“It’s the Nord! “. No, OnePlus was not inspired by Michel Galabru to choose the name of its smartphone. Any craving for french fries has nothing to do with this whole thing either. No desire either to access the Iron Throne (King in the Nord, all that stuff). No, this enigmatic term has nothing to do with all of that.
OnePlus readily admits, he needed to find a course. What could be better than the Nord, the landmark of a compass, to get back on the right track? After a rise in power over the past six years (number 1 in India, number 4 in Europe in the premium segment), the manufacturer was lost by focusing on the ultra-high-end market, losing in the process some of those who had made his success.
Fans of the first hour were full of praise about this brand at the origin of the term “flagship killer”, the one that was able to offer the first affordable smartphone offering an experience as qualitative as the most expensive models on the market. . But faced with rising prices, some have lost their immoderate faith in the brand, no longer understood its directions and sometimes abandoned it.
Rest assured, OnePlus has heard you. “From November 2019, we wondered what a mid-range would be according to OnePlus” confided Akis Evangelidis, vice-president of OnePlus France, during the presentation of OnePlus Nord. The answer: a smartphone without concessions, offering an experience worthy of the best on the market, for a low price. This is the promise made by OnePlus with this Nord.
Price and release date
The OnePlus Nord will be available in Gray Onyx and Blue Marble (our test model) from August 04, 2020, at a price of 399 euros (8/128 GB). A 12/256 GB version is also available at a price of 499 euros. The OnePlus Nord will be marketed on the manufacturer’s official store, on Amazon and at Fnac / Darty. At the time of writing, negotiations with Bouygues Telecom (which distributes the brand’s other products) are not yet sealed.
By adopting this positioning, OnePlus returns to the origins of its success. In 2014, the manufacturer shook the market with the OnePlus One, a smartphone with a high-end technical sheet sold at an ultra-aggressive price. Subsequently, the brand opted for a strategy oriented towards the premium market, increasing its prices over the years until reaching the symbolic bar of 1000 euros. With the OnePlus Nord, early fans can once again access an affordable smartphone from the brand.
Design: a little gem
Do you find the smartphones of 2020 too big? The OnePlus Nord could well seduce you. If it is not among the most compact, its dimensions (158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm) and its weight (184 g) make the grip very pleasant. As far as we’re concerned, we’re happy to use a one-handed smartphone without performing a contortionist number. As wide as an iPhone 11 Pro and slightly longer, the OnePlus Nord adopts the ideal size for 2020 : large enough for a quality multimedia experience, small enough for an excellent grip.
While it has to cut costs a bit (Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both sides,), OnePlus still incorporates quality materials. The shiny glass (surprisingly little mess) and the metal give it a decidedly high-end look. The manufacturer plays the card of minimalism and opts for particularly elegant rounded lines. The OnePlus Nord looks like two drops of water to the OnePlus 8 in (slightly) smaller.
The vertical photo module (positioned in the upper left corner), the logo (in the center) and the mention “OnePlus” (at the bottom) are the only three elements visible on the back of the smartphone. At the front, the manufacturer opts for a punched screen containing two photosensors. While the little pill in the upper left corner will upset some, it turned out to be rather inconspicuous throughout our test. It just poses a problem with certain games since it hides elements that are sometimes important. Rest assured, a 180 ° rotation corrects the problem most of the time.
For the rest, OnePlus uses a recipe that he masters perfectly. The power button is placed on the right border with the Alert slider (button to switch from ring mode to silent or vibrate modes). On the other hand, the volume keys play it solo. Finally, the USB-C, the speaker and the dual nano-SIM drawer are united on the lower border.
Despite the cost constraints, OnePlus manages to deliver a model that has nothing to envy high-end smartphones. If it looks a lot like its big brothers, the OnePlus Nord is distinguished by its more compact format which will delight those allergic to the behemoths more and more widespread on the market.
90Hz AMOLED screen!
The OnePlus Nord has a 6.44-inch FluidAMOLED screen (20: 9 format) with Full HD + definition (2400 x 1080 pixels) compatible with sRGB and Display P3. Those who are used to the brand’s products will therefore notice that it makes no sacrifice on the quality of the screen, the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro integrating the same type of panel.
