It’s not every day a phone comes along that makes you stop and say, “Wait, that’s all it costs?” But here we are with the OnePlus Nord CE5, a phone that punches far above its weight, quietly delivering on all the essentials — and then some.
In a world where mid-range phones are either bloated with gimmicks or stripped down to the bone, the CE5 strikes a rare balance. It feels thoughtfully made. Let’s break down what makes this budget-friendly OnePlus device such a strong contender in 2025.
Design & Build: Clean, Simple, and Surprisingly Premium
The Nord CE5 isn’t flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. The matte finish on the back gives it a soft, almost sandstone-like feel (a nice callback to the early OnePlus days), and the slim profile makes it easy to hold with one hand.
At just 7.8mm thick and under 180g, it’s light without feeling cheap. And yes, there’s still a headphone jack — a feature that’s becoming rarer by the year, but always appreciated in this price range.
The camera module is clean and minimal, and the fingerprint sensor (in-display, of course) is snappy and accurate.
Display: AMOLED Done Right
You’re getting a 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and let me just say — it looks better than it has any right to for a phone at this price.
Colors are rich, blacks are deep, and scrolling is buttery smooth. Whether you’re watching Netflix, playing a few rounds of Call of Duty Mobile, or just scrolling through your feed, the display holds its own against phones that cost twice as much.
Peak brightness hits around 1100 nits, which is fine for outdoor use unless you’re under direct, harsh sunlight.
Performance: Smooth Where It Counts
Under the hood, the Nord CE5 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, depending on the variant.
Now, no — it’s not going to dethrone a Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip. But for everyday use? It’s fast, fluid, and handles multitasking without a hitch. Apps open quickly, games run smoothly on medium to high settings, and OxygenOS 14 keeps things light and responsive.
You also get UFS 3.1 storage, which helps with app loading times and general responsiveness.
Cameras: Better Than You'd Expect
OnePlus didn’t try to cram in five unnecessary cameras. Instead, they focused on getting the basics right:
- 50MP main sensor (Sony IMX890)
- 8MP ultra-wide
- 2MP macro (yeah, it’s there)
- 16MP front camera
In good lighting, the CE5’s main camera performs really well. Detail is sharp, colors are mostly accurate, and the HDR does a good job balancing bright and dark areas. Night mode isn’t class-leading, but it’s usable and gets the job done for casual shots.
The ultra-wide is fine for landscapes or group shots, and the macro… well, it’s there if you ever want it.
Video recording maxes out at 4K 30fps, and stabilization is decent for handheld clips.
Battery & Charging: Fast and Reliable
With a 5,000mAh battery, the Nord CE5 easily lasts a full day — even with heavy use. Light users might even get through two days with no issue.
But the real star is 80W SUPERVOOC charging. From 0 to 100% in about 35 minutes is no joke. You’ll rarely have battery anxiety with this phone in your pocket.
Wireless charging? Nope. But that’s expected in this segment, and the fast wired charging more than makes up for it.
Software: Clean OxygenOS (Mostly)
Running OxygenOS 14, the software is clean, fast, and thankfully free from heavy bloatware. OnePlus has gotten better about software updates lately, promising 2 major Android updates and 3 years of security patches for the CE5.
No weird animations or skin overlays here — just smooth Android with a few handy extras like Zen Mode, customizable gestures, and floating windows.
Verdict: A Quiet Mid-Range Killer
The OnePlus Nord CE5 doesn’t try to be the flashiest phone out there. It doesn’t need to be. It’s a device that focuses on the fundamentals: solid display, reliable performance, fast charging, and a clean user experience.
For the price — expected to be around $349 to $399, depending on the region — it’s a steal. There are phones with faster chips or better cameras, sure, but very few put the whole package together this well at this price.
Who Should Buy It?
- Anyone upgrading from a 2-3 year-old budget or mid-range Android
- People who want good performance without breaking the bank
- Fans of OxygenOS looking for a clean, no-nonsense user experience