The OnePlus Nord 5 enters a highly competitive mid-range market with a mission: refine the strengths of the Nord 4, fix its weaknesses, and deliver flagship-tier value without breaking the ₹30,000 barrier. After two weeks of hands-on usage, gaming tests, camera shoots, and battery benchmarks, here’s everything you need to know.
| Category | Details |
| Launch Year | 2025 |
| Build & Design | Glass back, polycarbonate frame, IP65 water-resistant |
| Dimensions | 8.1 mm thickness, ~211g weight |
| Display | 6.78″ AMOLED, 1.5K resolution (2772×1240), 144Hz refresh rate, HDR support |
| Touch Tech | Aqua Touch 2.0 – usable with water on screen |
| Brightness | Peak: 1900 nits, HBM: 1400 nits |
| Glass Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i |
| Processor (CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3Adreno (Flagship-grade graphics) |
| GPU | Adreno (Flagship-grade graphics) |
| RAM & Storage | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB UFS 3.1 storage (no SD card slot) |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP Sony LYT-700 (OIS) + 8MP ultra-wide |
| Front Camera | 50MP selfie camera |
| Video Recording | 4K @ 60FPS (both front and rear cameras) |
| Battery | 6800mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 80W wired fast charging (charger included), 0–100% in ~60 minsDual stereo speakers, 4D vibration |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers, 4D vibration |
| Software | OxygenOS 15 (based on Android 15) |
| AI Features | MindSpace, AI Call Translate, AI Eraser, AI Photo Enhance, Call Summarizer |
| Connectivity | 5G (Dual SIM + eSIM), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, IR Blaster |
| Security | In-display optical fingerprint sensor, Face unlock |
| Other | Oplus Connect, OnePlus dialer, bypass charging |
| Updates | 3 years Android + 4 years security updates |
| Pros | Cons |
| Flagship-level performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Ultra-wide camera is average – lacks sharpness compared to the main sensor |
| Massive 6800mAh battery with fast 80W charging | No wireless charging – even at this price point, it’s becoming common |
| Smooth 144Hz AMOLED display with HDR and excellent outdoor visibility | Polycarbonate frame – less premium than aluminum |
| 50MP cameras front and rear with 4K 60FPS video on both ends | No microSD card slot – fixed internal storage |
| Minimal design with IP65 protection | |
| Feature-rich OxygenOS 15 with useful AI tools (MindSpace, Voice Summary, Recompose) | |
| Strong gaming performance – BGMI at 144 FPS, thermal control, and 4D vibration | |
| Clean UI with minimal bloatware (only 3 uninstallable apps) |
Design & Build: Minimal Meets Practical
OnePlus has gone minimalist with flair. The Nord 5 drops the two-tone finish of the Nord 4 and embraces a full-glass back with a soft matte texture. The result? A phone that looks premium yet doesn’t attract smudges or fingerprints—a blessing for everyday users.
- Weight: 210–211g, well-distributed
- Thickness: 8.1mm
- IP Rating: IP65 water & dust resistance
- Build: Glass back + polycarbonate frame (durable, lightweight)
- Finish: Matte, fingerprint-resistant
- Extras: Dual stereo speakers, IR blaster, NFC support
Design Verdict: Feels like a flagship, handles like a mid-ranger. Light, tough, and good-looking.
Performance: Surprisingly Flagship-Class
Chipset:
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it edges close to flagship-tier performance. Don’t be confused by the similar-sounding Snapdragon 8s Gen 3—it’s slightly less powerful. But in real-world use, the Nord 5 is a performance beast.
Benchmarks:
- AnTuTu Score: ~1.3M+ (35% higher than Nord 4)
- Thermals: 38–40°C under load, well-controlled
- RAM & Storage:
- LPDDR5X RAM
- UFS 3.1 Storage
- Base: 8GB + 256GB
Gaming:
- BGMI: 90FPS native, 144FPS via Frame Boost
- Call of Duty Mobile: 144FPS support (no frame boost)
- CarX Drift / Genshin Impact: 60FPS stable with minor thermal rise
Bonus gaming features:
- Game capture
- 4D vibration
- Hyper-resolution
- Bypass charging (protects battery while gaming plugged in)
Performance Verdict: Blazing fast, smooth gaming, efficient thermal control—built for power users and gamers alike.
Camera: Better Than Expected
Rear Cameras:
- Primary: 50MP Sony LYT-700 with OIS
- Ultra-wide: 8MP sensor (carries over from Nord 4)
Photo quality from the main camera is excellent:
- Well-balanced colors
- Accurate white balance and skin tones
- Sharp HDR and portrait performance
- Night mode captures good detail without excess smoothing
Ultra-wide camera is usable but suffers from soft edges and average detail upon zooming.
Front Camera:
- 50MP shooter
- High-res selfies with natural skin tones
- Handles tricky lighting well
Video:
- 4K @ 60FPS recording on both front & rear cameras
- Stable video output with OIS
- HDR video support
- Excellent dynamic range in daylight footage
AI Tools:
- AI Recompose: Suggests better photo framing
- AI Eraser: Removes unwanted elements
- Reflection Remover
- AI Photo Enhancer: Boosts clarity and color
- MindSpace: Stores visual ideas and auto-summarizes
Camera Verdict: Front and main rear sensors deliver excellent results. Ultra-wide is average, but AI tools add a creative edge.
Display: Bright, Smooth, and Flat
- Size: 6.78 inches (Flat AMOLED)
- Resolution: 1.5K (2772 × 1240 pixels)
- Refresh Rate: Adaptive up to 144Hz
- Peak Brightness: 1900 nits (1400 nits in HBM)
- HDR Support: YouTube, Netflix certified
- Protection: Gorilla Glass 7i
- Touch Tech: Aqua Touch 2.0 (responsive with water droplets)
Display Verdict: Rich, punchy AMOLED with flagship-like refresh and outdoor visibility. The flat design is gamer-friendly.
Battery & Charging: Big Power, Fast Refill
- Capacity: 6800mAh
- Charger: 80W SuperVOOC (included)
- Charge Time: 5% to 100% in ~60 minutes
- Battery Life:
- Heavy use: 1 full day
- Moderate use: 1.5 to 2 days
- Gaming Test: ~17% drop after 1 hour at 144FPS
Battery Verdict: Excellent endurance and rapid charging. Easily one of the best in class.
Software: Clean OxygenOS with AI Superpowers
Runs on OxygenOS 15 (Android 15) with a near-stock feel and useful enhancements.
Pre-installed Apps:
- Just 3 third-party apps — all removable
Features:
- MindSpace: Saves and summarizes screen content
- AI Voice: Records and transcribes calls (even WhatsApp, Meet)
- Oplus Connect: Seamless file transfer between Android/iOS
- Call Translate: Real-time subtitle-style translatio
- Circle to Search: Visual lookup on screen
- OnePlus Dialer: Call recording without alert
- Privacy Focus: App lock, permission control, secure folders
Update Guarantee:
- 3 years of Android updates
- 4 years of security patches
Software Verdict: Clean, fast, and AI-smart — delivers real productivity, not just gimmicks.
Connectivity & Extras
- Dual SIM + eSIM
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth 5.4
- NFC
- IR Blaster
- In-display fingerprint sensor
- No wireless charging
Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?
The OnePlus Nord 5 checks nearly every box—gaming, performance, camera, software, and battery—all while staying under ₹30,000. It’s not just an upgrade from the Nord 4; it’s a statement for the mid-range flagship killer segment.
If you’re looking for a future-proof all-rounder with clean UI and beastly performance, this is one of your best bets in 2025.
