The OnePlus Nord 2 CE looks rather impressive but ships with Android 11
While the rest of the world awaits the arrival of the OnePlus 10 Pro, the company has decided to release an updated version of its popular Nord device. The OnePlus Nord 2 CE was introduced via live stream, offering a more basic version of the Nord 2 that was announced last year. However, in addition to making some minor component changes, OnePlus has also tweaked the design to bring something familiar, yet different.
The “CE” in the name stands for Core Edition, and as you would expect, doesn’t offer all of the flair provided by the Nord 2 or even the OnePlus 9. But that’s just fine as OnePlus is aiming for a different market entirely with this lineup, as evidenced by the lack of U.S. availability outside of importing.
- Display: 6.43-inch FHD+ Fluid AMOLED
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 900
- RAM: 6GB / 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Front Camera: 16MP
- Rear Cameras: 64MP (wide) / 8MP (ultra-wide) / 2MP (macro)
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: OxygenOS 11 (based on Android 11)
- Extras: 90Hz Refresh Rate / 3.5mm Headphone Jack / 65W SuperVOOC Charging / In-display Fingerprint Scanner
With the Nord 2, the company is using a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. Powering the handset is MediaTek’s Dimensity 900 chipset while being paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage that’s expandable via a microSD card.
On the front, there’s a 16MP selfie camera hidden in the hole-punch cutout and on the back, we have a triple camera array headlined by a 64MP wide-angle lens. This is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide shooter and a 2MP macro sensor. This is a welcome change, as OnePlus has previously relied on a tertiary monochrome lens which is essentially useless and doesn’t add any value to the phone.
Other features of the Nord 2 CE include a 4,500mAh battery that takes advantage of 65W SuperVOOC charging speeds, with the company claiming you’ll be able to go from 0-100% in less than 35 minutes. You’ll also find an in-display fingerprint scanner, which is a nice added touch, and there’s even a 3.5mm headphone jack for those who just aren’t ready to jump on the Bluetooth train.
The Nord 2 CE will land in Europe starting on March 10, and is available in either Bahama Blue or Gray Mirror. Pricing starts at £299 (about $400), with pre-orders set to begin on March 3.