The 2020 flagship killer

OnePlus has done a good job with the Nord. The Blue Marble version has a distinctive appearance, a great AMOLED screen and good front and rear cameras. These are all important factors whatever your budget.

Distinctive and attractive design; Dual front and quad rear cameras; 5G and dual SIMs; High-quality 90Hz AMOLED screen; Fast charging; Oxygen OS is both capable and subtle

Battery life could be better; Disappointing speaker; No IP rating for dust/water resistance; No 3.5mm headset jack or MicroSD card slot

OnePlus’ return to mid-range smartphones presents some strong competition to both older flagships and the current crop of budget devices. It has a big 6.4-inch screen that can run at 90Hz for a smoother software experience.

Big 90Hz screen; A mid-range smartphone with 5G; Capable cameras; Tempting price

Middleweight Snapdragon processor sometimes chokes on heavier tasks; Cheap screen protector pre-installed; Phones this big aren’t for everyone; Not coming to the US

The OnePlus Nord is a solid all-around device for its price and offers features that would typically be reserved for a flagship. The only major issue is that this Nord model won’t be making its way to North America any time soon.

Great 90Hz display, Quick performance (thanks to 12GB of RAM), Fast 30W fast wired charging, Marble Blue colour looks great, The design of the phone makes it feel more premium, All-day battery life and great standby time

This Nord model won’t be coming to North America, No wireless charging or official IP rating

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

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

The OnePlus Nord is, on paper and after my test, one of the most beautiful phones made by a brand. OnePlus has understood what was missing from its catalog: a more accessible model.

AMOLED 90 Hz screen; Great quad-camera performance; Powerful Snapdragon 765G processor; Fluid Oxygen OS experience; Value-for-money

Dated and flashy design; No telephoto lens; No wireless charging; No IP certification

The OnePlus Nord is a top-notch mid-range smartphone under $500 mark. The device offers 5G network bands, and come with the snapdragon 765 CPU. At the front, there is a 6.44-inch Fluid AMOLED screen, with 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution, and come with a pill-notch cout-out upfront, housing a dual...

So… it's time to draw the proverbial line in the sand. Is the OnePlus Nord good enough? And is it a "flagship killer"? To the first question, the answer is a big yes, and for the second one, I think it’s not quite there.

Very aggressive price; outstanding value for the money; Gorgeous AMOLED screen; Fast performance; 90Hz support; Very fast charging (30W)

Colors in photos are a bit muted; lack a bit in liveliness; No telephoto camera; macro lens is a gimmick; No headphone jack; no expandable storage; Loudspeaker quality is average; No wireless charging

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.