The OnePlus Nord CE 5 nails the basics with smooth performance, clean UI, good battery life, and a vibrant display. While it’s not a major upgrade, it holds its ground in daily use. However, the cameras and audio setup leave room for improvement, especially at this price point.
The OnePlus Nord CE 5 was launched in India a few weeks back at a competitive price of Rs 24,999. At this price point, it directly competes with the likes of the Nothing Phone 3a, iQOO Neo 10R, and Moto Edge 60 Fusion. We have tested all three phones, and each of them dominates the segment in its own way. Hence, standing out is not easy in the sub-Rs 25,000 segment. I have spent the past few weeks testing it in our Digit Test Lab and under real-world conditions. So, what’s the story with the OnePlus Nord CE 5 this time? What extra can it offer that its rivals can’t? Well, here’s where it shines and where it still has work to do. Welcome friends, this is the review of the OnePlus Nord CE 5. Let’s dive in!
OnePlus Nord CE 5 Review: Subtle design
My first impression of the OnePlus Nord CE 5 was pretty interesting. The moment you pick up the OnePlus Nord CE 5, the Nexus Blue colour (which I am reviewing) and its design might give you déjà vu, especially if you have seen a certain fruit-branded phone which was released last year. Yes, I am talking about the iPhone 16 in blue colour. Compared to the marble-looking theme from last year, OnePlus has opted for a more subdued aesthetic this year. The rear panel has a matte-finished plastic back with subtle glitter beneath the surface that catches light beautifully. I personally liked my Nexus Blue review unit. It’s not the most subtle colour out there, but I am all in for colourful phone options. Because why not?
The Nord CE 5’s design now leans a bit towards a generic slab with flat edges and a cylindrical camera bump. Some will like the minimalism, but it may not win awards for uniqueness. Another good thing about the design is that it is smudge-resistant. So things remain clean even without a case.
If we talk about its durability, it comes with an IP65 rating and manages to maintain a sleek 8.17mm profile despite packing a 7100mAh battery. I am still surprised that we have 7000mAh batteries on phones now.
Anyways, at 199 grams, it’s not too heavy either. The ergonomics of the OnePlus Nord CE 5 are decent, but using it with one hand is not the most convenient due to its large size.
Display that pops….mostly
The OnePlus Nord CE 5 ships with a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. The visuals that it delivers are vibrant and punchy with good contrast and deep blacks. Whether you’re watching Netflix or just scrolling Instagram, the panel holds up well under most conditions.
In terms of brightness, the phone is bright enough when you are using it indoors. Although the outdoor brightness could have been better, as the display does not look clear, and you can notice reflections. As per our testing, the Nord CE 5 scored a peak brightness of 1740 nits.
In terms of brightness, the phone performs well indoors. However, outdoor visibility could’ve been better, as the screen is not very clear under direct sunlight, and reflections are noticeable. In our testing, the Nord CE 5 reached a peak brightness of 1740 nits.
But, let’s give this smartphone some marks for its colour accuracy. According to our Calman Colormatch test, the colours on Nord CE 5’s display are highly accurate, as we recorded an average of 0.9 Delta E. So, this display is great for watching content, editing, or just enjoying vibrant visuals.
One more thing – the optical in-display fingerprint sensor is fast, but a slightly higher placement would’ve made it more comfortable to use. The thing that missed the mark for me was the single bottom-firing speaker, which can get loud but lacks the clarity and immersion that we get on most phones now.
OnePlus Nord CE 5 Review: Performance and software
OnePlus has switched to the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset this year with the Nord CE 5. This processor is paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, and the phone holds its own in this price segment.
Speaking of the benchmarks first, the OnePlus Nord CE 5 scored over 1.4 million on the AnTuTu test. On the Geekbench 6 test, it scored 1315 (single core) and 3962 (multi core). Now that’s a really good score, especially considering the phone goes neck and neck with the performance-focused Neo 10R, but still manages to beat its other two competitors. And all this while being an all-rounder, not a performance-centric phone.
So, we know it’s got the power, but we wanted to test how consistent it can keep that power. According to our stress test, it showed great stability in the initial 10 minutes, but after that, it started to dip, as you can see from the graph. It throttled down to 70% of its max performance during a 15-minute stress test, and that’s okay.
In real-world usage, these numbers translate well. I didn’t face any lags or stutters, apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth, and UI animations are consistent. Even with 10–12 apps running in the background, this phone works smoothly.
Now, here comes the best part. The OnePlus Nord CE 5 shines brighter than its predecessors in gaming. In BGMI, one of the most popular mobile games among Indians, the phone supports up to 144fps. If we look at its price, this is really tempting for gamers. Along with that, you get smooth gameplay with stable frame rates.
On the software front, the Nord CE 5 runs on the latest OxygenOS 15, which looks polished and clean. It doesn’t have too much bloatware and includes some AI-powered features such as AI Translate, VoiceScribe for transcriptions, and AI Search inside the ‘Shelf’. While you don’t get a dedicated AI button like the other recent OnePlus launches, these AI features are actually useful. With this phone, you get 4 major Android updates and 6 years of security patches.
Mixed feelings about cameras
For photography, the Nord CE 5 features a dual rear camera setup, including a 50-megapixel Sony LYT600 main sensor with OIS and an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor. On paper, it’s not a significant upgrade from the Nord CE 4, and in practice, the results are mixed.
In good lighting, the OnePlus Nord CE 5 delivers reliable shots with pleasant colours and a decent amount of detail. The primary camera handles skin tones and textures quite naturally, and the results are more than good enough.
Portraits are well-executed, with clean edge detection and a natural background blur. You don’t get flagship-level depth separation, but for this segment, it does the job without overprocessing faces.
Selfies come out sharp and balanced, with good skin tones and no aggressive smoothening. Lastly, video recording is best kept to 1080p at 60fps for stability and colour consistency, though 4K at 60fps is supported.
Battery is its STRONGEST PILLAR
Battery life is undoubtedly the Nord CE 5’s strongest pillar. With a 7100mAh battery, this phone comfortably lasts a full day and a half on moderate to heavy use. For users who don’t use their phones much, stretching it to two days is entirely possible. On our PC Mark battery life test, the phone lasted for 17 hours with 20% juice remaining.
Charging speeds, however, are just decent. It takes the phone 1 hour and 25 minutes to go from 0-100%. It also supports bypass charging, which is handy if you game for long hours, and with the Nord CE 5, you definitely can.
OnePlus Nord CE 5 Review: Final thoughts
At Rs 24,999, the OnePlus Nord CE 5 seems like a well-rounded smartphone that plays to its strengths with clean software, impressive battery life, and solid day-to-day performance. The new MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex processor holds up well in real-world usage. And yes, that large AMOLED display does not disappoint you either.
The OnePlus Nord CE 5 doesn’t break new ground in camera performance or speaker quality, as it delivers dependable results for casual users. But gaming gets a surprising boost with support for high frame rates. So, if you’re looking for a no-nonsense smartphone that gets the basics right along with some exciting features, the Nord CE 5 is easy to recommend.
OnePlus Nord CE5 Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
| Release Date: | 28 Jul, 2025 |
| Market Status: | Launched |
Key Specifications
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Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is a young tech journalist who tells it like it is, cutting through buzzwords to deliver straightforward smartphone reviews. He’s the office go-to for insider tips and quick demos, and his video content doesn’t waste anyone’s time. When he’s off the clock, he geeks out over cars, photography, and hunting down the best spot for Indian food. View Full Profile
