The OnePlus Nord CE5 is here, bringing an intriguing alternative to the Nord 5. As the second phone in this series, it offers a slightly more budget-friendly experience without sacrificing too much on key features. 
We already delved into the Nord 5 in a separate article, but now it’s time to unbox and review the Nord CE5.
The OnePlus Nord series lineup follows a familiar pattern: Nord > Nord CE > Nord CE Lite. As the ‘CE’ model, the Nord CE5 sits in the middle, providing a solid set of features at a lower price point compared to the Nord 5.
On the outside, the Nord CE5 packaging resembles that of the Nord 5. In fact, it’s easy to mix up the boxes, as the phone’s name is printed only on the side and back of the box. The front, however, carries the classic Nord logo, repeated thrice just in case you miss it the first two times.
Inside the box, the setup is nearly identical to that of the Nord 5. You’ll find the phone, an 80W fast charger, and a USB cable. Additionally, a matching color case in Nexus Blue is included. Speaking of Nexus Blue, it’s a striking hue of blue that borders on violet. While the color doesn’t interact with light or textures in any dramatic way, its simplicity is still eye-catching. The materials used are pretty standard-plastic frame and back-but they’re textured to provide a comfortable feel in hand.
Under the hood, the Nord CE5 runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chipset, paired with LPDDR5X memory. It also boasts a massive 7100mAh battery, which OnePlus claims charges fully in just 59 minutes with the included 80W charger. For the camera enthusiasts, the Nord CE5 features a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and supports 4K HDR video recording at 60fps. The phone promises to deliver solid performance for its price, though the ultimate verdict will come after we’ve had more time with the device.
Stay tuned for our full review of the Nord CE5 and Nord 5, launching next week. We’ll dive deeper into performance, camera quality, and real-world usage to see how this device stacks up against its competition.