So you won’t be surprised to learn that the display quality is more or less the same as on the last two high-end models. A feat insofar as the Nord costs two to three times less than its brothers. We therefore find a very bright screen, with deep blacks and excellent contrasts. By default, bright colors tend to flatter the retina a bit too much. But Oxygen OS includes a slew of parameters to optimize the display according to your tastes. Three modes are available:
- Vivid: marked contrasts and saturated colors
- Natural: more neutral
- Advanced: allows you to choose between the sRGB spectrum, Display P3 or AMOLED Wide Color Gamut (our favorite) and adjust the temperature
To avoid spoiling anything, the OnePlus Nord displays content with a refresh rate of 90 Hz (60 Hz also available if you want to save the battery), like the OnePlus 8. If we barely observe the difference between a 90 Hz panel and 120 Hz, the gain in fluidity provided by 90 Hz compared to 60 Hz is obvious. Animations and transitions are smoother, navigation (especially on social networks) much more pleasant. Difficult to do without after tasting it.
Finally, the OnePlus Nord’s vibration engine is similar to that of the premium models and the screen is optimized to reduce the emission of blue lights.
By integrating an almost identical panel in all respects with those of the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, OnePlus fully respects its commitment to provide the same “Fast and Smooth” experience as the high-end models. As a result, the screen of the OnePlus Nord is a little marvel and puts a slap on its rivals.
Performance and software
Against all expectations, OnePlus does not play kikalaplusgrosse and opts for the Snapdragon 765G chip (octa-core, 7nm, clocked up to 2.4 GHz). An unprecedented strategy from the manufacturer who has always relied on the most powerful chip on the market. To support Qualcomm’s chip, it opts for 8 or 12 GB of LPDDR4X RAM (not LPDDR5) and 128 or 256 GB of UFS 2.1 (not 3.0) memory.
Forced to reduce manufacturing costs, OnePlus therefore partly sacrifices the performance of its new star. “In part” because beyond the benchmarks less flattering than with a Snapdragon 865 chip, the Snapdragon 765G is particularly effective in use. A finding that we were already making on other smartphones equipped with this mid-range processor.
Thus, thanks to an in-depth optimization of Oxygen OS, the OnePlus Nord ensures in all circumstances. OnePlus succeeds here again in providing the same “Fast and Smooth” experience as with its high-end models. The animations are fluid, the transitions are quick and the multitasking management is exemplary. The most demanding applications (photo editing, video editing) also work perfectly.
The players will also have for their account since the Snapdragon 765G, associated with the graphics chip Adreno 620, is optimized for the mobile game. Also the OnePlus Nord runs the most resource-intensive licenses ( Call of Duty Mobile, Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, Asphalt, NBA Live ) without any difficulty and with the best graphics configuration available.
Oxygen OS: the importance of optimization
Like Apple, OnePlus understood from its inception the importance of well thought out, optimized and sustainable software. This vision materialized with the creation of Oxygen OS, which established itself in just a few short years as one of the best versions of Android, if not the best. Out of the question for the manufacturer to provide a different experience on its more affordable model.
The OnePlus Nord therefore runs on Android 10 with Oxygen OS 10.5. In order to keep the same speed, the same fluidity and a version 100% identical to that of the high-end models, the developers have made nearly 300 optimizations. While most are invisible, they can be felt with use. We have not noticed any difference between this OnePlus Nord and our OnePlus 8.
However, OnePlus does not ignore any functionality. In addition to the identical graphic charter, we find the same dark mode, the same Zen Mode and the many customization options. Always so fluid, Oxygen OS shines with its lightness and its small, well-felt options. Whether we like it or not, we must recognize that the interface created by OnePlus has few flaws.
On the security side, the OnePlus Nord offers the duo facial recognition and fingerprint reader under the screen. We recommend the second option, which is more secure and very responsive. While facial recognition remains faster, it only relies on less reliable 2D analysis.
Finally, the manufacturer promises a follow-up of major updates for two years and three years for security updates.
