OnePlus Nord 2T review
The OnePlus Nord 2T is the latest addition to the company's mid-range lineup, following in the footsteps of its predecessors with value-packed features. While it doesn't bring significant changes over the previous Nord 2, it's still a great phone that offers an excellent balance of performance and price. The design has been tweaked slightly, with a new color scheme and a larger camera island on the back panel. However, the glossy plastic frame remains the same, and there's no official IP rating for water or dust resistance. The 5G chipset is upgraded to Mediatek Dimensity 1300, which provides excellent performance in everyday use. One of the most significant upgrades over the Nord 2 is the new 80W Super VOOC charging, but in reality, we didn't observe any meaningful difference between the two phones. The battery life is nearly identical, with an endurance rating of 100 hours compared to the Nord 2's 102 hours. The display is a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED panel with a 1080p resolution and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It's sharp, contrasty, and supports HDR10+. The camera setup features a 50MP main cam with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a depth sensor. While the photos taken with the main camera are great, with plenty of detail and low noise, the ultra-wide camera struggles in low light. Selfies come from the 32MP front-facing cam, which delivers good exposure and realistic colors. Videos can be taken with the main cam at up to 4K resolution at 30 FPS, but the ultra-wide is limited to 1080p. Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2T is a solid mid-ranger that offers excellent value for its price. While it doesn't bring significant changes over the previous model, it's still a great phone that's worth considering if you're in the market for a balanced and affordable device.
Build Quality and Design
The OnePlus Nord 2T is the latest addition to the company's mid-range lineup, and as expected, it brings some minor design tweaks and upgrades over its predecessor. The phone features a Gorilla Glass 5 back panel with a new color scheme and a larger camera island. However, it's worth noting that there is no official IP rating, which might be a concern for some users. The glossy plastic frame is the same as before, but the addition of rubber insulation on the SIM slot provides some protection against dust and moisture. The build quality overall feels solid, but we wouldn't risk it in extreme conditions. OnePlus has also stuck with its classic design language, which may not be to everyone's taste. However, the attention to detail is still evident in the phone's construction. The Gorilla Glass 5 back panel is scratch-resistant and provides a smooth surface for your fingers. In terms of size and weight, the Nord 2T feels compact and easy to hold in one hand. The display is a standard 6.43 inches, which should be big enough for most users. Overall, while the design may not have changed much from its predecessor, it still looks sleek and premium. The only thing that might raise some eyebrows is the lack of official IP rating, but that's something we've come to expect from OnePlus' mid-range offerings. Still, the phone feels solid in hand, and the build quality is top-notch.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord 2T's battery life 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 Nord 2T, compared to the Nord 2's 102 hours. This isn't surprising, given the similarities between the two devices. The new 880W Super VOKE charging system is touted as a significant upgrade over the Nord 2's 65W charger. However, our testing revealed that the Nord 2T actually throttles its charging speed more than the Nord 2, with the former reaching 99% in 30 minutes and the latter achieving 98%. This might be intentional on OnePlus' part to help preserve the battery life over time. While this might not seem like a major issue, it's worth noting that the promised faster charging experience is simply not happening. The battery life itself remains unchanged, making the Nord 2T feel like more of an iterative update rather than a significant refresh. Overall, the battery life on the OnePlus Nord 2T is decent but not exceptional. If you're in the market for a mid-range phone with good value and don't mind a slightly underwhelming charging experience, then the Nord 2T might be worth considering. However, if you're expecting a major upgrade from its predecessor, you might want to look elsewhere.
Display
The display is one of the standout features of the OnePlus Nord 2T. The 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED screen offers a crisp and sharp visual experience, with a 1080p resolution that's perfect for everyday use. Gorilla Glass 5 protection ensures that the screen remains scratch-free and durable. The display is capable of producing vibrant colors, thanks to its support for HDR 10+. The color accuracy is impressive, especially when adjusted through the color temperature settings. In bright sunlight, the screen can produce a maximum brightness of around 450 nits, making it readable even in direct light. One of the notable features of this display is its refresh rate, which can hit up to 90Hz. This provides a smooth scrolling experience and helps to reduce motion blur. However, in some situations, the refresh rate can dial down to 60Hz to conserve battery life. Audio quality is also decent, with stereo speakers that scored well in our loudness test. While there's no bass boost, the overall sound quality is pleasant and suitable for casual listening. Overall, the display on the OnePlus Nord 2T is a highlight of this mid-range phone. Its crisp visuals, vibrant colors, and smooth refresh rate make it a joy to use. The only drawback is the lack of high frame rate gaming support, but for everyday use, this display is more than capable.
