OnePlus Nord CE 5 Review: All This, Plus AI for £299

At a look

Knowledgeable’s Ranking

Execs

• Good design and construct high quality
• Wealthy, elegant person expertise
• Quick charging

Cons

• Disappointing loudspeaker and haptics
• Rivals provide higher worth efficiency
• Cameras wrestle in low gentle

Our Verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE 5 forgoes some premium touches whereas nonetheless delivering a premium person expertise, punctuated by OnePlus’ newest unique AI options, which supply extra worth than rivals.

Worth When Reviewed

This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined

Greatest Pricing Right this moment

Greatest Costs Right this moment: OnePlus Nord CE 5

£299

With no signal of a Lite mannequin this yr, the brand new OnePlus Nord CE 5 seems to be probably the most inexpensive providing within the firm’s smartphone lineup for 2025.

As with the OnePlus Nord 5, the extra premium mid-ranger which it launches alongside, the CE 5’s focus is on bringing the corporate’s latest wave of AI options to a lower cost level.

When you can anticipate compromises, the place any extra inexpensive cellphone is worried, the Nord CE 5 nonetheless goals to strike a reliable steadiness on efficiency, battery life and performance at an affordable £299 / €349 beginning worth.

The query is, not whether or not that is this good worth amidst OnePlus’ personal smartphone lineup, however whether or not it’s nonetheless price selecting up over a slate of competitively inexpensive rivals from different producers?

Design & Construct

• Polycarbonate body, composite again
• IP65-certified in opposition to mud & water
• 199 grams

This yr’s Nord lineup sports activities a revised design language, with cleaner traces, nicer ergonomics and bolder digicam surrounds than final yr’s choices. Primarily based on its standing on this newest lineup, the CE 5 adopts a polycarbonate body and a composite again, in comparison with the pricier Nord 5’s glass again.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Even so, the cellphone nonetheless boasts enticing traces, with delicate rounding alongside its body making for a cushty hand-feel, paired to a sub-200 gram weight, guaranteeing wrist fatigue doesn’t set in, even after prolonged use. It’s arguably one of many nicest plastic-clad telephones to hit the market this yr.

Sturdiness-wise, OnePlus has solely gone as far as to vow “impression resistant’ cowl glass over the CE 5’s show, and less premium, branded Gorilla Glass, as on the Nord 5 and above. Whereas the the physique of my overview unit has proven no indicators of damage over the weeks I’ve been testing it, the pre-fitted plastic display screen protector – though welcome – picks up deep scrapes all too simply.

Each mud and water ingress safety has been improved versus the Nord CE 4, with IP65-certification (up from IP54); it’s ideally suited for the accident inclined or those that reside in wetter climes.

As for finishes, OnePlus has saved issues easy, with solely a black or white variant to select from. Black Infinity (pictured) has a flat satin-finish composite again, contrasted with a shiny OnePlus emblem. The intense Marble Mist colourway in the meantime, serves up way more curiosity, with a nacre-inspired again sample, resembling mom of pearl.

Display & Audio system

• 6.77-inch Full HD+ (2392×1080) 120Hz AMOLED
• Optical in-display fingerprint sensor
• Stereo audio system

The CE 5’s show is just fractionally bigger than its predecessor’s and in any other case brings acquainted {hardware} – with a Full HD+ 120Hz AMOLED panel – to the desk.

There are delicate however appreciated enhancements although, like larger brightness output (a high-brightness max of 1300 and a brand new peak of 1430 nits, in comparison with a restrict of 1100, beforehand), which higher serves outside visibility and dynamic vary when watching HDR content material on supported apps equivalent to Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

Regardless of excessive reflectivity, I used to be nonetheless joyful sufficient viewing content material open air on the Nord CE 5, with the elevated distinction and richer colors that AMOLED tech brings over LCD (which you’re extra more likely to encounter on telephones at lower cost factors). However brighter is healthier and OnePlus may have pushed even tougher on this space (the OnePlus 13R has a high-brightness restrict of 1600 nits).

