OnePlus Nord N20 SE review
The OnePlus Nord N20 SE is the latest budget phone from the company, priced at $199 globally and ₹15,000 in India. Despite being a rebranded Oppo A774G, it's marketed as a genuine OnePlus product, which raises questions about the brand's identity crisis. With an outdated Helio G35 chipset, HD display, and binary camera setup, the phone's specs are uninspiring for its price. The design is good, but that's where the positives end. The performance is sluggish, making it feel like a budget phone from 2018. Gaming and camera capabilities are also subpar. While the battery life is decent with a standard 5000mAh cell and 33w charging, it's not enough to redeem the phone's numerous shortcomings. For the price, there are better options available in the market, such as the Redmi Note 11, Galaxy F23, or Realme 9, which offer superior specs. The Nord N20 SE feels like a rebranded Oppo product, and it shows that OnePlus is more interested in milking its brand value than competing on specs. Despite this, the phone still manages to deceive some consumers with its aesthetic appeal and price tag. Overall, the OnePlus Nord N20 SE is an underwhelming experience for a budget phone from a company known for its flagship devices. With better options available at similar prices, it's not recommended to purchase this phone.
Build Quality and Design
The latest addition to the OnePlus lineup is the Nord N20 SE, a budget phone that promises a premium experience at an affordable price. However, my hands-on experience with this device has left me underwhelmed, particularly when it comes to build quality and design. On the outside, the Nord N20 SE looks like any other mid-range smartphone. The plastic back is smooth to the touch, but it's not exactly what you'd call premium. The phone's thickness is noticeable, and the weight distribution feels off. The camera module, while nicely designed, sticks out a bit too much, making the phone look awkward in some angles. The display, though HD, is another area where the Nord N20 SE falls short. The screen resolution is average for its price point, but it's the lack of refresh rate options that's more disappointing. A 60Hz refresh rate is standard at this price, and while it gets the job done, it doesn't exactly thrill. OnePlus has been known for its attention to detail in design, but with the Nord N20 SE, they seem to have phoned it in. The waterdrop notch on top of the screen looks dated, and the lack of an ultra-wide-angle camera is a missed opportunity. In today's competitive smartphone market, build quality and design are crucial factors that set apart the best from the rest. Unfortunately, the OnePlus Nord N20 SE falls short in these areas, making it harder to recommend, even at its affordable price point. If you're looking for a budget phone with premium features, there are better options available.
Battery Life
The latest addition to the OnePlus family, the Nord N20 SE, has been touted as an affordable option for those seeking a budget phone from the brand. However, our experience with this device has been underwhelming, particularly when it comes to performance. One area where the Nord N20 SE shines is its battery life. With a standard 5000mAh battery and 33W fast charging, you can expect a full day's use without needing to recharge. This is a welcome feature in today's world of always-connected devices, and the Nord N20 SE delivers on this front. With a low-powered processor, HD display, and binary camera setup, the phone manages to keep up with basic tasks without any issues. However, when it comes to more demanding activities like gaming or multitasking, the device starts to show its limitations. The sluggish performance makes it difficult to enjoy these features, rendering them somewhat pointless. The battery life is a redeeming quality of this device, making it possible to use the phone throughout the day without needing to recharge. This aspect alone might make the Nord N20 SE a viable option for some users. However, considering its subpar performance and lackluster camera capabilities, there are better options available in the market at similar prices. If battery life is your primary concern, the Nord N20 SE might be worth considering. Nevertheless, we would recommend exploring other options that offer more comprehensive features and superior performance at similar price points.
Display
The OnePlus Nord N20 SE is the latest budget phone from the company, and unfortunately, it fails to impress when it comes to its display. As one of the most affordable OnePlus phones available today, I was expecting a decent viewing experience. However, the reality is far from it. The Nord N20 SE features an HD resolution display that refreshes at just 60Hz, which is outdated in today's market. While it may not be a deal-breaker for some users, it's certainly not impressive considering the competition. In fact, many budget phones offer higher screen resolutions and faster refresh rates, making this one feel like a step backward. The display itself looks fine, but it lacks the crispness and vibrancy that I've come to expect from OnePlus devices. The colors seem muted, and the text appears less sharp than on other screens in its class. To make matters worse, the outdated waterdrop notch design feels dated compared to modern smartphones with hole-punch cameras. One of the few redeeming qualities of this phone is its smooth 90Hz refresh rate on the screen, but even that can't compensate for the display's lackluster performance. When I put it next to other budget phones in its class, like the Redmi Note 11 or Galaxy F23, the Nord N20 SE's display looks pale and unimpressive. Overall, the display on the OnePlus Nord N20 SE is a major letdown given the phone's price point. If you're looking for a good viewing experience at an affordable price, there are better options available in this segment. Unfortunately, this phone falls short of expectations when it comes to its screen quality.
