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The time has finally arrived. OnePlus held a virtual event this morning to announce the all-new OnePlus Nord 2 and the OnePlus Buds Pro. Outside of the controlled leaks and rumors, we have been waiting to see how OnePlus would follow up after seeing the success of the Nord last year.
OnePlus Nord 2 Specs
- Display: 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED w/ 90Hz refresh rate
- Resolution: 2400 x 1080
- Processor: MediaTek Dimension 1200-AI
- RAM: 6GB / 8GB / 12GB
- Storage: 128GB / 256GB
- Front Camera: 32MP (Sony IMX615)
- Rear Cameras: 50MP (wide) / 8MP (ultra wide) / 2MP (monochrome)
- Battery: 4,500mAh dual-cell
- Charging: Warp Charge 65 (0-100% in 35 minutes)
- Software: OxygenOS 11.3
- Others: Dual-5G SIM slots, Haptics 2.0, In-display fingerprint scanner
- Colors: Blue Haze, Gray Sierra, Green Wood
With its 6.43-inch AMOLED display, OnePlus kept things conservative, only featuring a 90Hz refresh rate. There were some that hoped to see a bump up to 120Hz, but that likely proved too costly given the other changes with the Nord 2. The display also features a 2400 x 1080 resolution, and sports new features such as AI Color Boost and AI Resolution Boost. OnePlus promises that these two features will help improve color accuracy and upscale the resolution from various apps to provide a better visual experience.
Powering this beast is the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. There are actually three RAM configurations, but only the 6GB version will be made available in India. Those in Europe will choose between 8GB or 12GB. During the event, OnePlus revealed that the Dimensity 1200-AI will provide up to 65% faster CPU performance, and 125% GPU performance compared to the original Nord. This marks the first non-Qualcomm phone released by OnePlus, so it will be interesting to see if this begins a trend with future devices.
On the camera front, OnePlus included the 32MP Sony IMX615 for the selfie camera. This offers the “highest resolution front camera” that OnePlus has ever used on a phone. With Group Shots 2.0, the Nord will automatically detect up to five faces at the same time, and optimizes the image based on various aspects of those in the shot.
Moving to the rear, the main camera system is headlined by a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor. This sensor promises to capture more than 50% of light than the sensor used in the original Nord, while also including OIS and even 4K video recording. Paired with the 50MP main lens is an 8MP ultra wide camera with a 119.7-degree FoV. Rounding out the bunch is a 2MP monochrome lens that is really more of a spec-sheet stuffer than anything else.
By this point you might be wondering about the battery of the OnePlus Nord 2. Well, OnePlus didn’t disappoint, as the company is included a 4,500mAh dual-cell battery. The technology is not all that different from the dual-cell tech used in the OnePlus 9. We’re also getting Warp Charge 65, which offers 65W charging speeds with claims of going from 0% to 100% in less than 35 minutes. OnePlus has also optimized the software and charging to help provide a good battery health when charging overnight.
Software and Extras
OnePlus sure knows how to pack a bunch of great hardware into its devices, even its mid-range and budget handsets. But hardware is just one piece of the puzzle, so what changes can you expect to see from the software?
The OnePlus Nord 2 will be released with OxygenOS 11.3, which includes the best features of OxygenOS 11 and then some. You’ll find things like Zen Mode, Dark Mode, better one-handed operability, and customizable Always-on Display options. OnePlus is also including the all-new OnePlus Games app, which now comes pre-loaded with the Nord 2.
There are some software enhancements on the camera-side as well. Thanks to the Dimensity 1200-AI and the cameras being used, OnePlus is including its AI Photo Enhancement feature. This will recognize up to 22 different scenarios and will automatically adjust the settings to help you get the perfect shot. With Nightscape Mode, your OnePlus Nord 2 will be able to take brighter pictures, even if the lighting is as dim as 1 lux.
Over the past few months, OnePlus has caught a bunch of flak regarding software updates for its various devices. With the OnePlus Nord 2, the company is promising two years of major Android updates, along with three years of security updates. This means you’ll get Android 12 and Android 13, but will likely miss out on Android 14.
Pricing and availability
The OnePlus Nord 2 comes in three different colors – Blue Haze, Gray Sierra, and Green Woods. The device will go on sale through the OnePlus website and Amazon starting on July 28th, and is coming to both Europe and India. As for pricing, here’s the breakdown for each region:
Europe (Blue Haze and Gray Sierra)
- 8GB / 128GB – 399 Euros / 399 GBP
- 12GB / 256GB – 499 Euros / 469 GBP
India (All three colors)
- 6GB / 128GB (Blue Haze) – 27,999 INR
- 8GB / 128GB (Blue Haze / Gray Sierra) – 29,999 INR
- 12GB / 256GB (Blue Haze / Gray Sierra) – 34,999 INR
- 12GB / 256GB (Green Woods) – 34,999 INR
The biggest different here is that Europe will not see the 6GB / 128GB configuration made available. It also won’t have the Green Woods color option available either. But OnePlus states that the Green Woods color with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage won’t be coming to India until “Mid-August”.
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