Since the launch of the OnePlus 13 series, the company has been on a roll. Segment after segment, the company is tightening its hold in the market, and the best example of this is the OnePlus 13s. Now, moving a segment lower, OnePlus has launched a new member of its Nord family - OnePlus Nord 5. As the name hints, the latest Nord 5 succeeds the Nord 4. So, the expectations are high for the latest OnePlus Nord 5, and in this review, I am going to tell you how the phone actually does on different fonts.
Design
The OnePlus Nord 4 last year surprised us with its unibody metal design—a bold, refreshing shift in a sea of glass slabs. It felt solid, premium, and genuinely raised the bar for the Nord line. So naturally, our hopes were high for the Nord 5. Would OnePlus follow the same design language or take a different route? Turns out, the brand decided to shake things up once again—and we’re not complaining.
The OnePlus Nord 5 debuts a design shift that OnePlus calls “Techie Minimalism.” Gone is the full-metal build, and in comes a new premium tactile finish. Our review unit came in the “Marble Sands” variant, which is inspired by sunlit beaches. It subtly shimmers when the light hits it, delivering both elegance and functionality. The matte texture feels super smooth, and what’s even better, it doesn’t attract fingerprints. With its 8.1mm slim profile and slightly curved edges, the phone sits comfortably in the hand and feels lighter than it looks.
In terms of layout, the Nord 5 keeps things minimal but introduces a few notable tweaks. The power button and volume rocker sit on the right, while the left side hosts what OnePlus calls the “Essential Key”—a customisable button replacing the classic alert slider, much like we saw on the OnePlus 13S. You can assign it to open apps, trigger shortcuts, or launch voice assistants. At the bottom, you’ll find the USB-C port, SIM tray, and speaker grille. Flip the phone around, and you’re greeted with slim bezels around the 6.83-inch flat display, covered in Gorilla Glass 7i. The Nord 5 also packs an IP65 rating, with protection against water splashes and dust. Although here I would have liked a IP68 or IP69 certification.
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Display
The Nord 5 features a 6.83-inch 1.5K Swift OLED panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate—the first on any OnePlus device. It supports 10-bit colours, HDR, and features a blazing-fast 3000 Hz touch response rate. This isn’t just good on paper— animations look buttery smooth, scrolling is seamless, and gaming feels ultra-responsive.
The peak brightness has also been bumped up to 1,800 nits, making outdoor usage effortless. Compared to the Nord 4’s panel, this is a massive leap. Features like Aqua Touch 2.0 and 3,840 Hz PWM dimming make this display not just a visual treat but also a comfortable one for long viewing sessions.
OS and AI
The Nord 5 runs on OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15 with deep AI integration throughout the system. A standout feature is AI Plus Mind, which acts like your personal assistant— capturing, organising, and even understanding whatever’s on your screen. With just a three-finger swipe, you can save anything you’re looking at to a central hub, making content retrieval seamless.
But it doesn’t stop there. You also get AI Search, real-time AI Call Assistant & Translation, VoiceScribe, and even AI Creativity tools for editing images, such as AI Reframe, Eraser, and Unblur. And if that wasn’t enough, Google Gemini is baked into the experience, delivering on-screen contextual support. Whether you’re managing files or snapping pics, the Nord 5 is constantly learning and adapting.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord 5 is the first Nord ever to feature the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, built on a 4nm process. Paired with 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256 GB UFS storage, the phone is blisteringly fast. From daily tasks to gaming, everything runs effortlessly.
Benchmarks are impressive: Geekbench scores show 2009 in single-core, 5166 in multi-core, GPU score of 9572, and an AnTuTu score of 1,487,298. While it doesn’t quite match the raw muscle of the Poco F7 (which pushes 1.87M on AnTuTu), the Nord 5 holds its own with smarter thermal and power efficiency, making it feel just as fast in daily use.
On the gaming front, I tested the phone by playing Call of Duty Mobile, BGMI, and Asphalt at high settings, and the experience was smooth with no lag. Thanks to the Cryo-velocity VC cooling system with a 7,300mm² vapor chamber, the device stayed cool even after long sessions. The phone also supports bypass charging, so no unnecessary heat while gaming. If you’re serious about mobile gaming, the Nord 5 is up for the challenge.
OnePlus has also teamed up with Qualcomm for better software tuning, and it shows. Background app management is slick, frame rates stay stable, and transitions feel nearly flagship-grade.
Camera
I think it’s fair to say that OnePlus has cemented itself as a serious player in the camera game, and the Nord 5 continues that trend. It features a 50 MP Sony LYT-700 main sensor on the rear, paired with an 8 MP ultra-wide lens. On the front, you get another 50 MP sensor, this time the ISOCELL JN5—arguably the sharpest selfie camera ever on a OnePlus phone.
OnePlus Nord 5 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
Photos shot in daylight come out beautifully detailed, with excellent contrast and natural colour tones. The HDR performance—borrowed from the OnePlus 13 series—ensures that even scenes with tricky lighting retain shadow detail and don’t blow out highlights. In short, the camera delivers.
OnePlus Nord 5 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
Night mode, too, has improved. Shadows are preserved, and the highlights are controlled well, giving you usable low-light shots without over-processing. Portrait mode does a great job with edge detection and bokeh, delivering DSLR-like shots that don’t feel artificial.
OnePlus Nord 5 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
The selfie camera deserves special mention. With mechanical autofocus and Dual VTG tech, it handles complex lighting with ease. Whether it’s solo shots or group selfies, the clarity and exposure control are top-tier.
OnePlus Nord 5 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
Compared to the Poco F7, I liked the camera prowess of the OnePlus Nord 5. So, if the camera is a priority, this is the phone to get.
Battery
OnePlus packs a massive 6,800 mAh battery into the Nord 5. It comfortably lasts two full days on moderate use, and even with heavy gaming or video streaming, you’ll end your day with juice to spare.
It supports 80 W SUPERVOOC charging, which can take the phone from 1% to 100% in about 54 minutes. There’s also a Battery Health Engine onboard to prolong battery life over the years of use. The addition of bypass charging during gaming sessions means reduced heat and improved battery longevity—a thoughtful touch.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 5 combines flagship-level performance, a brilliant display, standout camera, and thoughtful design— all while pushing the envelope on AI innovation. That said, if OnePlus had priced it about ₹2,000–3,000 lower, this would’ve been the uncontested king in the mid segment given that the Indian market has more powerful phones like Poco F7 and iQOO Neo 10 with latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.
Still, this is the most complete Nord yet. Whether you’re a gamer, creator, or someone who just wants a reliable, smooth experience without breaking the bank, this one delivers. And to answer the question we started with: yes, the Nord 5 does live up to the legacy of the Nord 4— only now, it’s playing in a whole new league.
OnePlus Nord 5 starts at ₹31,999 for the 8 GB/256 GB.
