Here's the latest news, leaks and more surrounding the OnePlus Nord 2
The OnePlus Nord 2 is coming very soon, and it will have exciting hardware upgrades.
The OnePlus Nord debuted to much fanfare last year, and it turned into a bestseller for the company. OnePlus is now working on a follow-up dubbed the OnePlus Nord 2 that will make its debut sometime later this year.
Right now, the focus for OnePlus is the Nord CE 5G, a Core Edition variant of the Nord that's coming to India and European countries. The Nord 2 is set to make its debut sometime in July, and we've already seen a lot of interesting details trickle out around the device. Here's what you need to know about the Nord 2 and when you'll be able to get your hands on the mid-range phone.
Jump to:Budget warriorOnePlus Nord N10 5G
You don't have to pay more for 5G
The Nord N10 5G lets you make the switch to 5G on a budget. It has a Snapdragon 690 chipset with 5G connectivity, a large battery with 30W fast charging, a 64MP camera at the back, and a 90Hz screen that makes it a delight to use.
OnePlus Nord 2: Release dateThe OnePlus Nord was unveiled on 21 July 2020, but this time OnePlus isn't going to wait that long to unveil its successor. OnePlus accelerated its launch window with the OnePlus 9 series, which debuted more than a month earlier than usual, and will do the same with the Nord 2.
That means we're looking at a possible unveil for the Nord 2 at the start of July. The timeline should give OnePlus a decent window between the launch of its flagships and its mid-range offering. The Nord CE is launching on June 10, so the Nord 2 may debut in the first week of July.
OnePlus Nord 2: Where will it be available?
The original Nord debuted in select markets worldwide, and while it was available in India and the EU, it didn't make its way to North America. OnePlus instead turned to the budget-focused Nord N10 5G and N100 in the U.S., and it is likely to follow suit this time around.
The Nord N10 is one of the best cheap Android phones available in the U.S., but having said that, it looks like customers in the country will once again miss out on the mid-range offering in the Nord series.
The Nord 2 is slated to launch in India, the EU, and other global markets where OnePlus does business, so like the regular Nord, it will be available in all regions outside of North America.
As for what it will cost, the Nord 2 should debut for $30 to $50 more than the regular Nord. As a refresher, here's how much the Nord debuted at last year:
- OnePlus Nord 6GB/64GB: 24,999 (exclusive to India)
- OnePlus Nord 8GB/128GB: 379, 399, 27,999
- OnePlus Nord 12GB/256GB: 469, 499, 29,999
The 8GB/128GB version of the Nord 2 could start at 399 ($555) in the UK and 29,999 ($410) in India, and like last year we will likely see a base version that will be exclusive to India. The Nord is the best-selling phone in India, and OnePlus would want to maintain that momentum in 2021 with the Nord 2.
I haven't heard anything from my sources at this point around what the Nord 2 will cost, but I will update the post once I have more information.
OnePlus Nord 2: Design
We haven't seen any leaks around the design of the Nord 2, but we can make a few guesses. With the OnePlus 9 series switching to a new aesthetic that looks cleaner and more modern than last year, the Nord 2 will likely feature a similar design language, particularly around the camera housing at the back.
Oh, and we should also see exciting color variants for the Nord 2. OnePlus consistently rolls out standout color options for its phones - just look at that Blue Marble Nord - and it should be no different for the Nord 2.
OnePlus Nord 2: Specs
This is where things get particularly interesting. As I revealed earlier this year, the Nord 2 will be the first OnePlus phone to be powered by a MediaTek chipset. The phone will feature a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G-enabled chipset, delivering huge gains over the Snapdragon 765G that was in the Nord.
Interestingly, OnePlus is going with MediaTek with the Nord 2; the company exclusively used Qualcomm designs over its eight-year history, but with MediaTek making steady gains in this category, it isn't too astonishing.
The OnePlus Nord 2 also features upgraded camera hardware in the form of a 50MP primary camera joined by an 8MP wide-angle lens and 2MP macro module, 32MP camera at the front, 4500mAh battery, and a new vibration motor.
OnePlus Nord 2: SoftwareAs for the software side of things, the Nord 2 will run OxygenOS 11 out of the box. OxygenOS 11 is based on Android 11, and it comes with a new user interface, uses Google's dialer and Android Messages by default, and has new customization options. OnePlus usually releases new features with version updates, and a new iteration of OxygenOS isn't due until later in the year.
Best on a budgetOnePlus Nord N10 5G
The features you need
The Nord N10 5G features a 5G-enabled Snapdragon 690 chipset, has a 90Hz display, a large battery with 30W fast charging, and clean software. There's also a 64MP camera at the back, and the design itself feels familiar. It is still running Android 10, but should make the switch to Android 11 soon.