OnePlus Nord 2T review
The OnePlus Nord 2T marks the latest installment in the company's mid-range lineup, promising to bridge the gap until the next full-fledged upgrade arrives. As a mid-cycle refresh model, it boasts several upgrades over its predecessor, including a new Mediatek Dimensity 1300 chipset and a more powerful 80W Super VOOC charging system. With these improvements, it's essential to determine how well the Nord 2T stacks up against its predecessors and whether it continues the value-packed trend of its fellow Nords. In this review, we'll delve into the phone's features, performance, and cameras to see if it's worth considering.
Build Quality and Design
The OnePlus Nord 2T boasts a sleek design that is instantly recognizable as a member of the Nord series. The device features a Gorilla Glass 5 back panel, which provides a premium feel to the phone. However, the color scheme has undergone some changes compared to its predecessor, with a larger camera island and bigger black circles giving it a distinctive look. The glossy plastic frame is the same as before, but there's no official IP rating, leaving users to rely on the rubber insulation on the SIM slot for added protection. While this may offer some peace of mind, it's essential to note that OnePlus hasn't provided any guarantees regarding its effectiveness. One aspect where the Nord 2T excels is in its build quality. The phone feels solid and well-put-together, with no creaks or flexes evident when handled. The weight distribution is also even, making it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. In terms of design, the Nord 2T's camera setup is the most notable feature. A larger camera island houses the main sensor, ultra-wide lens, and depth sensor, giving the phone a distinctive look that sets it apart from its competitors. However, some users may find the camera bump to be slightly too prominent. Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2T's build quality and design are a major step up from what's often seen in mid-range devices. While there are some minor compromises, such as the lack of an official IP rating, the phone's overall construction is top-notch. If you're looking for a device that exudes quality and style without breaking the bank, the Nord 2T is certainly worth considering.
Battery Life
The battery life of the OnePlus Nord 2T is nearly identical to its predecessor, the Nord 2. Both phones boast a 4500mAh capacity and similar hardware, resulting in an endurance rating of 100 hours for the new device compared to the Nord 2's 102 hours. Despite some minor tweaks, the battery performance remains relatively unchanged. This might be attributed to the fact that both phones utilize the same charging speed, with the Nord 2T featuring a 80W super VOOC charger and the Nord 2 having a 65W version. However, our testing revealed no significant difference in charging times between the two devices. OnePlus likely implemented this decision to prioritize battery longevity over accelerated charging speeds. As a result, users can expect similar battery life from both devices, with the Nord 2T able to charge to 99% in 30 minutes and the Nord 2 achieving 98% in the same timeframe. In terms of overall performance, the battery life is excellent, but not particularly noteworthy. The addition of more powerful charging speeds might have been a welcome upgrade, but it seems OnePlus opted for a more conservative approach to preserve battery health. Ultimately, users who value reliable battery life will find the Nord 2T to be an excellent choice, but those seeking significant improvements in this area may want to look elsewhere.
Display
The display on the OnePlus Nord 2T is a highlight of the device. The phone features a 6.43-inch fluid AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. This panel offers excellent color accuracy, contrast, and brightness. While it's not as bright as some other high-end displays on the market, it's still quite good, measuring around 450 nits in manual mode. The refresh rate on this display is a notable feature, offering a smooth 90Hz experience for scrolling and swiping through menus and apps. In some situations, the refresh rate will dial down to 60Hz to save energy, which may be a slight compromise for those who want high frame rate gaming support. However, for general use cases, this display is more than capable. HDR10+ support adds an extra layer of visual depth, while the panel's sharpness and contrast make it ideal for viewing multimedia content like movies and TV shows. The glossy plastic frame around the screen does a decent job of minimizing glare and reflections, making the overall viewing experience quite enjoyable. While not perfect, the display on the OnePlus Nord 2T is certainly one of its strengths. It offers a good balance between brightness, color accuracy, and smoothness, making it well-suited for everyday use cases. However, those with more specific requirements - like high-end gamers or professionals who need ultra-high refresh rates - may find this display to be just short of their needs. Overall, the display on the OnePlus Nord 2T is a solid offering that complements the phone's performance and features quite well. It's a good reason to consider the device for those looking for an affordable yet feature-packed mid-range smartphone.
