We’re testing the latest OnePlus Android smartphone
While high-end phones are the ones getting the most attention these days, mid-range models are the ones bringing home the bacon, as they help companies get the precious market share everybody has become obsessed with. Samsung, for example, is currently the world’s number one phone manufacturer not necessarily thanks to the Galaxy S lineup but mostly because of its powerful mid-range device series that offers one of the best mixes of premium features and affordable price tags. So while the Galaxy S family of phones is a great way to experience the best of the best in Samsung’s portfolio, mid-rangers are the ones selling in much bigger numbers and therefore generating revenue and market share. Mid-rangers have thus become an essential part of the offering of every single phone maker out there, and OnePlus knows this very well. Often described as an underdog of the phone race, OnePlus too aims for the sky in terms of mid-range devices, trying to achieve just the perfect mix of high-end capabilities in a reasonably priced package. This is how the OnePlus Nord CE 5G was likely born. In essence a mid-ranger, this new model feels like it’s so much more than that, from the second you hold it in hand for the very first time to the one when you pull it out of your pocket to respond to a message. The new OnePlus phone looks, feels, and works like a high-end device, though there are moments when it does show its limits. While this is rather something you’d expect to read as the bottom line of a review, I think it’s really important to know exactly what to expect when getting your hands on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G. And I’ll detail everything in the next paragraphs. First and foremost, the looks. If you ask me, the new OnePlus is absolutely yummy, but in my few days with the device, I learned that not everybody is a big fan of striking colors. I reviewed the Blue Void version, so if you don’t want your phone to stand out from the crowd so easily, just go for the Charcoal Ink or the Silver Ray, both of which come with a rather unique finish as well. With a 6.43-inch display, the new Nord CE 5G feels really natural in hand, and this is certainly a good thing. When I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup, one of the things that I considered a big shortcoming was just how tall the standard model ended up becoming, which sometimes made me feel like I was holding a TV remote in my hand. This isn’t at all the case with the new OnePlus, despite sporting such a massive display.