Camera
The OnePlus Nord N20 SE is the latest budget offering from the company, but unfortunately, it falls short in several areas, including its camera performance. As a device that carries the OnePlus brand name, one would expect a decent camera experience, but sadly, that's not the case here. The phone features a binary camera setup with a 50MP primary lens and a depth detector. However, the results are average at best. In good lighting conditions, the camera manages to capture some decent shots, but as soon as you step into low-light or try to zoom in on an object, the image quality takes a hit. The colors appear washed out, and there's noticeable noise creeping in. The lack of an ultra-wide lens is also felt, making it difficult to capture those hard-to-reach moments. Selfies are no better, with poor skin tones and an unnatural look to them. What's even more disappointing is that this phone costs ₹15,999 (around $200 USD) in some regions, which is a lot of money for such subpar camera performance. In comparison, phones like the Redmi Note 11, Samsung Galaxy F23, or Realme 9 offer significantly better cameras at similar price points. OnePlus's decision to rebrand an Oppo device as their own Nord series phone has led to some underwhelming experiences in the past, and unfortunately, the camera on the N20 SE is one of them. It's clear that the company is more focused on selling a brand rather than delivering quality products. If you're in the market for a budget smartphone with a good camera, I would recommend looking elsewhere. There are better options available at similar price points that offer superior camera performance and value for money. 2/5 While the N20 SE may look like an attractive option due to its OnePlus branding, I would not recommend it based on its subpar camera performance and high price tag.
Price and Value
OnePlus has been expanding its smartphone portfolio in recent times, and the Nord series is one of their mid-range offerings. However, with the launch of the Nord N20 SE, it's clear that the company is taking a step back from its usual strategy of offering competitive specs at affordable prices. Priced at ₹14,999 in India and $249 globally, the Nord N20 SE feels like an overpriced phone that doesn't quite live up to its name. The device boasts a three-year-old MediaTek Helio G35 chipset, which is not only outdated but also struggles with performance. The HD display is another letdown, as it refreshes at just 60Hz and lacks any notable features. The camera setup on the Nord N20 SE is equally underwhelming, with a binary camera arrangement that's more suited to budget phones from 2018. Image quality is average, and selfie performance is particularly poor. For a phone in this price range, buyers can expect much better camera capabilities from alternatives like the Redmi Note 11 or Galaxy F23. OnePlus' decision to brand this phone under their name seems like an attempt to leverage their brand value without actually delivering on the promises of competitive specs and pricing that they're known for. The Nord N20 SE feels more like a rebranded Oppo phone, with design cues that are unmistakably taken from their Chinese sibling. Considering the options available in this price range, the Nord N20 SE falls short in nearly every aspect. It's an overpriced device that fails to deliver on performance and camera capabilities. For those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone, there are better alternatives out there – even at similar prices.
Performance
In an era where smartphone manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of performance and innovation, the OnePlus Nord N20 SE is a disappointing anomaly. Despite being one of the cheapest OnePlus phones available, this device fails to deliver on its promise of decent specs. The phone's processor, Helio G35, is woefully outdated and struggles with even the most basic tasks. After using the device for several days, I noticed that it feels sluggish and unresponsive, particularly when launching multiple apps simultaneously or playing graphics-intensive games. The performance is far from smooth, making it feel like a budget phone from 2018. The lack of a smooth experience is further exacerbated by the display's mediocre refresh rate of 60Hz. While some smartphones may offer similar specs at this price point, there are better options available that offer improved performance and features. For example, the Redmi Note 11 or Galaxy F23 would provide a more enjoyable experience for users. The Helio G35's poor image processing capabilities also result in subpar camera performance. Images taken with the phone's primary lens lack detail, and low-light shots are particularly underwhelming. Even selfies and videography leave much to be desired, making this device's camera capabilities one of its most significant shortcomings. Overall, the OnePlus Nord N20 SE falls short in terms of performance, making it a poor value for money at its current price point. If you're in the market for a budget phone, there are better options available that offer improved specs and features.
Pros
1. The design of the phone is really good, which is exactly what Oppo is known for.
2. The battery life is very good due to the low-powered processor and HD screen
3. It comes with a standard 5000mAh battery with 33w charging
4. The phone has an excellent brand image in the eyes of general consumers
Cons
1. The phone has variably uninspiring specs for its price
2. It's ridiculously priced at doll 199 globally and RS 14,999 in India
3. The display is HD with a refresh rate of just 60Hz, which feels outdated compared to the competition
4. The performance is sluggish, especially when playing games or opening multiple apps
5. The camera setup is binary with no ultra-wide lens, producing average results and selfies that are emotionally weak
6. It's essentially an Oppo phone in disguise, making it a bad value for money