Camera
The OnePlus Nord 2T's camera system is where things get interesting. The phone packs a triple-camera setup, with a primary sensor that boasts 50MP resolution, an ultra-wide-angle lens with 8MP resolution, and a depth sensor. On paper, this sounds like a solid setup, but how does it perform in real-world scenarios? The 50MP main camera produces impressive results, with plenty of detail, low noise, solid dynamic range, and good contrast. The color rendition is also likable, although Auto HDR can sometimes lend an overprocessed look to the photos. Portraits are well-exposed and detailed, but subject separation can be hit-or-miss at times. The 8MP ultra-wide camera delivers decent results, with adequate detail, good contrast, low noise, and reasonable dynamic range. However, the colors can be slightly desaturated, and the image processing struggles to make up for the tiny sensor in low-light conditions. When it comes to low-light photography, both cameras show their limitations. The primary sensor produces decent results, but with some noise and limited detail. Turning on Night Mode helps, but even then, the photos can look a bit processed. The ultra-wide camera struggles significantly, producing underexposed images with desaturated colors. The 32MP front-facing camera delivers excellent selfies, with plenty of detail, good exposure, and realistic color rendition. The primary camera can record videos up to 4K resolution at 30fps, which looks great, detailed, and naturally processed. Electronic stabilization is always on, making it perfect for capturing smooth footage. The ultra-wide camera, however, is limited to 1080p resolution and produces okay detail, low noise, and adequate dynamic range. The OnePlus Nord 2T's camera system shows promise, but it falls short of expectations in certain areas. While the primary sensor delivers excellent results, the ultra-wide camera struggles with low-light performance and color accuracy. If you're looking for a reliable mid-range camera phone, the Nord 2T is worth considering, but don't expect it to blow your mind with exceptional photography capabilities.
Price and Value
The OnePlus Nord 2T is the latest addition to the company's mid-range lineup, and it promises to deliver value-packed performance at an affordable price. As a refresh model of the previous Nord 2, the Nord 2T brings some minor design tweaks, a new chipset, and a more powerful charger to the table. While the device's design may not be drastically different from its predecessor, the camera island has been revised with larger black circles. The glossy plastic frame remains unchanged, but there's now rubber insulation on the SIM slot for added protection (although no official IP rating is mentioned). The 5G chipset, a Mediatek Dimensity 1300, may not bring significant improvements over its predecessor, with similar scores in benchmarks and noticeable thermal throttling. However, this shouldn't be a major concern for casual users. One of the most significant upgrades is the new 80W Super VOOC charging, which promises fast top-ups. While it's true that the charging speed drops after an initial burst, the promised benefits still make it a valuable feature. Battery life remains nearly unchanged, with an endurance rating of 100 hours. Considering its price point, the OnePlus Nord 2T offers impressive value for money. The device's performance is excellent, and while it may not be revolutionary, it's certainly on par with other upper-mid-range phones. If you're looking for a balanced mid-ranger that won't break the bank, the Nord 2T is definitely worth considering.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord 2T, the latest addition to the company's mid-range lineup, boasts a new Mediatek Dimensity 1300 chipset, touted as an upgrade over its predecessor. However, our testing revealed that the performance is largely identical to the Nord 2, with similar CPU and GPU configurations and clock speeds. While the Dimensity 1300 does offer some behind-the-scenes optimizations related to gaming, as mentioned in Mediatek's Hyper Engine 5.0 technology, this did not translate to significant improvements in benchmark scores. The Nord 2T earned the same scores as its predecessor, leaving us wondering about the necessity of an upgrade. What is more concerning is the thermal throttling we observed during our testing, which started within just 5 minutes of heavy stress. This is likely due to the phone's design and cooling system rather than the chipset itself. The performance is still excellent in the upper mid-range category, but it falls short of expectations considering the hardware. The battery life remains nearly identical to the Nord 2, with both phones boasting a 4500mAh capacity and similar hardware configurations. The endurance rating is similarly unremarkable, with the Nord 2T scoring 100 hours compared to the Nord 2's 102 hours. Overall, while the OnePlus Nord 2T promises an upgrade in performance, our testing revealed that it's largely more of the same. If you're already satisfied with your current phone or looking for a budget-friendly option without significant upgrades, then the Nord 2T may still be worth considering.
Pros
1. Excellent Performance
2. Good Camera Quality
3. Long Battery Life
4. Fast Charging
5. Stunning Display
6. Good Audio Quality
Cons
1. Disappointing Upgrade
2. Thermal Throttling
3. Limited Charging Speed