Something significant seems to be happening in the smartphone world. Perhaps even a kind of “scam” involving major brands. Today, we put another exciting phone to the test: the OnePlus Nord 5.
The original OnePlus Nord was cool but fragile. We had to buy three units just to complete its full durability test! Now, we have the OnePlus Nord 5. It feels more like a Samsung phone in design. OnePlus often compromises on cost, perhaps to offer better specs or increase profit. The glass quality of the previous OnePlus 30 wasn’t perfect for its price. It also lacked waterproofing. So, what about the Nord 5?
This new Nord 5 feels more plastic and cheaper compared to the Nord 4. If you plan to use your phone for three to four years, it needs a solid structure and good materials. Phones face accidental abuse every day. Let’s see how the Nord 5 holds up!
IP Rating Test: Splash & Dust Resistance
One of the best upgrades for any phone, even in the ₹15,000 price segment, is water protection. This means a better IP rating. Almost all brands now offer IP68 or IP69. These ratings are essential. Humidity, moisture, and water damage cause most phones to fail. Repairs can be costly, or you might even need a new phone. A single drop of water can potentially damage the motherboard.
The OnePlus Nord 5 is IP65 certified. This means it’s designed for basic splashes, not deep water immersion. We conducted a casual test. We submerged the phone for 5 minutes in about 80 to 90 liters of water. This isn’t a high-pressure test. It simulates accidentally dropping your phone in a bucket or sink and quickly retrieving it.
Test Result: After 5 minutes, the phone was perfectly working. It passed our IP test.
Important Note: Do not try this at home. Different liquids can react differently with the phone’s seals. Your phone could get damaged.
Build Materials & First Impressions
At first glance, the Nord 5 looks and feels like it has a glass back and a metal frame. However, upon closer inspection, the frame is actually plastic with a paint job.
The buttons are also completely plastic. But, a good point is that they don’t easily come out, unlike some other popular brands. The top of the phone has an IR blaster, a small speaker, and other usual details.
The headphone jack is still missing from this phone. It supports two 5G SIM cards. The SIM tray feels quite cheap. It’s made of poor-quality plastic that bends and makes cracking sounds. It lacks the flexibility of durable plastic.
Scratch Test: The Gorilla Glass Controversy
The back panel of the Nord 5 is glass, not plastic, as some might have assumed. It has a frosted finish, which helps resist fingerprint marks.
Front Display Scratch Test
The phone comes with a free pre-applied screen protector. This is a good feature. We used a Mohs hardness scale tool to test the main display.
- Result: Scratches appeared at Level 3. Deeper scratches continued at Levels 4, 5, 6, and 7. This is a very poor result for a modern smartphone.
Back Panel Scratch Test
We carefully tested the frosted glass back panel.
- Result: Fine scratches appeared at Level 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Camera Glass Scratch Test
The camera housing is metallic with a matching paint job. The camera glass is always exposed.
- Result: The camera glass showed no scratches until Level 5. Scratches appeared at Level 6, and deeper scratches at Level 7. This is a standard result for good glass. It suggests the camera glass is of better quality, perhaps genuine glass.
The “Scam” Concern: Comparing Glass Quality
The reviewer suggests something “big” or a “scam” might be happening with glass protection. The Nord 5 uses Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. We compared its scratch resistance with other phones:
- Moto Edge 60 Pro: This phone also uses Gorilla Glass 7i. It showed the exact same result: scratches starting at Level 3.
- iPhone 16: This phone uses Ceramic Shield, considered one of the strongest glasses. It showed no scratches until Level 6, with fine scratches appearing at Level 7. This is the expected standard for high-quality glass.
- OnePlus 13: This phone has a much improved glass, not the 7i. It showed no scratches until Level 5, with scratches at Level 6 and 7.
Conclusion on Glass Quality: The OnePlus Nord 5’s glass quality is “pathetic.” It scratches very easily compared to other devices, even with the same pressure. This suggests a significant compromise in glass quality. You will definitely need to use the pre-applied screen protector and likely add a tempered glass protector.
Burn Test: Display Durability Under Heat
This test checks how the AMOLED display reacts to basic and extreme heat. This is relevant if you game for long hours or use your phone in very hot environments.
- Test Methodology: A lighter flame was applied to the display.
- Result: The display showed permanent burn marks in approximately 9 to 10 seconds. Pixels started dying at around 5 seconds. This is unusual. Typically, high-quality AMOLED displays can withstand heat for 16 to 18 seconds before showing burn-in. Even then, it’s often just the oleophobic coating.
Long-Term Implications: If your phone frequently gets very hot, this display might be problematic long-term. AMOLED displays can show color discoloration or a yellowish tint over time with excessive heat. This is often seen in older AMOLED phones (5+ years). So, if you plan to use this phone for a very long time or in hot conditions, the display might give you problems.
Bend Test: Structural Integrity
The bend test checks the phone’s structural strength. OnePlus phones have been very strong in bend tests since the OnePlus 7T/8T series. The original OnePlus Nord was quite fragile, but newer models have improved.
- Test Methodology: Extreme pressure was applied from the screen side.
- Result: The phone showed no bend whatsoever. It is seriously solid in terms of bend resistance. Even under extreme pressure, there was no problem.
Overall: The phone is quite good structurally.
Overall Durability Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 5 shows a mixed bag in terms of durability.
- Strengths:
- IP65 Rating: It passes basic splash and dust resistance tests.
- Bend Resistance: It is exceptionally solid and does not bend under extreme pressure.
- Metallic Camera Housing: The camera area seems well-protected.
- Weaknesses:
- Glass Quality: The front and back glass (Gorilla Glass 7i) scratches very easily, starting at Level 3. This is a major concern.
- Display Burn Sensitivity: The AMOLED display shows burn marks very quickly under heat, suggesting potential long-term issues with high temperatures.
- Plastic Frame: While sturdy, a metal frame would have offered a more premium feel, especially for its price point.
The reviewer urges OnePlus and Corning to clarify the glass quality. There seems to be an inconsistency compared to other phones using similar glass or even older OnePlus models.
If you plan to buy this phone, you will need to provide good protection. Consider purchasing a screen care plan or always using a high-quality screen protector and case.
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Disclosure: This review is based on hands-on testing and expert analysis. The results reflect specific test conditions and may vary. Always refer to official product specifications and user experiences for comprehensive details.