The truth that the CE 5 utilises that 120Hz peak refresh charge more often than not is good too; with super-smooth 120fps visuals, even when merely swiping across the cellphone’s fundamental UI.

Hitting that peak 120fps was tougher when gaming, with OnePlus seemingly optimising help on a title by title foundation. Most video games ran at 60fps, with just a few exceptions topping out at 90fps, whereas Name of Obligation Cell appeared to be the one recreation I encountered that had been tailor-made to capitalise on that 120Hz peak output.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

OnePlus has additionally included the Aqua Contact algorithm, which was unique to the Nord 4 amidst final era’s Nord sequence. It helps with damp fingers or use within the rain and is a pleasant on a regular basis bonus that rivals ought to take into account implementing.

Having reviewed the brand new Nord 5 as effectively, for no matter cause the in-display optical fingerprint sensor feels fractionally slower to reply on the CE 5, however in any other case proves snappy and dependable; even whether it is positioned a bit too low on the display screen for optimum consolation.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

If you happen to depend on your cellphone’s audio system for music or podcast playback regularly, I’d give the Nord CE 5 a miss. Regardless of being slated as delivering stereo sound, the steadiness between the earpiece and down-firing speaker is so off-kilter that it primarily delivers mono output.

Not solely that, however audio high quality from that extra outstanding down-firing speaker lacks any depth and distorts larger frequencies all too simply. Is it loud? Sure. Is it good? Probably not.

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset
• 8GB (LPDDR5X) RAM
• 128 / 256GB (UFS 3.1) storage

The truth that OnePlus permits for the person expertise to default to the show’s 120Hz restrict always speaks to the arrogance it has within the efficiency of the Nord CE 5’s {hardware}. Having lived with it, the Dimensity chip at its coronary heart looks as if a greater than respectable selection for an entry-level Nord in 2025.

Just like the ‘Excessive’ model powering Motorola’s latest Edge 60 Professional, OnePlus labored with MediaTek by itself flavour of the Dimensity 8350, known as the ‘Apex’.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

It makes use of fractionally extra energy than the Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 that powered the CE 5’s predecessor, however in return you get considerably higher multi-core CPU efficiency, GPU efficiency and networking speeds. This interprets to smoother on a regular basis use, competent app multitasking and respectable constancy gaming, even when off Wi-Fi.

Virtually, the Apex saved app load occasions to a minimal, and ensured the Nord CE 5 was snug with fast-paced 3D video games, like Name of Obligation Cell and Zenless Zone Zero. Not like its beefier launch sibling, whereas snug enjoying ZZZ on default medium settings, at 30fps, cranking both visible constancy or body charge limits did end in CE 5 dropping frames virtually immediately.

Run every part at medium settings or decrease, nevertheless, and the cellphone’s Sport Engine is readily available to supply fast entry to efficiency optimising instruments and notification-muting controls.

The truth is, OnePlus grants the Nord CE5 the identical Trinity Engine-branded applied sciences because the likes of the flagship OnePlus 13; with devoted CPU, system file and reminiscence administration instruments, meant to optimise efficiency, notably throughout years of use.

RAM Enlargement is an ever-appreciated inclusion that permits you to manually reallocate a few of the cellphone’s decently-fast UFS 3.1 storage as further digital reminiscence, which additional improves app load occasions and multitasking. The Nord CE 5 comes with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM, whichever storage variant you go for, with RAM Enlargement letting you double that with an extra 8GB.

If it’s uncooked storage you’re in want of (spotlight doubtless with the cellphone’s base 128GB of house), whereas most telephones have now forgone this function, the Nord CE 5 can be one of many few remaining choices to help microSD expandability as much as a whopping 1TB.

Pertaining to different performance you may in any other case miss, the again of the CE 5 conceals an IR blaster, that’s appropriate with most IR-based home equipment, and very helpful after I, like clockwork, lose the TV distant.

On the flip facet, to accompany its lacklustre loudspeaker efficiency, I felt that the CE 5’s haptics had been equally insipid. A small rotational motor places out a hole rattle of vibration on each key press that cheapens the cellphone’s really feel and, as such, is finest switched off for widespread actions like typing.

