OnePlus Nord 5 review: A feature-packed mid-range contender with flagship ambitions
Design and build
The Nord 5 isn't going to win any design awards, but it sticks to a tried-and-tested design language that's unlikely to wow or offend. It features rounded corners, a flat display, and chamfered edges, making it very comfortable to hold. While the side rails give the appearance of metal, the body is actually textured, soft-finish plastic. That might disappoint those expecting aluminium or glass, but the matte finish feels surprisingly good in the hand, lightweight yet solid, with a frosted texture that resists fingerprints. My review sample features a white marble finish on the back, which is quite striking and adds a touch of elegance.
Previous OnePlus phones I've used had an iconic alert slider, which is now replaced with a Plus Key. It's fully customisable and can launch the camera, torch, or even trigger an AI assistant, similar to Apple's Action Button.
The Nord 5 lacks an IP rating for full water submersion, a feature now included by some rivals.
Display
You get a generous 6.83-inch OLED screen with 144Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass 7i protection. It's sharp, bright, and colours pop beautifully. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support ensure top-notch video streaming.
Over the past year, I've seen several mid-range phones introduced with 144Hz displays. While the difference isn't as noticeable as going from 60Hz to 120Hz, 144Hz does feel a little snappier and smoother.
The peak brightness is excellent, reaching over 1,300 nits in auto mode, which makes it perfectly usable even under direct sunlight.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset powers the Nord 5, along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, delivering solid mid-to-upper-tier performance. Apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth, and games run well.
I run benchmarking stress tests on all the phones I test, and the Nord 5 remained stable with only minor throttling. It won't beat flagship benchmarks, but it easily holds its own against similarly priced competitors.
Battery life is decent thanks to the 5,200mAh cell, though it's not exactly groundbreaking by today's standards. I regularly got through a full day of medium use on a full charge. Charging tops out at 80W, and while the charger isn't included, a full charge takes less than 45 minutes with a compatible adaptor.
Features
OxygenOS 15, built on top of Android 15, is smooth and now features smart enhancements that improve usability. The AI-powered tools are surprisingly beneficial, from real-time call transcription in 20 languages, to summarising text onscreen or even reading it aloud.
You can use the Plus key to access the Mind Space feature or swipe up from the bottom of the screen. This feature enables smart, context-aware screenshots. Essentially, it can analyse what's on your screen and generate summaries. Based on that information, it can suggest calendar invites, create reminders, or initiate searches related to the content. It's a fresh take on Google's screenshot features or Nothing's Essential Space.
There's also excellent multitasking, including pop-up apps, split-screen, and a sidebar that stores your most frequently used apps for quick access.
Cameras
Camera performance is where the Nord 5 punches above its weight. The rear features a 50MP main sensor paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens, while the front also boasts a 50MP selfie camera with autofocus.
Selfies are sharp, well-exposed, and with realistic skin tones. The main rear camera delivers vibrant, detailed images in daylight and performs well at night, thanks to effective processing. Even digitally zoomed 2x shots are quite usable. At 8MP, it's not surprising the ultrawide camera is decent, but not as sharp as the main camera, especially in low-light conditions.
The video recording supports 4K at 60fps on both the front and rear cameras, and the footage appears crisp. The dynamic range is wide, although stabilisation in 4K could be a little tighter.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 5 offers an excellent blend of performance, camera quality, and intelligent features. While some corners have been cut to make the Nord 5 affordable, the experience still feels premium where it counts.
€449 (8GB / 256GB), €449 (12GB / 512GB) oneplus.com/ie
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