Autonomy
Historically, OnePlus has always established itself among the market benchmarks in terms of autonomy. If the latest models were somewhat disappointing compared to the first versions, the OnePlus Nord inherits the know-how of the manufacturer. Its 4115 mAh battery coupled with the excellent optimization of Oxygen OS allow intensive use for two days. If your uses remain basic (little video, photo and/or game) you can even count on two and a half days of autonomy. Thus, the OnePlus Nord ranks among the most enduring smartphones on the market. This good performance can also be explained by the integration of the Snapdragon 765G processor which, although not as powerful as the Snapdragon 865, has the advantage of consuming very little energy.
OnePlus accompanies its smartphone with a Warp Charge 30T (5V / 6A) charger inaugurated with the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro. According to the manufacturer, this fast-charging system allows the OnePlus Nord to gain 70% of the battery in 30 minutes of recharging. Promise kept. The smartphone even regains all of its life points in less than an hour. All without ever heating up, even if you use it while charging. A delight.
Not surprisingly, wireless charging appears among absent subscribers. The manufacturer seems to want to reserve this technology (yet inexpensive) for its most premium model. Even the OnePlus 8, however, sold 699 euros, does not. If this lack is almost unacceptable at this price, it remains relatively acceptable on a smartphone sold at 399 euros. However, some competitors (and not necessarily the most generous) integrate it without complaining. We think for example of Apple which provides wireless charging in its iPhone SE 2020 sold for 489 euros.
Audio
Although voluntary, OnePlus has never quite managed to shine in the audio field. If the OnePlus Nord does not really change the game, it still manages to stand out on one point: listening with wireless accessories. A strange coincidence as the manufacturer launches the OnePlus Buds, the first true wireless headphones in its history. Bluetooth 5.1 compatible, the Nord supports aptX, aptX HD, LDAC and AAC, codecs that promise high definition listening.
In the absence of a 3.5 mm jack, lovers of wired accessories will need to equip themselves with USB-C equipment or a jack / USB-C adapter (not supplied). In all cases, the OnePlus Nord has a Dirac audio tuner to optimize the sound quality. Three listening modes are available: Dynamic (adjusts sound according to content), Movie (priority to voice and surround sound) or Music (more nuance).
Camera
The advantage of offering a smartphone for less than 500 euros is that the requirements for photography are lower. By attacking the premium segment, OnePlus has (a little) tripped over the carpet: if the photo quality of the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro is very good, it does not reach the level of its competitors. There is no question of reproducing the same mistakes with the Nord. OnePlus therefore includes a photo module composed of:
- a wide-angle lens : 26 mm, f / 1.75; 48 mpxls Sony IMX586 sensor (0.8 µm photosite); 6 lenses; PDAF, optical and electronic stabilization
- an ultra-wide-angle lens (f / 2.25); 8 mpxls sensor (119 ° field of view); PDAF, OIS
- a macro lens : f / 2.4; 2 mpxls sensor
- a lens charged with depth of field (f / 2.4); 5 mpxls sensor
If you are interested in the brand, you will undoubtedly have noticed that the photo module is very similar to that of the OnePlus 8, yet sold twice as expensive. The explanation is simple: OnePlus wants to offer a photographic experience worthy of a high-end model. However, it should be remembered that OnePlus 8 mainly uses sensors already used on the 7T launched in 2019. In summary, the OnePlus Nord mainly includes equipment launched 9 months ago.
Should we be worried? Not really insofar as the OnePlus Nord captures excellent shots and stands out for its versatility. If we still do not understand the choice of a macro lens (rather average) instead of a telephoto lens, the results in 2x zoom are still good enough to forgive this slight misstep.
The ultra-wide-angle is also effective. OnePlus manages to contain distortion well, retain enough detail and keep an overall rendering close to that of the wide-angle. A very good point therefore.
OnePlus even pays for the luxury of integrating a front-facing photo module that is more efficient than that of the OnePlus 8 . On the program, a 32-megapixel Sony IMX616 sensor (0.8 µm photosite) with a wide-angle lens (f / 2.45) associated with an 8-megapixel sensor with ultra-wide-angle lens (f / 2.5; 105 ° field of view). The OnePlus Nord can thus capture quality selfies or groufies as well as equally flattering self-portraits.
OUR OPINION
- neat design and excellent grip
- beautiful screen
- good performance
- excellent autonomy
- very fast charging
- good photo quality
- OxygenOS
- aggressive price
- no sealing certification
- no wireless charging