OnePlus Nord CE 2 launched: Dimensity 900, 4,500mAh battery and Android 11

After multiple rounds of leaks, OnePlus has officially unveiled the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G. If you recall, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G made its first appearance last year and was mostly a refreshed OnePlus Nord with slightly downgraded specifications and a lower price tag. With a good reception, the device now gets its proper sequel. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is being introduced today to accomplish this goal. It's a solid upgrade in comparison with the OnePlus Nord CE 5G, but there are still some disappointments. Again, it's slightly similar to the OnePlus Nord 2.

OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G specifications

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G stands as the Core Edition of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. The Nord 2 5G was unveiled last year as the first OnePlus smartphone with a MediaTek chipset. Now, the OnePlus Nord 2 CE 5G keeps the partnership with the Taiwanese chipset maker. However, it brings a Dimensity 900 chipset. It's is slightly below the Dimensity 1200 AI in the original Nord 2. However, the goal is to offer a more affordable price level. The SoC has two ARM Cortex-A78 cores clocked at up to 2.4 GHz plus six power-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores clocked at up to 2 GHz. The phone comes with 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM depending on the variant. Storage is always 128 GB, but you can expand it this time around.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G retains some of its parent smartphone specifications. The list includes the 6.43-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a top-left aligned punch hole. Moreover, it keeps the 4,500 mAh battery with 65 W SuperVOOC Charging. It's important to note that OnePlus is no longer rebranding Oppo's charging technology. It's a clear sign that these companies are no longer two separate brands.

In terms of build, the Nord CE 2 5G has a slightly slimmer 7.8mm body. However, it still manages to add a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a micro SD card slot. None of these features were available in the original Nord 2. They are an important addition for certain users in the mid-range market. In terms of photography, the handset sports a 64 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultrawide snapper, and a 2 MP macro shooter. The selfie shooter has a 16 MP resolution which is half of what the Nord 2 offered.

We believe that the biggest disappointment in this handset is the fact it comes loaded with Android 11 and OxygenOS 11.3. At this point, we would expect a company like OnePlus to provide Android 12 and OxygenOS 12. Unfortunately, users picking this handset will need to wait for a future update. The phone has a promise of two major Android upgrades, but we don't know if that means updates until Android 14, or Android 13. After all, the Android 12 update may count as one of these major updates. Time will tell.

The handset will be a good "meantime" release while the company prepares the terrain for OnePlus 10 series global debut.

Pricing and Availability

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G will reach the market in Gray Mirror and Bahama Blue colorways. The basic model costs NR 23,999/€349/£299. The sales in India will start on February 22, whereas the European sales will be on March 10.