OnePlus Nord 5 Review

The OnePlus Nord series has established itself as a strong player in the competitive mid-range smartphone market by offering an appealing mix of performance, design, and affordability. It targets users who desire flagship-level features without the high price tag. The Nord series has consistently delivered devices that exceed expectations. 

The OnePlus Nord 5 continues this tradition while introducing significant upgrades in battery life, camera capabilities, and processing power. But does it meet the huge expectations and secure its status as the best mid-range smartphone of 2025? Let’s explore this device.

Design & Build

The OnePlus Nord 5 adopts the brand’s recent design philosophy, which features flat surfaces that reflect modernity and refinement. It includes a flat display, a flat back, and flat sides, aligning it with the aesthetic of recent OnePlus devices. The Nord 5 is available in three striking colours including Marble Sands, Dry Ice, and Phantom Grey. The review unit in Marble Sands particularly stands out with its light champagne gold frame and a glass back etched with a marble-like pattern. This intricate design interacts with light to create a nearly three-dimensional effect, making it visually captivating. However, capturing its beauty on camera is challenging, but the effect is best appreciated in person.

Despite the premium glass back, the frame is made of aluminium, making the device stronger and premium to hold. Weighing in at 211 grams and measuring 8.1mm thick, the Nord 5 has a substantial feel, largely due to its massive 6,800mAh battery. The weight is well-balanced, ensuring comfortable handling, though the matte-textured back, while resistant to fingerprints, can be somewhat slippery. Fortunately, OnePlus includes a silicone case in the box, which is a welcome addition for added grip and protection in this price segment.

The front of the Nord 5 features a 6.83-inch Swift AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, which offers durability against scratches and minor drops. The display has a 1.5K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, providing vibrant visuals. The vertically arranged camera module on the back protrudes slightly, housing dual cameras and dual LED flashes, adding both functionality and style to the design. The device also has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, enhancing its durability. Additionally, it features a customizable “Plus Key” that replaces the traditional alert slider, offering quick access to AI features.

Also Read: OnePlus Nord CE5

Performance

The OnePlus Nord 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, a 4nm processor that balances flagship-level performance with power efficiency. It features 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, providing seamless multitasking, quick app launches, and overall responsiveness. Running on OxygenOS with Android 15, the device features a clean interface and has minimal pre-installed apps, such as PhonePe and Netflix, which can be uninstalled if unnecessary.

In real-world usage, the Nord 5 performs effortlessly, handling everything from web browsing and social media to demanding tasks like video editing. Switching between multiple apps is instantaneous, with no noticeable lag or stuttering. To quantify its capabilities, we ran benchmarks using Geekbench 6, where the Nord 5 scored an impressive 1,950 in single-core and 5,015 in multi-core tests. Its GPU score of 9,568 in Geekbench’s test highlights its graphical power, outperforming many competitors in its class.

Gaming on the Nord 5 is a pleasure, thanks to its 144Hz refresh rate display and “Pro Gamer Mode” with Adaptive Frame Booster. Games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Call of Duty: Mobile run smoothly at ultra settings, achieving high frame rates with no jitter or frame drops. However, after 30 minutes of continuous gaming, the device does warm up, but OnePlus Cryo-Velocity VC cooling system, featuring a 7,300mm² vapour chamber, keeps temperatures under control.

Camera

The OnePlus Nord 5 features a dual rear camera setup, highlighted by a 50MP sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and an 8MP ultra-wide lens that offers a 116-degree field of view. For selfies, it boasts a 50MP sensor with autofocus, catering to photography enthusiasts. Both the front and rear cameras support 4K video recording at impressive quality, completed by features like LivePhoto with Ultra HDR and advanced HDR algorithms borrowed from the OnePlus 13 series.

The primary 50MP sensor excels in well-lit conditions, producing sharp, vibrant images with accurate colours and excellent dynamic range. Its low-light performance is respectable as well, with OIS and advanced HDR technology ensuring minimal noise and well-exposed shots. However, the 8MP ultra-wide lens is a weaker point, providing average detail and softer edges, particularly in low light. While functional, it does not meet the high expectations set by the main sensor, which is a frequent issue in the Nord series.

The 50MP front camera stands out, offering crisp, detailed selfies even in challenging lighting conditions. Its autofocus technology ensures clarity for both solo and group shots, making it ideal for social media content creators. Video recording is smooth, with the 4K capability on both cameras allowing for high-quality vlogs and reels.

also read: Poco F7 review

Battery

The OnePlus Nord 5 features an impressive 6,800mAh battery, which highlights the industry’s trend toward larger capacities in mid-range devices. This substantial battery ensures outstanding endurance, easily lasting a day and a half with moderate usage, including browsing, gaming, and streaming. In our tests, watching 4K content for 30 minutes only drained 5% of the battery, indicating that you could stream multiple movies on a single charge.

The included 80W SuperVOOC charger is a rare find in 2025, as many brands are omitting chargers to reduce costs. A full charge takes just over 45 minutes, while a 30-minute top-up provides 65% capacity. However, it does lack wireless charging, which is a minor drawback in this category.