OnePlus Nord 2 is the official heir of OnePlus Nord. Let’s find out what the differences are and which one makes sense to buy today.
OnePlus Nord officially has an heir. It is called OnePlus Nord 2 and is the new smartphone of the Chinese house, ready to face the OPPO and Xiaomi rivals . The company led by Pete Lau keeps faith with the initial project: to offer a product with an excellent quality / price ratio . OnePlus Nord was and – at least on paper – so is the newcomer.
The second generation also very well tip the photographic industry that the first model remained average. OnePlus, in fact, has decided to shorten the distances with the top of the range by using a high-end sensor. OnePlus Nord 2 comes at the same price as its predecessor. For this, we have decided to compare them to help you understand which one makes sense to buy.
Price
OnePlus has chosen the same positioning for OnePlus Nord and OnePlus Nord 2 . It starts from a list price of 399 euros for the version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory up to 499 euros for the top version with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
OnePlus North
It is clear that, one year after the presentation, the first generation OnePlus Nord can be purchased at lower figures than the latest one . With a figure that is around 300 euros, you can take home one of the best smartphones in this price range. The most visible price difference concerns the 12/256 GB version, so if you want to save some more money, go for the top version of the first OnePlus Nord.
Design and screen
On a constructive level, there are no differences . In both cases, we find a Fluid AMOLED display with 90 Hz refresh rate and HDR10 + support, so you can enjoy your favorite content in high quality and with excellent fluidity. The diagonals are almost identical (6.44 inches for OnePlus Nord and 6.43 inches for OnePlus Nord 2). The first, however, houses two front cameras (the hole is larger and is oval in shape).
The colors change: dark gray, light gray and blue for the first and gray or light blue for the second. The rear design of the OnePlus Nord 2 is close to that of the top of the range OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, which gives it a more premium touch. While, last year’s model comes with a more classic look with a photographic module arranged in a traffic light.
Leaving aside the aesthetic aspect that remains entirely linked to personal tastes, neither of the two prevails over the other as regards the display. Whatever your final choice, you will have the same visual experience.
Camera
The real difference between OnePlus Nord and OnePlus Nord 2 is to be found in the photographic sector. The newcomer gains in some respects and loses in others. The peculiarity of OnePlus Nord 2 is the 50 Megapixel main sensor , the same used on more expensive smartphones such as the Find X3 Pro and OnePlus 9 Pro , which brings it closer to the photographic performance of premium products.
However, it loses a camera compared to its predecessor. The main camera, in fact, is accompanied by an 8-megapixel wide-angle and a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor (a mid-range product configuration).
OnePlus Nord 2
OnePlus Nord, on the other hand, welcomes four cameras (48 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP): a common configuration among the mid-range and low-end models. Here, in addition, there is also space for a second 8 Megapixel wide-angle camera on the front that makes group shots easier. The main camera is 32 Megapixel, just like the one used on the OnePlus Nord 2.
Considering that most users mainly shoot using the primary camera, OnePlus’s choice makes sense and OnePlus Nord 2 becomes preferable to its predecessor unless you need a wide-angle lens for selfies (absent even on high-end smartphones. ).
Hardware
An unexpected change of course at the hardware level. OnePlus ditched OnePlus Nord’s Snapdragon processor in favor of MediaTek’s new Dimensity 1200-AI chip . A choice that could make some users turn up their noses who consider Qualcomm processors more performing than the Taiwanese company’s proposals. In any case, Pete Lau’s company has partnered with MediaTek to upgrade and improve the chip used on the new smartphone.
The performance, in fact, is still of a high level and slightly better than the predecessor. However, the difference between one and the other may be almost imperceptible in daily use.
OnePlus Nord 2 also improves Bluetooth which reaches version 5.2, thus ensuring greater stability and better performance.
On the hardware side, therefore, the newcomer is positioned a step higher as it should be.
Battery and software
Let’s say immediately: OnePlus Nord 2 wins on battery and software. It has a larger battery (4,500mAh vs 4,115mAh) and faster charging speed (65W vs 30W). In general and thanks to better management of energy consumption, it should ensure greater autonomy with the advantage of recharging much faster (100% in about half an hour, a huge advantage).
As for the software, however, the advantage is to already have the latest version of the operating system on board (Android 11 customized with OxygenOS 11.3). While OnePlus Nord comes with Android 10 but upgradeable to Android 11.
OnePlus Nord vs OnePlus Nord 2
Conclusions: which one to choose between OnePlus Nord and Oneplus Nord 2?
OnePlus Nord 2 is a worthy heir to OnePlus Nor d . It improves photographic performance thanks to the top-of-the-range main sensor but loses the wide-angle camera on the front. Although based on subjective tastes, its design smacks of new compared to that of its predecessor. Overall performance has improved, as has range. In short, you can bet on the newcomer without fear.
If you want to save a little, however, OnePlus Nord still remains a viable alternative. Otherwise, the advice is to consult our guide dedicated to the best smartphones under 500 euros in which you can select the best product for your needs by choosing from models such as Mi 11 Lite 5G , Poco F3 and OPPO Find X3 Lite.
