The OnePlus Nord 2 is a very good smartphone for the price range it’s in, but it’s not a no brainer. While the design isn’t terribly exciting, the Nord 2 does feel solid, despite its plastic frame. Water-resistant phones can be found in this category, but Nord 2 does not. The back is not made of plastic, but is made of Gorilla Glass 5, unlike, for example, the competitor Samsung Galaxy A52. This has its pros and cons, but Nord 2 doesn’t come as a cheap device and that’s a good thing.

We also have good news about the camera. The primary camera, in particular, takes very good pictures in most conditions. We did come across some beauty flaws and the HDR mode was so enthusiastic that sometimes the photos looked unnatural. The ultra-wide-angle camera is less good compared to some competitors and the front camera is fine, as long as you don’t make it too difficult.

The MediaTek soc used is a great choice, because OnePlus has always put Qualcomm socs in smartphones. Yet we can understand it. The manufacturer is supposed to offer a faster meeting for the money. However, MediaTek has a lesser reputation than Qualcomm when it comes to longer support, which could lead to shorter upgrades to Nord 2, so this could be a drawback.

Perhaps this is why OnePlus has not kept pace with a competitor like Samsung or Nokia by offering longer support than it used to. The warranty includes two years of upgrades and three years of security updates. It’s not so bad, but it can now be done better in this class, and thus is food for thought. We’re also excited about the program itself. We love the fact that it runs smoothly and without a hitch, and we love its tunability, limited bloatware, and add-ons. Unfortunately, some language errors have crept into the menus.

Battery life is a little above average and of course we’d love to see that better. However, unless you use Nord 2 a lot, you will easily reach the end of the day. Additionally, you also have the option to set the 90Hz screen refresh to 60Hz. The screen hasn’t changed much, but we do see a lower maximum brightness, which makes reading a bit tricky in the sun. However, it’s still a beautiful screen with HDR 10 support.

Add to all this a good amount of memory for the price you pay, great volume stereo speakers and improved haptic feedback and you get a very nice package, with a few caveats.