Cameras

• 50Mp Sony LYT-600 f/1.8 fundamental with OIS
• 8Mp OmniVision OV08D10 f/2.2 112º ultra-wide
• 16Mp Sony IMX480 f/2.4 entrance digicam

Regardless of being a longtime mid-range sensor, the 50Mp Sony Lytia-based digicam that leads the Nord CE 5’s setup impresses in vibrant situations. OnePlus’ Extremely HDR format – launched final yr – provides spectacular dynamic vary to photographs, which additionally ship correct colors and a pleasing quantity of element.

Whereas the primary sensor is identical as on the Nord CE 4, there’s a unique 8MP ultra-wide this yr (beforehand a Sony sensor), that demonstrates a delightful consistency with the first digicam; because of good color tuning on OnePlus’ half.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

The sensor decision drop does in any other case imply that element suffers, particularly in dimmer lighting situations, whereas dynamic vary seems extra restricted in ultra-wide photographs too.

The principle sensor has a pure bokeh that provides a pleasing depth to macro photographs (although there’s no devoted macro mode on this cellphone), whereas Portrait Mode enables you to artificially heighten the impact each at or after seize.

As I discovered when reviewing the OnePlus Nord 5, nevertheless, the corporate nonetheless must work on enhancing its edge detection algorithm, with elements of the background and topic showing blurred and unblurred erroneously in sure locations.

4K 60fps video seize is spectacular and respectable in good lighting, on a cellphone of this standing too, with the primary sensor’s OIS (optical picture stabilisation) system doing a decent job of night out movement of footage filmed whereas strolling.

As for selfies, equally to the primary digicam, you possibly can anticipate surprisingly good color copy and element – simply observe that the fastened focus system lacks any actual depth, leading to a lot flatter trying photographs.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5200mAh battery (as reviewed)
• 80W SuperVOOC wirec charging
• Now helps bypass charging

As with the Nord 5, outdoors of India, the Nord CE 5 confusingly arrives with a smaller, slower-charging battery than its predecessor.

Whereas which means it loses out on successful any battery life crowns, the cellphone’s 5200mAh cell remains to be greater than the 5000mAh providing within the likes of the mighty Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely uber-flagship, and may present ample longevity for many customers.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Regardless of sharing the identical capability because the Nord 5, you get notably higher battery life out of the extra modest {hardware} at play on this newest CE mannequin.

It mustered an extra half-hour of testing in PCMark’s Battery 3.0 take a look at, however primarily based on my real-world testing, it truly delivered an additional hour of screen-on time, topping out at round 7 hours 45 minutes. That confidently interprets to over a day and a half of use on a single cost, with out the necessity for battery anxiousness.

Whereas battery drain differs, because of the identical battery capability and 80W SuperVOOC wired charging because the Nord 5, you get precisely the identical recharge speeds on the Nord CE 5: 38% cost after quarter-hour of being plugged in, 74% after half-hour, and a completely replenished battery in lower than 50 minutes.

Avid gamers may also admire the addition of bypass charging, which helps you to maintain the Nord CE 5 powered with out biking energy by means of the battery. This enables for longer gaming periods with out decreasing battery well being and inflicting pointless warmth build-up.

The principle caveat with charging the Nord CE 5 is that to get peak speeds, you’re going to should fork out additional for OnePlus’ USB-A 80W SuperVOOC charger (which works for £39.99 within the UK, on the time of writing), as there’s no energy adapter in-box.

There’s no wi-fi charging both, however at this worth level, I’m not shocked or dissatisfied by this omission.

Software program & Apps

• OxygenOS 15.02 atop Android 15 at launch
• AI upgrades, together with Plus Thoughts
• 4 years of OS updates + 6 years of safety

After the debut of Plus Thoughts on the OnePlus 13s in India earlier this yr, I used to be questioning once we had been going to see OnePlus’ new swathe of AI options attain different markets internationally.

