The OnePlus Nord CE5 is making waves in India’s mid-range smartphone market, launched at ₹24,999 with bank discounts dropping it to ₹22,000. After using it as a daily driver for 30 days, we’ve tested its performance, camera, battery, and software to see if it’s the best phone under ₹25,000. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex, boasting a 7,100mAh battery, and running OxygenOS 15, the Nord CE5 promises a lot. But with downgrades like a single speaker and average cameras, is it worth your money? At TechBit, we break down the OnePlus Nord CE5 review to help you decide. Let’s dive in
Unboxing and First Impressions
The OnePlus Nord CE5 comes with a practical in-box experience, reflecting its budget-friendly focus:
- Contents: The phone with a pre-applied screen protector, a transparent case, SIM ejector pin, 80W charger, and USB-A to USB-C cable.
- Charger Downgrade: The 80W charger is a step down from the Nord CE4’s 100W, but it’s sufficient for the massive battery.
- Design: Available in Hazy Blue, Obsidian Black, and Marble Mist, the phone sports a subtle, classy look with a flat plastic frame and curved plastic back. It resembles an iPhone from certain angles, which may appeal to some.
Downside: The included case shows rapid wear after a month, with visible aging, suggesting OnePlus should improve its quality.
Why It Matters: The unboxing sets a solid first impression, but the case’s durability is a minor letdown.
Design and Build: Sleek but Not Premium
The Nord CE5’s design is functional yet understated, with a focus on practicality:
- Weight and Thickness: At under 200g and thinner than the Nord CE4, it’s comfortable despite the 7,100mAh battery.
- IP65 Rating: Dust and splash resistance is a welcome upgrade, ideal for hygiene-conscious users or those prone to drops.
- Color Options: Hazy Blue (tested), Obsidian Black, and Marble Mist. The Marble Mist lacks the premium feel of the Nord CE4’s marble finish, which some may find more unique.
Downside: The plastic frame and back feel less premium compared to the Nord CE4’s design, and the iPhone-like aesthetic may not suit everyone.
Why It Matters: The design prioritizes functionality and durability, but it misses the premium flair of its predecessor.
Display: Bright and Functional
The Nord CE5’s 6.77-inch LTPS AMOLED display is a slight upgrade over the Nord CE4, offering vibrant visuals:
- Specs: 120Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution, up to 1,800–1,900 nits peak brightness (claimed 1,300 nits), and AquaTouch for wet-hand use.
- Performance: Excellent visibility in direct sunlight, with no dimness issues. The optical in-display fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable.
- Downgrades: No seamless Always-On Display (AOD) and unclear display protection (no Gorilla Glass mention), so a quality screen protector is a must.
Why It Matters: The display is bright and responsive, ideal for media and outdoor use, but the lack of AOD and unclear protection are drawbacks.
Performance: A Significant Leap
The Nord CE5’s MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex SoC delivers a major performance boost, making it a standout in its price range:
- Specs: 8GB LPDDR5X RAM, 128GB UFS 3.1 storage (base variant), with 8GB/256GB and 12GB/256GB options.
- Benchmarks: Scores 1.35 million on AnTuTu, nearly double the Nord CE4, and outperforms the Poco F6 and Realme X7 Pro in Geekbench GPU. 3D Mark Wildlife shows lower stability and higher temperatures.
- Gaming: Smooth gameplay in BGMI (87 FPS, 117 FPS with performance boost), COD Mobile (117 FPS), and Genshin Impact (better with performance mode). Wuthering Waves averages 37.4 FPS with occasional frame drops.
- Daily Use: Responsive for calls, navigation, video calls, and social media, but minor stutters when exiting games and poor RAM management (apps close randomly).
Downside: High temperatures in benchmarks and RAM management issues need software optimization.
Why It Matters: The Nord CE5 handles gaming and daily tasks well, competing with pricier phones, but software tweaks are needed for consistency.
Camera: Decent but Not Best-in-Class
The Nord CE5’s camera system is functional but doesn’t excel, with mixed results across scenarios:
- Setup: 50MP Sony LYT-600 main (OIS, 4K 60FPS), 8MP ultrawide, 16MP selfie (1080p 60FPS).
- Main Camera: Produces vibrant colors with good dynamic range, but some shots (e.g., car fronts) appear dark. Zoomed-in details are decent, allowing readable number plates.
- Ultrawide: Performs well in daylight with balanced exposure, even with sun in the frame, but lacks detail due to the 8MP sensor.
- Selfie Camera: Adequate for video calls but underwhelming for photos, with better results on competitors like the Moto G85 Fusion.
- Video: Stable 4K 60FPS videos with natural colors, but 2x shots appear washed out compared to 1x, despite using the same lens.
- Comparison: The Moto G85 Fusion outperforms in color accuracy and selfie quality, though the Nord CE5’s video capabilities are stronger (4K 60FPS vs. 4K 30FPS).
Downside: Inconsistent colors and average selfie performance make the camera a weak point compared to rivals.
Why It Matters: The camera is serviceable for casual use but falls short for photography enthusiasts.
Battery and Charging: Massive but Could Be Better
The 7,100mAh battery is the largest ever in a OnePlus phone, offering solid endurance:
- Battery Life: Delivers 7–8 hours of screen-on time (SOT) with calls, messaging, social media, and casual gaming, but falls short of expectations for such a large capacity.