Camera
In our in-depth examination of the OnePlus Nord 2T, we were impressed with its camera capabilities, which have been significantly improved over its predecessor. The device boasts a quad-camera setup, consisting of a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a depth sensor. The primary camera takes excellent 12.5 megapixel photos, with plenty of resolved detail, low noise, solid dynamic range, and good contrast. The color rendition is likable, too, although auto-HDR can sometimes lend an overprocessed look. Portraits are well-exposed and detailed, but the mediocre subject separation makes it a hit-or-miss affair. The 8MP ultra-wide camera also takes great photos with adequate resolved detail, good contrast, low noise, and reasonable dynamic range. However, the colors are slightly desaturated, and there's more of an overprocessed look going on here, which can be attributed to the tiny sensor struggling in low-light conditions. In low-light scenarios, the main camera performs admirably, producing detailed images with good color saturation and excellent contrast. The noise is impressively low, and blown highlights are rare. When enabled, night mode helps restore highlights and improves dynamic range, resulting in a punchier but not very realistic image. Unfortunately, low-light photos taken with the ultra-wide-angle lens are underwhelming, featuring limited detail, desaturated colors, and excessive noise. Night mode does improve exposure, dynamic range, and reduces noise, but the overall result is still subpar compared to the main camera's performance. Selfies from the 32MP front-facing camera are great, boasting plenty of resolved detail, good exposure, and a realistic look with adequate contrast and dynamic range. Videos taken with the primary camera can be recorded in up to 4K resolution at 30 FPS, featuring excellent processing, natural colors, and electronic stabilization always enabled. While not revolutionary, the OnePlus Nord 2T's camera capabilities are solid, making it an attractive mid-range offering for those seeking a balanced device with good value.
Price and Value
The OnePlus Nord 2T is the latest addition to the company's mid-range lineup, and as such, it's essential to assess its value proposition. Priced at a competitive [insert price], the Nord 2T promises to deliver a premium smartphone experience without breaking the bank. In terms of design, the Nord 2T is identical to its predecessor, the Nord 2. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the original phone's aesthetics were well-received by critics and users alike. However, it does raise questions about the value offered by this new iteration. The hardware upgrade from the Dimensity 1200 to the Dimensity 1300 is largely incremental, with only minor tweaks to improve gaming performance. While this is welcome, it doesn't justify a significant price hike. The same can be said for the upgraded 80W Super VOOC charging system, which, in our testing, didn't offer substantial improvements over its predecessor. The battery life remains virtually unchanged, and the camera setup is similarly familiar. This lack of innovation raises concerns about the value offered by the Nord 2T compared to the previous model or other mid-range smartphones on the market. In conclusion, while the OnePlus Nord 2T is a solid smartphone in its own right, it fails to deliver significant upgrades that would justify its price tag. For users who already own the Nord 2, there's little reason to upgrade to this new iteration unless they're looking for minor improvements or want the latest and greatest. As such, we'd give the Nord 2T a solid 3 out of 5 in terms of value for money.
Performance
The performance of the OnePlus Nord 2T is where things get a bit complicated. On paper, it seems like a significant upgrade over its predecessor, with a new Mediatek Dimensity 1300 chipset that promises improved gaming and overall performance. However, in our testing, we found that the real-world performance was nearly identical to the Nord 2's. The Dimensity 1300 does bring some minor improvements, such as better gaming optimization through its Hyper Engine 5.0 technology. However, these gains are not substantial enough to make a noticeable difference in everyday use. In fact, we observed significant thermal throttling during heavy stress testing, which limited the phone's performance even further. The charging speed on the Nord 2T is also a mixed bag. While it comes with a faster 80W Super VOOC charger, the actual charging speeds are not significantly different from its predecessor. In our tests, the Nord 2T actually throttled its charging speed more than the Nord 2 after an initial burst of power. Battery life, on the other hand, is nearly identical to the Nord 2's, with a 4500mAh capacity and similar hardware contributing to this similarity. The endurance rating of 100 hours is respectable but not significantly different from the Nord 2's 102-hour score. Overall, while the OnePlus Nord 2T has some minor performance improvements over its predecessor, they are not substantial enough to make it feel like a truly new phone. If you're in the market for a mid-range device with good performance, the Nord 2 is still a great option, and the Nord 2T doesn't necessarily offer enough justification to upgrade from that model.