The OnePlus Nord N10 slots in between the Nord and Nord N100. Is it another winner? Find out in this OnePlus Nord N10 review.
OnePlus now has two families of devices available to consumers: the OnePlus 8 series and the OnePlus Nord family. Where the former is the company’s flagship line, the latter is OnePlus’ newer affordable fare. The OnePlus Nord N10 is the middle offering from the Nord family and the first to hit the US market. But can OnePlus’ latest cheap phone make an impression? We find out in the Android Authority OnePlus Nord N10 review. About this OnePlus Nord N10 review: We spent a week evaluating the OnePlus Nord N10. The device shipped with Android 10 and OnePlus’ user interface skin, Oxygen OS. It received one minor, bug-fixing update while we used it. OnePlus supplied the Nord N10 review unit to Android Authority. The OnePlus Nord N10 comes across as basic. It carries over the OnePlus design DNA in only the simplest terms. If you hold it side-by-side with any other OnePlus phone, the similarities and differences will be clear. The Nord line is meant to be affordable, and the N1o makes that impression abundantly clear. It’s not just a low-cost version of OnePlus’ flagship phones. No, it’s an altogether different animal. Don’t miss: OnePlus buyer’s guide — everything you need to know about the brand Materials are the biggest differentiator. At first glance, the N10 may look like a glass sandwich, yet it is anything but. The phone has a Gorilla Glass 3 face, but the mid-frame and rear panel are made from plastics. You can tell right away upon picking the phone up. The plastics feel like plastics. Despite the materials, the Nord N10 features a high-gloss finish that is meant to mirror glass. It almost works. The curved rear panel has a brilliant sheen to it and the blue-tinged Midnight Ice colorway (the only option) is nice. From a distance, you might expect it to be glass, but your hands can tell the difference. The fit and finish of the materials are acceptable though not overly impressive. For instance, the display glass is set into a thin plastic sub-frame which is in turn fitted into the plastic mid-frame. This cheapens the look some. At least the seams are minuscule and tight. I’m not sold on the fit of the rear panel either. Seamless edges line the top and bottom, but distinct ledges appear on the two sides. It’s almost as if the rear panel is a hair narrower than it is supposed to be. The phone does not have an IP rating, though that would be rare at this price point. It’s a sizable piece of hardware. The OnePlus Nord N10 is definitely bigger than the OnePlus 8, for example, and is more on par with the size of the 8 Pro. I didn’t find it uncomfortable to use — it’s solid without feeling heavy. OnePlus gave the phone a full allotment of functional controls, save for one. You’ll find the combined power button/screen lock key on the right edge of the phone. However, its usual companion on OnePlus devices — the alert slider — is missing. OnePlus deleted the popular switch from the Nord N10, which is a shame. The volume toggle is on the left edge of the phone. Both the buttons have a plasticky feel to them when pressed. Some will also be happy to learn there’s a headphone jack on the bottom edge of the phone. It’s right next to the USB-C port and downward-firing speaker. The rear panel is glossy to a fault. I appreciate the curved shape and reflective finish, but this phone collects dirt, oil, and grime far too easily. A fingerprint reader adorns the rear panel and is perched in just the right spot. It’s fast and accurate. A fairly large punch-hole camera module, which resembles those of the Samsung Galaxy S20 and Note 20 series, sits in the upper left corner. Haptics come across as a bit blunt, however. The motor has a distinct grinding when it spins. I typically prefer something more subtle. Haptics can be toggled on or off, but not controlled with precision. See also: Best OnePlus phones In all, the OnePlus Nord N10 is a fine piece of hardware for the price. It’s not going to bedazzle anyone, but no one should be ashamed to use it as their daily driver. OnePlus sort of split the difference with the screen. It’s not a contrasty AMOLED panel, but it does have a 90Hz high refresh rate. The screen measures 6.49-inches across the diagonal, though the actual visible area is a bit less than that. It’s a punch-hole job, meaning the selfie camera obscures the display in the upper left corner. Nevertheless, it’s a small price to pay to get the all-screen look. A sliver of a chin graces the bottom edge of the phone, but it’s hardly anything to complain about. As for the screen itself, it’s definitely bright and sharp, but the colors look a bit muted to my eyes. The screen could be punchier and more vibrant. That said, the 90Hz refresh rate really helps add definition and a measure of crispness. Seeing a 90Hz screen on a phone at this price point is unusual, especially in the US. Heck, the iPhone 12 Max Pro, which costs three times as much, still has a 60Hz screen. Any 600 series Qualcomm silicon is a mid-range processor. That means the Snapdragon 690 is a solid, if slightly uninspired, engine for the Nord N10.