- Charging: 80W fast charging takes the phone from 14% to 100% in 66 minutes, which is fast but not class-leading.
- Connectivity: Jio SIM usage showed no call or internet issues. Includes a hybrid SIM slot (expandable to 1TB), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and an IR blaster (now in the camera module).
Downside: Battery life could be optimized further, and the lack of NFC and eSIM limits modern connectivity options.
Why It Matters: The massive battery ensures all-day use, but optimization could push it further.
Software: Feature-Rich but Needs Polish
Running OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, the Nord CE5 offers a clean, feature-packed experience:
- Software Support: 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches, a significant improvement over the Nord CE4.
- AI Features: AI Search (fetches phone settings or info), AI Voiceribe (transcribes Zoom/WhatsApp calls with Hindi support), and AI Translate (real-time Hindi-to-Tamil translation).
- Bloatware: Minimal and uninstallable, with smooth app animations and a stock OnePlus dialer (no call recording announcements).
- Issues: Harsh haptics, missing haptic feedback on sliders and recent apps, and no O-Haptics integration. RAM management issues cause apps to close unexpectedly.
Why It Matters: The software is user-friendly and future-proof, but haptic feedback and RAM management need updates for a polished experience.
Pricing and Value
Launched at ₹24,999 (8GB/128GB), with bank discounts bringing it to ₹22,000, the Nord CE5 offers strong value:
- Variants: 8GB/256GB and 12GB/256GB (pricing not specified in transcript).
- Competitors: Matches the Nord CE4’s launch price but offers better performance, a larger battery, and longer software support.
- Trade-offs: The single speaker and average cameras are disappointing at this price, but the Dimensity 8350 and AI features add significant value.
Why It Matters: The Nord CE5 is a solid all-rounder for budget buyers, though it faces stiff competition from the Moto G85 Fusion and Poco F6.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Massive 7,100mAh battery with 80W fast charging.
- Powerful Dimensity 8350 Apex SoC for gaming and daily tasks.
- Bright 6.77-inch AMOLED display with 1,800–1,900 nits.
- Feature-rich OxygenOS 15 with 4 years of OS updates.
- IP65 rating for dust and splash resistance.
- Affordable at ₹22,000 with bank discounts.
Cons
- Single speaker downgrades multimedia experience.
- Average camera performance, especially selfies.
- Harsh haptics and poor RAM management.
- No NFC, eSIM, or seamless AOD.
- Case durability issues after 30 days.
- Unclear display protection requires extra investment.
OnePlus Nord CE5 vs. Competitors
- Moto G85 Fusion: Better camera colors and selfies, but limited to 4K 30FPS video and a smaller 5,000mAh battery.
- Poco F6: Comparable performance, but likely pricier with a smaller battery.
- Realme X7 Pro: Similar benchmark scores, but Nord CE5 excels in gaming stability.
Why It Matters: The Nord CE5 offers strong performance and battery life, but competitors may edge out in cameras or multimedia.
Who Should Buy the OnePlus Nord CE5?
- Budget Gamers: Smooth BGMI and COD Mobile performance at an affordable price.
- Heavy Users: 7,100mAh battery suits long days of calls, messaging, and social media.
- OnePlus Fans: OxygenOS 15 and long software support align with brand loyalty.
- Value Seekers: ₹22,000 price with bank discounts is competitive.
Who Should Avoid:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Average cameras may disappoint.
- Multimedia Lovers: Single speaker limits audio quality.
- Premium Build Seekers: Plastic frame feels less luxurious.
Buying Tips
- Get a Screen Protector: Unclear display protection makes a high-quality protector essential.
- Test Audio: Check the single speaker’s quality if multimedia is a priority.
- Compare Competitors: Try the Moto G85 Fusion or Poco F6 for better cameras or build.
- Use Bank Offers: Grab the ₹22,000 price with discounts on OnePlus.in.
- Wait for Updates: Software patches may fix haptics and RAM issues.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy OnePlus Nord CE5
Top 5 Reasons to Avoid the OnePlus Nord CE5
OnePlus Nord CE5 vs Nothing Phone 3a
Starts at ₹24,999, down to ₹22,000 with bank discounts.
7–8 hours SOT with a 7,100mAh battery, but could be optimized.
Yes, delivers 87–117 FPS in BGMI and COD Mobile with stable performance.
50MP main (OIS), 8MP ultrawide, 16MP selfie
The OnePlus Nord CE5 is a compelling mid-range phone at ₹24,999, offering a massive 7,100mAh battery, strong Dimensity 8350 performance, and a clean OxygenOS 15 experience. Its bright AMOLED display, IP65 rating, and AI features make it a solid all-rounder, especially at ₹22,000 with discounts. However, the single speaker, average cameras, and haptic issues hold it back from being the best in its class. If gaming and battery life are priorities, the Nord CE5 is a great buy, but consider the Moto G85 Fusion for better cameras. Visit OnePlus.in to explore deals, and share your thoughts on X with #OnePlusNordCE5!
Publish Date: July 8, 2025
Last Updated: July 8, 2025
Author: Beebom official YouTube Channel
Source: OnePlus Nord CE5 Review
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