Here’s the latest news, leaks and more surrounding the OnePlus Nord 2

The OnePlus Nord 2 is almost here, and it has exciting hardware upgrades.

The OnePlus Nord debuted to much fanfare last year, and it turned into a bestseller for the company. OnePlus is all set to launch the OnePlus Nord 2 on July 22, and the device will have a lot of upgrades that differentiate it from the first-gen Nord.

OnePlus also released the Nord CE 5G in India and European countries earlier this year, with that device offering similar hardware as the Nord at a slightly more affordable price point. The Nord 2, however, is packed with new hardware — including a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and new camera modules — so if you’re in the market for a mid-range phone, there is a lot to like. Here’s what you need to know about the Nord 2 and when you’ll be able to get your hands on the mid-range phone.

Budget warrior

OnePlus Nord N10 5G

$300 at Amazon

You don’t have to pay more for 5G

The Nord N10 5G lets you make the switch to 5G on a budget. It has a Snapdragon 690 chipset with 5G connectivity, a large battery with 30W fast charging, a 64MP camera at the back, and a 90Hz screen that makes it a delight to use.

OnePlus Nord 2: Release date

The OnePlus Nord was unveiled on 21 July 2020, and OnePlus is launching the Nord 2 exactly a year later. The phone will be unveiled on July 22, with availability kicking off shortly thereafter. We haven’t really seen OnePlus being affected by the chip shortage, so there should be adequate units of the Nord 2 at launch to meet the demand.

OnePlus Nord 2: Where will it be available?

The original Nord debuted in select markets worldwide, and while it was available in India and the EU, it didn’t make its way to North America. OnePlus instead turned to the budget-focused Nord N10 5G and N100 in the U.S., and it is the same story with the Nord 2.

The Nord N10 is one of the best cheap Android phones available in the U.S., but having said that, customers in the country will miss out on the Nord numbered series. The Nord 2 is slated to launch in India, the EU, and other global markets where OnePlus does business, so like the regular Nord, it will be available in all regions outside of North America.

OnePlus has confirmed that the only devices that will debut in the Nord series in North America are the entry-level Nord N devices, with the manufacturer focusing on the carrier play in the region.

As for what it will cost, the Nord 2 will likely debut for $100 more than the regular Nord considering the hardware on offer. As a refresher, here’s how much the Nord debuted at last year:

• OnePlus Nord 6GB/64GB: ₹24,999 (exclusive to India)
• OnePlus Nord 8GB/128GB: £379, €399, ₹27,999
• OnePlus Nord 12GB/256GB: £469, €499, ₹29,999

If I had to guess, the 8GB/128GB version of the Nord 2 could start at £449 ($618) in the UK and ₹31,999 ($430) in India. The Nord is the best-selling phone in India’s mid-range segment, and OnePlus would want to maintain that momentum in 2021 with the Nord 2. I haven’t heard anything from my sources at this point around what the Nord 2 will cost, but recent leaks suggest the phone will debut for just over ₹30,000 in India.

OnePlus Nord 2: Design

OnePlus showed off the design of the Nord 2 ahead of its launch, and the device looks similar to the OnePlus 9 series. That was going to be the case anyway, and it is good to see OnePlus offering a more modern design with large rings around the camera modules at the back.

We should also see exciting color variants for the Nord 2. OnePlus consistently rolls out standout color options for its phones — just look at that Blue Marble Nord — and it should be no different for the Nord 2.

OnePlus Nord 2: Specs

This is where things get particularly interesting. As I revealed earlier this year, the Nord 2 will be the first OnePlus phone to be powered by a MediaTek chipset. The phone will feature a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G-enabled chipset, delivering huge gains over the Snapdragon 765G that was in the Nord.

OnePlus exclusively used Qualcomm designs over its eight-year history, but with MediaTek making steady gains in this category, it isn’t too astonishing that the Nord 2 uses a MediaTek part. Up front, the device has a 6.43-inch 90Hz AMOLED screen, and it should be on par with what we’ve seen on the original Nord last year.

The OnePlus Nord 2 also features upgraded camera hardware in the form of a 50MP primary camera (Sony IMX766) joined by an 8MP wide-angle lens and 2MP macro module, 32MP camera at the front, 4500mAh battery, and a new vibration motor.

OnePlus Nord 2: Software

As for the software side of things, the Nord 2 will run OxygenOS 11.3 out of the box. This will be the first version of OxygenOS that’s built on the ColorOS codebase, so it will be interesting to see how it differs to older versions of the interface. For its part, OnePlus has mentioned that there wouldn’t be many user-facing changes, but we should have a better understanding once the device is available.

Best on a budget

OnePlus Nord N10 5G

$300 at Amazon

The features you need

The Nord N10 5G features a 5G-enabled Snapdragon 690 chipset, has a 90Hz display, a large battery with 30W fast charging, and clean software. There’s also a 64MP camera at the back, and the design itself feels familiar. It is still running Android 10, but should make the switch to Android 11 soon.