience, cameras, performance, design, etc., they make it seem like a very worthwhile proposal.
It is true that there are details that could be improved, such as having included wireless charging. Although the 65W that it accepts with the brand's charger means that having it at full battery is only a matter of minutes and that's great.
Otherwise, the Balance is what would best define this OnePlus Nord 2. So, knowing where he stands, we can say that he is a worthy successor to that Nord that surprised us last year and who is not weighed down by the long shadow of the previous version of him.