It’s hard to argue with the OnePlus Nord’s value proposition and this once again begs the questions of why you’d pay more for a phone anymore. This could easily be a five-star device if it had a true standout feature, but it’s still easy to recommend as one of the best cheap phones around.

Great quality OLED panel; Very quick charging; Lovely version of Android; Nice; ergonomic design; 5G and great performance

Screen seems to mark very easily; Secondary cameras are pretty much useless

While the OnePlus Nord isn't a perfect phone, it scores very highly in all the key areas – camera, performance, battery life, design, screen, software experience – and it's just about our favourite phone right now if you want to maximise the bang you get for your buck.

Fluid; bright 6.44-inch display; Great camera for the price; OxygenOS continues to impress

No waterproofing; No wireless charging; No Wi-Fi 6 support

The OnePlus Nord is a mid-range smartphone that, for the price, offers some really great things. You get a decent camera and other flagship features bundled up in a great looking smartphone for under £400 but the problem is, they're not the only company doing this any more so it's hard for the Nord...

Excellent price; Good range of camera features; Flagship features at a better price; The smartphone looks great; Side switch to mute phone

Battery life isn't 'wow'; No wireless charging; Zoom isn't great; No headphone jack; No IP rating

What OnePlus has quite expertly done is make a phone that doesn't leave you pining for a greater experience - and you might even be grateful you saved the price difference by opting not to go for an 8 series. Because who really needs a pricey flagship anyway?

Large and flat AMOLED panel; 30W fast-charging; Oxygen OS is fast and fluid; 90Hz refresh rates; 5G capable; Great battery life

Plasticky edges; More cameras than there needs to be; Launch is restricted to a couple of regions

OnePlus has made an emphatic return to the mid-range market with the OnePlus Nord – it's an affordable smartphone that's packed with features. There's a great screen, plenty of power, and a set of capable cameras, all wrapped up in a package that belies its affordable price.

Affordable with flagship qualities; Premium design; Plenty of camera features

Average battery life; Limited notifications space; No IP rating for water resistance

This isn’t as good as the OnePlus 8 range, but it gets very close, and shows just how much phone you can still get for less than half what a top-end handset would cost.

Great camera setup; Smooth 90Hz screen; Brilliant value

No water resistance rating; No wireless charging; No telephoto camera

OnePlus's return to budget-friendliness is one of the best-value 5G phones you can buy today.

5G without the 5G tax; 90Hz OLED screen; Solid low-light camera mode; Glass and metal design

Display could be brighter; No 4K/60fps rear camera video; No headphone jack

OnePlus Nord: OnePlus' rethink handset is good-looking and packed with tempting specifications

Handsome design; Decent battery life and performance; 5G compatible

No zoom camera; No wireless charging; Lacks a headphone jack

Don’t feel that you need to spend a fortune for your next phone. Don’t feel that you need to go with the most heavily-advertised brand either. The OnePlus Nord is a top quality smartphone. Ignore the price.

The OnePlus Nord offers best-in-class display, main camera, and software, making it the mid-range phone to beat in 2020