OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: A Powerhouse with Unmatched Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord CE5 has arrived, and it’s making waves in the mid-range smartphone market with its stellar specs and budget-friendly price tag. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset, boasting a massive 7100mAh battery, and packed with OnePlus AI features, this device promises to deliver flagship-level performance without breaking the bank. I’ve spent some time with the OnePlus Nord CE5 (8GB + 256GB, Black Infinity), and here’s why it’s one of the most compelling smartphones in its category.
Design and Display of OnePlus Nord CE5: Sleek and Vibrant
The OnePlus Nord CE5 sports a sleek, lightweight design that feels premium despite its plastic frame. The Black Infinity colorway gives it a sophisticated, glossy finish, though it’s a bit of a fingerprint magnet—nothing a good case can’t fix. Its 6.77-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate is a standout. With a peak brightness of 1430 nits and over 94% screen-to-body ratio, the screen delivers vibrant colors and crisp visuals, whether you’re streaming videos or scrolling through social media. The Aqua Touch feature ensures smooth swipes even with wet fingers, making it a practical choice for daily use.
Rating: 8.5/10 – A premium look and feel with a stellar display, though the slippery design could use a grippier texture.
Performance: Power-Packed and Smooth
At the heart of the OnePlus Nord CE5 is the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset, a 4nm processor that delivers a blistering AnTuTu score of over 1.47 million. Paired with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage (expandable up to 1TB via microSD), this phone handles everything from multitasking to gaming with ease. I tested it with demanding games like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile, and the 120 FPS performance was buttery smooth, with no noticeable lag. The CryoVelocity graphene vapor chamber keeps thermals in check, ensuring long gaming sessions don’t overheat the device.
OxygenOS 15, based on Android 15, enhances the experience with a clean, bloat-free interface and AI-driven features like AI Search, AI Eraser, and AI Voice Scribe. OnePlus promises four Android version upgrades and six years of security updates, making this a future-proof investment.
Rating: 9/10 – Top-tier performance for the price, with excellent software optimization.
Battery Life : A Game-Changer
The OnePlus Nord CE5’s 7100mAh battery is a beast, offering up to 2.5 days of regular use on a single charge. Whether you’re streaming, gaming, or browsing, this phone keeps going without needing a top-up. The 80W SUPERVOOC charging is equally impressive, juicing up the device from 0 to 100% in just 59 minutes. A quick 10-minute charge delivers over six hours of YouTube playback, perfect for those on-the-go moments. The Bypass Charging feature, which powers the phone directly during gaming to reduce battery wear, is a thoughtful addition for longevity.
Rating: 9.5/10 – Unrivaled battery life and fast charging make this a standout.
Camera: Sharp and AI-Enhanced
The OnePlusNord CE5 features a dual-camera setup with a 50MP Sony LYT-600 main sensor (with OIS) and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The main camera captures vibrant, detailed photos, especially in daylight, with natural skin tones thanks to OnePlus’s RAW HDR algorithm. It supports 4K 60fps HDR video recording, ideal for creating social media content. The 16MP front camera delivers crisp selfies, though low-light performance could be better. AI features like AI Best Face (fixes blinks) and AI Detail Boost enhance photos effortlessly, making your shots Instagram-ready.
Rating: 8/10 – Great for casual photography, but the ultra-wide lens and low-light selfies could improve.
Comparison with Competitors
To see how the OnePlus Nord CE5 stacks up, let’s compare it with two popular mid-range rivals: the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G (8GB + 256GB) and the Poco X7 Pro (8GB + 256GB).
- Samsung Galaxy A55 5G: Priced slightly higher, the A55 offers a more versatile triple-camera system and IP67 water resistance. However, its 5000mAh battery and slower 25W charging pale in comparison to the Nord CE5’s 7100mAh and 80W charging. The Nord CE5 also outperforms the A55’s Exynos 1480 chipset in gaming and multitasking, making it a better choice for power users.
- Poco X7 Pro: The Poco X7 Pro, priced similarly at around ₹26,999, boasts a slightly more powerful Dimensity 9300 chipset. However, its 6000mAh battery falls short of the Nord CE5’s capacity, and it lacks the same level of software polish and AI features. The Nord CE5’s expandable storage (up to 1TB) gives it an edge for users needing extra space.
Verdict: The OnePlus Nord CE5 offers a better balance of battery life, software longevity, and value for money compared to the A55 and X7 Pro, especially for users prioritizing endurance and gaming performance.
Final Thoughts
The OnePlus Nord CE5 (8GB + 256GB, Black Infinity) is a mid-range marvel that punches above its weight. Priced at ₹2x,***, it delivers flagship-level battery life, smooth performance, and a vibrant display, all wrapped in a sleek package. While the camera system isn’t the best in low light, and the design could be grippier, these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise stellar device. If you’re looking for a phone that lasts days, handles gaming like a pro, and offers cutting-edge AI features, the Nord CE5 is a no-brainer.
Overall Rating: 8.8/10 – A fantastic mid-range option that’s hard to beat at this price point.
Available now on Amazon India, OnePlus India’s online store, and select offline retailers starting at ₹24,xxx for the 8GB + 128GB variant.
