The OnePlus Nord series has long been a bridge between premium and budget devices, bringing features from the company’s flagship phones to the mid-range segment. The OnePlus Nord CE5 follows that same tradition with some thoughtful upgrades.
This year, it arrives with a more powerful processor and a significantly larger battery compared to the previous Nord CE 4, but don’t expect a radical overhaul. It’s an incremental update that focuses on making key improvements where they matter most.
I’ve been using the Nord CE5 over the past week, and while it doesn't go chasing headline-grabbing features, it does enough to hold its ground. Let’s take a closer look.
OnePlus Nord CE5: Price and Variants
The Nord CE5 starts at ₹24,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. Step up to 256GB, and you’re looking at ₹26,999. For those who want the top-tier spec sheet, the 12GB + 256GB variant costs ₹28,999.
Availability isn’t an issue — it’s on sale via Amazon, OnePlus.in, and offline retail chains.
At these prices, OnePlus is positioning the CE5 directly against similarly spec’d mid-range offerings from brands like iQOO, Realme, and Redmi. So it’s no longer just about specs — it’s about the overall experience.
OnePlus Nord CE5: Design & Build
The OnePlus Nord CE5 design follows the clean, minimalist approach OnePlus has become known for. I got my hands on the Nexus Blue version, and while it’s a nice shade, I couldn’t help but notice how much it resembled the colour of the iPhone 16 — not just the colour, but the overall vibe. It’s not a bad thing; in fact, I actually like it, but it does feel a bit "familiar."
The back panel and frame are plastic, which is typical at this price point. The build feels solid enough, though, and it manages to keep fingerprints at bay fairly well. What stands out is how light the phone feels, especially given its large 7,100mAh battery. It’s easy to hold, and the buttons feel nice and tactile, which is always a win.
On the right edge, you'll find the power button and volume rocker. No alert slider here, though — that’s reserved for the more premium OnePlus devices. Also, while the infrared transmitter is a nifty feature, it's located between the two rear cameras. It works fine, but you’ll need to point the rear panel at whatever device you’re trying to control.
The phone is available in three colours: Black Infinity, Marble Mist, and Nexus Blue.
Haptics are average — not too soft, not too sharp. Typing feels responsive, but it doesn’t deliver the kind of precise feedback you’d find on higher-end OnePlus phones.
There’s just one speaker. It’s at the bottom. It gets loud enough, but lacks depth. For a phone this size, stereo speakers would've made a lot of sense.
OnePlus Nord CE5: Display
The 6.77-inch AMOLED display on the Nord CE5 is a real treat. It boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling feel smooth and responsive. Whether you’re browsing through social media or watching your favourite shows, the display doesn’t disappoint.
I actually watched Squid Game S3 on it, and the show looked crisp, with deep blacks and vibrant colours. The viewing angles are solid, and the display is bright enough for outdoor use without any issues.
There's a “Video Colour Boost” option in the settings, which is supposed to widen the colour gamut for streaming apps, but honestly, I didn’t notice much of a difference. Still, the display does a great job overall. Plus, the “Aqua Touch” feature is a cool addition. I tried it with my wet hands (because why not), and it worked as advertised.
OnePlus Nord CE5: Performance
Under the hood, the OnePlus Nord CE5 runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex — essentially a tweaked version of Dimensity 8350, and the performance jump over the Nord CE 4 is noticeable. It's paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, though UFS 3.1 is the limit here. No UFS 4.0.
During my testing, I ran some benchmarks, and the phone scored around 1.4 million on AnTuTu and 1369 (single-core) and 4301 (multi-core) on Geekbench. But benchmarks aside, this phone handles real-world tasks like a champ. From editing 4K videos to juggling multiple apps, it performs as smoothly as its more premium counterparts.
Gaming performance is strong for a mid-range device. Both Call of Duty: Mobile and BGMI run at 90fps, and even after 45 minutes of gaming sessions, the phone stays relatively cool. Thermals are well-managed, though like most phones in this category, some frame dips do appear during sustained gameplay at high settings.
OnePlus Nord CE5: Software
The Nord CE5 ships with Android 15 out of the box, with OxygenOS 15 layered on top. OnePlus is promising four years of major OS updates and six years of security patches, which is among the better update policies in this price segment.
However, when setting up the phone, I did see prompts to install Amazon and Candy Crush Saga, which seemed a bit unnecessary. If you missed the option to deselect them, don’t worry; you can uninstall those apps afterwards. It’s not a dealbreaker, but I would’ve preferred not seeing those during the setup process.
Plus, there are a few AI-powered features like smarter gallery search and transcription tools, which are nice little additions.
OnePlus Nord CE5: Cameras
Camera hardware is largely unchanged from CE 4. The main sensor is a 50MP Sony LYT600, which handles daylight shots well. Images come out sharp with decent dynamic range, and colours are mostly accurate.
There’s no dedicated telephoto lens, but the 2x in-sensor zoom is usable for mid-range shots. Portraits are handled via software, with adjustable focal lengths between 26mm and 35mm — and a fixed 51mm when zoomed in.
The 8MP ultrawide camera does the job in bright light, though images tend to lose detail near the edges. Low-light performance takes a hit, with visible softness and some colour noise creeping in.
Selfies are solid in good light thanks to the 16MP sensor. The front camera captures a fair amount of facial detail, and portrait selfies have a nice, natural-looking background blur. You get 1080p video at 60fps from the selfie shooter, and stills generally look natural with good skin tone rendering.
Video recording maxes out at 4K 60fps from the main sensor. Optical image stabilisation (OIS) is present, and Ultra Steady mode is available if you want smoother 1080p footage. The ultrawide camera is limited to 1080p 30fps and doesn’t include OIS.
OnePlus Nord CE5: Battery Life
Battery life is where the Nord CE5 really separates itself. The 7,100mAh battery is unusually large for a phone this size, and it consistently delivers two days of moderate use on a single charge.
Even with heavier use — including gaming, video streaming, and navigation — it comfortably stretches a day.
Charging is handled by an 80W SuperVOOC charger (included in the box), and the phone goes from 0 to 100% in just over an hour. There’s no wireless charging, which isn’t surprising for the price point.
OnePlus Nord CE5: Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE5 focuses on getting the basics right: smooth performance, clean software, dependable battery life, and a capable main camera.
There are some trade-offs. The lack of stereo speakers is hard to overlook, and the ultrawide camera underwhelms in low light. But if you’re looking for a reliable daily driver under ₹25K, the Nord CE5 quietly makes a strong case for itself.
It’s not a phone built to impress on spec sheets — it’s built to last through a long day, stay responsive under pressure, and give you the essentials without much fuss. If that’s what you’re after, it delivers.
