The OnePlus Nord 2 (Review) was a big upgrade over its predecessor, the original Nord (Review). Some of the big changes included a switch to a MediaTek SoC from Qualcomm, an OIS-capable main camera, and 65W charging, all of which were very noticeable improvements over the original. The new OnePlus Nord 2T 5G is a refresh of the Nord 2 and is the first Nord smartphone to receive the “T” mark.
OnePlus seems to have sprinkled a few upgrades into the new phone, which aren’t game-changing, but may offer some qualitative performance improvements. I had the chance to use the Nord 2T 5G for a while and here are my first impressions.
Starting with the configurations, there are two variants and finishes to choose from. The base variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is priced at Rs. 28,999, and the variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is priced at Rs. 33,999. Both variants will be available in Jade Fog and Gray Shadow finishes. The Nord 2T 5G doesn’t have a 6GB RAM variant like the Nord 2, at least at launch. Both Nord 2T 5G prices are around Rs. 1,000 less than Nord 2.
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G has three rear-facing cameras
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G being a ‘T’ model hasn’t had a complete design overhaul, but it does get a matte AG glass back panel and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the display. It looks quite high-end, but the central frame with rounded corners is made of polycarbonate. The phone should look and feel very familiar to a OnePlus Nord 2 owner, except for the rear camera layout which has changed a bit.
There are now two circular cutouts inside the raised camera module, one of which houses the main 50-megapixel camera with the Sony IMX766 sensor. The second cutout houses the 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2-megapixel monochrome camera, which OnePlus says supports Portrait mode. This brings the number of usable cameras down to just two, which is the same as last year’s Nord 2. Selfies are handled by the same 32-megapixel front camera.
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G has a 6.43-inch Full HD+ AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate
Unlike the OnePlus 10R Endurance Edition (Review), the Nord 2T 5G retains the iconic Alert slider on the right side. All buttons are placed where they should be and are within easy reach. Due to the relatively compact footprint of the phone, I found one-handed use to be comfortable.
The screen size of the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G is still the same as the Nord 2 at 6.43 inches. It’s an AMOLED panel and offers a 90Hz refresh rate, just like before. The optical fingerprint reader is integrated into the screen and works well. The screen also has an HDR10+ certification and the phone has stereo speakers, which should be good for watching videos.
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G retains the iconic alert slider to change device sound profiles
Besides the design, the second big change in the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G is the processor. OnePlus used a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC which would bring improvements in performance and imaging. Although the battery capacity is still the same at 4,500mAh, OnePlus has included faster 80W charging and, thankfully, provides the compatible charger in the box. The company claims that it is now possible to charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just 27 minutes.
The software experience remains OnePlus’ main selling point. The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G runs OxygenOS 12.1 which is based on Android 12. On my first use, the interface worked without any issues. There isn’t much pre-installed bloatware other than the Netflix app.
With only minor upgrades, the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G really won’t appeal to those who already own a Nord 2, but could be a good value deal for those looking for a mid-range smartphone with the processing. OnePlus software. It looks like OnePlus has held back enough of the upgrades it gave to the Nord 2T 5G, presumably to keep prices down, but it’s also possible it’s saving the big changes for the Nord 3.
As for the competition, Realme’s 9 Pro+ 5G (Review) offers the same Sony IMX766 main camera for much less, while iQoo’s Neo 6 5G (Review) gives you a 120Hz display, a More powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC and 80W fast charging at a similar price. It will be interesting to see where the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G stacks up against its peers. Stay tuned for the full review coming soon only to Gadgets 360.
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