Let’s be honest: OnePlus used to be the “flagship killer,” but lately, it feels like they’ve been playing it safe. That ends today. The OnePlus Nord CE 5 5G has just hit the Indian market with a starting price of ₹24,999, and it is carrying a battery so large it puts some tablets to shame.
The real truth is, if you are tired of carrying a power bank everywhere, this phone is a dream come true. But don’t waste your money if you’re expecting a professional-grade camera or a premium metal build. This is a performance and endurance specialist, plain and simple. We’ve spent two weeks pushing this “Core Edition” to its limits to see if it’s actually worth your hard-earned cash in 2025.
QUICK SPECS TABLE
For those who want the data without the marketing jargon, here is the official breakdown:
| Feature | OnePlus Nord CE 5 5G Specifications |
| Display | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1430 Nits Peak |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex (4nm) |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB UFS 3.1 (Expandable up to 1TB) |
| Rear Camera | 50MP Sony LYT-600 (OIS) + 8MP Ultrawide |
| Front Camera | 16MP Sony IMX480 |
| Battery | 7,100mAh (Single-cell) |
| Charging | 80W SuperVOOC (100% in ~59 mins) |
| Weight | 199 grams |
| Price (India) | Starts at ₹24,999 |
DESIGN & BUILD (Deep Dive)
OnePlus has gone for a very “iPhone 16-esque” vertical camera layout this year. The Marble Mist variant is the star of the show, featuring a textured finish that looks premium but feels like high-quality polycarbonate (plastic).
- Weight Management: How did they fit a 7,100mAh battery into a 199g body? They used silicon-carbon battery technology, which is denser and slimmer than traditional lithium-ion.
- In-Hand Feel: It’s a tall phone, but the 8.2mm thickness makes it surprisingly grippy.
- The Missing Piece: Still no Alert Slider. If you were hoping for that iconic OnePlus switch, you’ll have to look at the more expensive Nord 5 or OnePlus 15 series.
DISPLAY & VISUALS
The 6.77-inch AMOLED panel is vibrant, but it’s not the brightest in this segment.
- Outdoor Visibility: At 1,430 nits peak, you can see your messages under direct sunlight, but it doesn’t quite match the “torch-like” brightness of the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion.
- Aqua Touch: A killer feature inherited from the flagship OnePlus 12. If you’re caught in a Mumbai monsoon or have sweaty hands, the screen still registers your taps perfectly.
- Color Accuracy: It supports 10-bit color and HDR10+. Binging Sacred Games on Netflix looks fantastic with deep blacks and punchy colors.
PERFORMANCE & GAMING
This is where the Nord CE 5 surprises. The MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex is a beast for a mid-range phone.
- Gaming: We tested BGMI, and it runs comfortably at 90 FPS on smooth settings. For CODM, you can push it to 120 FPS.
- Thermal Management: The 7041mm² graphene vapor chamber does its job. After a 45-minute session, the phone hovered around 39°C, which is excellent.
- Multitasking: OxygenOS 15 is finally back to its “Fast and Smooth” roots. No lag, no stutters, and the 72-month fluency rating from TÜV SÜD gives some peace of mind for long-term use.
CAMERA ANALYSIS
The camera setup is “good enough” but not ground-breaking.
- Main Sensor: The 50MP Sony LYT-600 with OIS takes sharp, social-media-ready shots in daylight. The colors are slightly boosted (typical OnePlus style).
- Low Light: The Nightscape mode is decent, but shadows can get a bit noisy.
- Selfies: The 16MP front camera is okay for video calls, but skin tones can look a bit “beautified” even when the filters are off.
- Video: It supports 4K @ 60fps, which is a huge win at this price point. Most competitors still cap at 30fps.
BATTERY & ENDURANCE (The MVP)
This is the only reason to buy this phone. A 7,100mAh battery is unheard of in this weight class.
- Screen-on Time (SoT): We consistently got 10.5 to 11 hours of SoT. In real-world terms, that is 2.5 days of battery life for an average user.
- Charging: The 80W charger is included in the box.
- 0-50%: 24 minutes.
- 0-100%: 58 minutes.
- The Real Truth: While it takes nearly an hour to hit 100%, remember that 100% on this phone is like 140% on an iPhone. You won’t be charging it every night.
Read more : Vivo X300 Pro 5G
THE COMPETITION
OnePlus Nord CE 5 vs Nothing Phone 3a vs Motorola Edge 60 Fusion
| Feature | Nord CE 5 | Nothing Phone 3a | Moto Edge 60 Fusion |
| Battery | 7100mAh (King) | 5000mAh | 5500mAh |
| Processor | Dimensity 8350 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Dimensity 7400 |
| Charging | 80W | 45W | 68W |
| Software | OxygenOS (Smooth) | Nothing OS (Clean) | Hello UI (Stock) |
| Price | ₹24,999 | ₹24,908 | ₹22,500 |
Winner: If you want Battery and Performance, the OnePlus Nord CE 5 wins hands down. If you want Design and Cameras, the Nothing Phone 3a is the better pick.
FINAL VERDICT
Buy it if:
- You are a delivery partner, student, or traveler who needs a 2-day battery.
- You want a smooth, ad-free software experience (OxygenOS is still king here).
- You play competitive games like BGMI and need stable frame rates.
Skip it if:
- You want a premium metal/glass build (this is plastic).
- You are a serious mobile photographer (the ultrawide lens is weak).
- You want a compact phone; this thing is quite large.
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Q1: Does it have a headphone jack?
No, the 3.5mm jack is gone. You’ll need a Type-C dongle or TWS earbuds like the Nord Buds 4.
Q2: Does it support microSD cards?
Yes! The Nord CE 5 features a hybrid slot, so you can expand storage up to 1TB.
Q3: Is it waterproof?
It has an IP65 rating, meaning it can handle splashes and light rain, but don’t take it for a swim.
Q4: How many years of updates will it get?
OnePlus has promised 2 years of Android OS updates and 3 years of security patches for the CE series.
Q5: Is the 80W charger included?
Yes, OnePlus still provides the SuperVOOC adapter in the box (thankfully!).