The Nord series has always been OnePlus’ attempt to strike the right balance between affordability and performance, and over the years, it has grown into a dependable line that many users look forward to. The Nord CE models, in particular, have been the choice for those who want a clean OnePlus experience at a price that doesn’t feel intimidating. The Nord CE 4 found its place as a capable everyday phone, and with the Nord CE 5, OnePlus is trying to build on that momentum. Priced from Rs 24,999, the phone brings refinements in design, a fresh internal setup, and a more deliberate push towards AI features. I spent time with the device as my daily driver to understand how these changes translate in real-world usage.
Design and display
At first glance, the Nord CE 5 stays true to the Nord design language while making small but meaningful refinements. The Nexus Blue unit I had for review looked understated yet fresh, carrying forward the vertical pill-shaped camera module from the Nord CE 4 but now with colour-matched accents along the edges and camera housing. The matte-finish plastic-glass rear panel does a good job of keeping smudges away, which means the phone looks clean even after hours of use.
The edges are now flat, giving the phone a slightly more modern profile. Controls are placed thoughtfully — power and volume buttons on the right, SIM tray and Type-C port at the bottom alongside a single speaker, and an IR blaster on top for controlling appliances. At 199 grams, the phone doesn’t feel heavy, but its 160mm height does make it stretch beyond what some may find comfortable for one-handed use. That said, this is typical of most modern smartphones in this size category and becomes less noticeable once you adjust to it.
The Nord CE 5 also brings an IP65 rating, a welcome addition for peace of mind against occasional splashes and dust.
Up front, the phone houses a 6.77-inch Super Fluid AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution. It supports HDR10+, 10-bit colour depth, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and reaches up to 1430 nits of peak brightness. The panel has a lively character, making everyday interactions — from scrolling through apps to watching content — enjoyable. Indoors, colours look bright and immersive. Outdoors, brightness holds up for general use, though there are moments under direct sunlight where you might wish it pushed slightly higher. Still, the adaptive refresh rate is smooth and well-calibrated, switching intelligently to balance between responsiveness and battery efficiency.
Performance and software
Under the hood, the Nord CE 5 is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8350 Apex processor, paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. There’s also support for microSD expansion up to 1TB, which is not something we often see in this segment.
In daily use, the phone doesn’t struggle. Switching between apps, browsing, streaming content, or running background processes happens without stutter. Even with a dozen apps open, the experience remained fluid. For gaming, the Nord CE 5 is more than capable. Titles like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile run at high frame rates, with support for up to 120 FPS in some cases. What’s important here is thermal consistency. Thanks to the new CyroVelocity VC cooling system, the device doesn’t overheat during extended play sessions. The performance holds steady, which makes it suitable not just for casual players but also for those who engage in longer gaming runs.
On the software front, the phone ships with OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15. It continues the OnePlus tradition of keeping the interface clean, fast, and free of clutter. Animations are fluid, app launches are snappy, and there’s very little in the way of unnecessary pre-installed apps.
What’s new this time is the deeper presence of AI. The Nord CE 5 benefits from both Google Gemini integration and OnePlus’ own AI suite. Google’s features — such as Circle to Search, AI-powered summaries, and contextual assistance across apps — make everyday interactions more intuitive. OnePlus layers on its AI Toolbox 2.0, AI VoiceScribe, and AI Creativity features, which feel genuinely useful for things like transcription, photo editing, or quick productivity tasks. It is clear that the company wants AI to be a part of the Nord experience moving forward, and the CE 5 is the starting point.
Cameras
The Nord CE 5 keeps things simple on the camera front with a dual-lens setup — a 50MP Sony LYT600 sensor with optical image stabilisation and an 8MP ultra-wide shooter. On the front, there’s a 16MP camera for selfies and calls.
The primary sensor does well in daylight. Shots carry good detail, and colours lean towards vibrancy. They sometimes appear a touch more lively than reality, but this tuning works well for most users who prefer their photos to pop without manual adjustments. The ultra-wide maintains consistency in colour and performs reliably across scenes.
Portrait shots capture subjects with accurate edge detection and depth, though the images tend to look slightly brighter. In low light, the phone can still deliver usable shots with enough detail for casual sharing, though results won’t match more expensive flagships. Selfies are pleasing, with a slight smoothing of skin tones, but nothing excessive.
Overall, the camera system is dependable. It may not push boundaries in terms of imaging, but it doesn’t fall short in delivering the kind of results most buyers in this segment expect.
Battery and charging
Perhaps the most significant hardware highlight of the Nord CE 5 is its 7,100mAh battery — the largest ever on a OnePlus phone. This capacity translates into excellent endurance. With regular use involving social media, browsing, video streaming, and some gaming, the phone consistently lasted more than a day and often stretched into the second.
Charging is handled by the included 80W SuperVOOC charger. In practice, this means a quick top-up from 0 to 20 per cent takes about 10 minutes, while a full charge takes under an hour. The phone does warm up slightly during charging, but not in a way that interferes with use. A new bypass charging feature is also present, useful when gaming while plugged in, as it supplies power directly without stressing the battery.
For a mid-range phone, this combination of long-lasting battery life and genuinely fast charging is one of the Nord CE 5’s strongest assets.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE 5 does not attempt to reinvent the Nord formula but rather refines it in meaningful ways. The design feels more polished while retaining the minimalist charm that has defined the series. Performance is reliable across day-to-day use and gaming, helped by thoughtful thermal management. The software remains one of the cleaner Android experiences, now enhanced with AI features that add real utility instead of just being buzzwords. Cameras are dependable for their category, and while they may not always be perfectly tuned, they deliver results that most users will appreciate. Battery life is outstanding, and charging is impressively quick, making the phone easy to live with daily.
For its starting price of Rs 24,999, the Nord CE 5 offers a package that is balanced, modern, and practical. It may not chase extremes, but it doesn’t need to. Instead, it focuses on delivering a consistent experience with touches of innovation where they matter most. For users looking for a mid-range phone that blends longevity, performance, and a growing suite of AI-powered features, the Nord CE 5 makes a strong case for itself.
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