OnePlus Nord 5 Review
OnePlus has had a busy year. After shaking up the premium segment with the OnePlus 13 series, the brand is now shifting focus back to the mid-range category. The new OnePlus Nord 5, priced at ₹34,999, is here to carry forward the legacy of the Nord 4—one of last year’s surprise performers. With fresh design choices, a capable new chip, and several AI-first features, the Nord 5 wants to do more than just tick boxes. It aims to raise the bar for what mid-range Android phones can offer.
But at this price point, competition is brutal. Can it truly stand out, or is it just another spec-heavy slab? We tested it thoroughly to find out where the Nord 5 shines—and where it still has room to grow.
Design That Dares to Be Different
Last year, OnePlus turned heads by giving the Nord 4 a full-metal unibody design. With the Nord 5, however, the company takes a new path. It ditches metal for what it calls “Techie Minimalism.” Our “Marble Sands” review unit had a soft matte texture that resisted smudges and looked elegant under light.
The phone is slim at 8.1mm and feels lightweight in hand. The curves make it comfortable for one-handed use. But instead of keeping the much-loved alert slider, OnePlus now includes an “Essential Key”—a remappable button you can assign for apps or actions. It’s useful, but power users may still miss the alert slider.
Also, while the phone has an IP65 rating against dust and splashes, a higher IP68 or IP69 would’ve added more confidence for durability.
Display
One of the biggest upgrades is the 6.83-inch 1.5K Swift OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate—first on any OnePlus phone. It feels fast, fluid, and bright. With 1,800 nits peak brightness and HDR support, content looks vibrant indoors and outdoors.
Touch response is excellent too, clocking 3000Hz, making this ideal for gaming and fast scrolling. Add in Aqua Touch 2.0 and 3,840Hz PWM dimming, and the screen becomes easy on the eyes during long sessions. In short, it’s a stellar panel, especially at this price.
AI at the Core of the Experience
The OnePlus Nord 5 runs Android 15 with OxygenOS, and this time, AI is baked into almost every part of the system. The star feature is AI Plus Mind, which allows users to save anything on screen with a simple three-finger swipe.
There’s also real-time AI translation for calls, VoiceScribe for auto note-taking, and tools like AI Reframe and Unblur for photo editing. Google Gemini is also integrated deeply to offer contextual on-screen help.
While some of these features feel futuristic and fun, they can be overwhelming for casual users. However, the fact that OnePlus is pushing AI down to this price range is commendable.
Performance That Punches Above Its Weight
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor marks the first time a Nord phone gets an 8-series chip. With 12GB RAM and 256GB UFS storage, the phone feels fast in daily use. App launches are near instant, and multitasking is smooth.
In synthetic benchmarks, it falls short of the POCO F7, but in real-world use, the Nord 5 feels just as responsive—thanks to better power management and thermals. The Cryo-velocity VC cooling system does its job well, keeping the device cool even during long gaming sessions.
Gamers will appreciate the bypass charging mode, which prevents the phone from heating up while plugged in during gameplay. For most users, performance will not be a bottleneck here.
Camera System That Finally Feels Polished
Cameras on mid-range phones have often felt like an afterthought, but OnePlus has taken a big step forward here. The rear has a 50MP Sony LYT-700 sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide shooter. Selfies are handled by a 50MP ISOCELL JN5 sensor with autofocus.
Daylight photos show excellent color and contrast. HDR works well and retains details even in complex lighting. Night mode has improved too, offering usable shots without heavy processing.
Portraits look sharp with good edge separation, and the front camera delivers some of the best selfie results on any phone in this segment. If photography matters to you, the OnePlus Nord 5 definitely holds an edge over rivals like the POCO F7.
Battery
The 6,800mAh battery is one of the largest we’ve seen on a Nord device. It easily lasts two days with normal usage and doesn’t struggle with heavy tasks either.
The 80W SUPERVOOC charging can juice it up in under an hour, and the phone supports bypass charging to extend battery health. It’s great to see OnePlus thinking long term, not just fast charging alone.
Verdict: Is the OnePlus Nord 5 Worth It?
Startig at ₹34,999, the OnePlus Nord 5 is a strong all-rounder but within this price tag you get even more powerful processor in the latest POCO F7. However, the new OnePlus Nord 5 combines a beautiful display, excellent battery, capable performance, and top-tier camera setup with smart AI touches. It’s the most complete Nord yet.
However, some might wish for a slightly lower price tag—₹29,999 would’ve made this unbeatable. Also, dropping the metal build and alert slider may disappoint long-time Nord fans.
Still, if you’re looking for a phone that blends style, performance, and useful features without the flagship price, the OnePlus Nord 5 is a strong recommendation.