Whereas the Nord 5 gives the fullest expertise for Plus Thoughts – providing straightforward content material seize through its bodily Plus Key (which replaces OnePlus’ iconic alert slider) – the CE 5 will get Plus Thoughts too.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Just like Nothing’s Important House, Thoughts House is the place screenshots (saved separate from those normally saved within the Images app) are saved after which analysed by OnePlus’ Plus Thoughts AI system.

Relying on the content material captured (it may be photographs and/or textual content), Plus Thoughts will then extract and summarise data it detects, or provide extra proactive performance, like one-touch occasion creation in your calendar, primarily based on invitation particulars in a message or on a live performance poster, for instance.

Because the Nord CE 5 loses out on a devoted {hardware} button to seize content material for Thoughts House, the three-finger swipe up gesture that used to activate cut up window mode on OxygenOS has now been reassigned (that is additionally now true for the likes of the flagship OnePlus 13, which additionally lacks the Plus Key).

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Whereas I like the concept of Thoughts House and it has its makes use of, it’s a bit rigid proper now, with the necessity for extra granular organisation of entries and the flexibility to synchronise and/or switch captures between OnePlus units, which presently isn’t potential.

Elsewhere, software program is arguably probably the most unfettered a part of the Nord CE 5 expertise, providing a near-identical person expertise to the corporate’s most costly telephones, when it comes to capability and performance.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

The best way the Good Sidebar surfaces AI instruments dynamically, primarily based on what you’re doing, is a trait I want extra rivals cribbed, and OxygenOS is usually a clear, responsive and intuitive spin on – at launch – Android 15.

OnePlus additionally grants the common-or-garden CE 5 the identical software program dedication as its pricier units: 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of safety patches, which is all of the extra spectacular on the decrease finish of the market.

Samsung is pushing exhausting with its provide of six-generations of help for each OS and safety on mid-rangers, however OnePlus isn’t far behind.

Worth & Availability

The OnePlus Nord CE 5 landed July 8, in two storage variants: 128GB or 256GB. Anticipate to pay £299 / €349 for the bottom mannequin, and £349 / €399 for the upper capability.

OnePlus is promoting the Nord CE 5 straight from its web site, whereas standard on-line retailers like Amazon are additionally stocking it.

Do you have to purchase the OnePlus Nord CE 5?

The {hardware} on provide gained’t blow your socks off, nevertheless it’s practical and inoffensive, with strengths that ought to imply it’ll final you a great few years of use, particularly with OnePlus’ software program replace dedication.

OxygenOS and OnePlus AI efforts are probably the most enticing and cutting-edge features of the Nord CE 5, so in the event you’re after a great AI-laden smartphone expertise in 2025 on a price range, the CE 5 can ship in a manner some rivals can’t.

If it’s extra energy, a bigger battery, quicker charging, a extra premium construct or extra succesful cameras you’re after, listed below are some options.

The £309 Poco X7 Professional has a greater chip and the Samsung Galaxy A56 could be had with 256GB of storage for lower than £300 on Amazon; sporting a extra versatile digicam system, in addition to that prolonged software program help.

There’s additionally the Nothing Telephone (3a) to think about, which serves up a triple digicam of its personal, and a equally clear software program expertise, in a way more attention-grabbing design, for a similar or much less (relying on the place you look).

Specs

• OxygenOS 15 atop Android 15 (at launch)
• 6.7-inch 120Hz (1080 x 2392) AMOLED show
• MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset
• 8GB RAM (LPDDR5X)
• 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
• microSD expandable as much as 1TB
• Cameras:
  • 50Mp Sony LYT-600 f/1.8 fundamental with OIS
  • 8Mp OmniVision OV08D10 f/2.2 112º ultra-wide
  • 16Mp Sony IMX480 f/2.4 entrance digicam
• Optical fingerprint sensor
• Stereo audio system
• Twin nano-SIM slot
• Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
• Bluetooth 5.4
• 5200mAh battery
• As much as 80W wired charging
• 163.6 x 76 x 8.2/8.3mm (Black Infinity/Marble Mist)
• 199 grams
• IP65 licensed
• Colors: Black Infinity, Marble Mist