Its 12GB RAM (Rs 33,999) variant seems more useful as smartphones like Nothing Phone 1 are offering more features like wireless charging and IP53 rating at this price.
Highlights
The phone has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary sensor.
The phone's battery lasts comfortably for 2 days with normal usage.
The phone features a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel with a refresh rate of 90Hz.
The new OnePlus Nord 2T 5G offers almost everything the Nord 2 has to offer, with a few minor upgrades. OnePlus' first 'T' model isn't a brand-new phone, but it's improved the basics: a good mid-range processor, an upgraded fast charging system, a quality display, and a capable primary camera with OIS support. In other words, it has everything a user could want for a relatively low price, starting at ₹28,999.
However, there are rivals, like the Realme 9 Pro+ 5G (Review), that offer similar hardware at an even lower price. So, how does the Nord 2T 5G fare in its segment, and is it a perfect mid-ranger smartphone? I used the phone for a few weeks, and here's what I think.
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G price in India
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G starts at ₹28,999 for the base 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and goes up to ₹33,999 for the 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The phone comes in Greenish Jade Fog and Gray Shadow finishes. I received the 12GB Gray Shadow variant for review.
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G design
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G doesn't appear to have any major design changes, especially since it's the 'T' version of the phone, which is expected to only come with minor hardware changes. However, some design details have been changed, most prominently at the rear. The camera module now features two circular cutouts. One houses the primary camera, and the other houses the ultrawide and monochrome cameras. The phone's layout looks clean, but the module protrudes slightly from the body. This makes the phone wobble when placed on a flat surface.
The rear panel is made of anti-glare glass with a soft matte finish that feels premium. It also does an excellent job of resisting fingerprints. The phone's midframe is made of polycarbonate and has a chrome-like finish that is highly fingerprint-retentive. However, this provides a good grip on the device. The phone is heavy and feels premium in the hand. I was pleased to see OnePlus retain the alert slider, which was removed from the more expensive OnePlus 10R 5G
The display has slightly curved edges and isn't completely flat, making for a good grip experience. There's a hole-punch for the selfie camera. The fingerprint scanner is also integrated into the display, which is reliable. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which is easily fingerprint-removed but can be cleaned quickly. I didn't like the thick bezel on the display, which seems quite thick compared to the other three sides.
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G specifications and software
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 processor. The previous model featured a Dimensity 1200-AI SoC. This is the main upgrade with this model. The phone features LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. It has a dual SIM tray that can accommodate two 5G nano SIMs. For communication, it supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. The phone has a 4,500mAh battery and 80W fast charging support. Note that the Nord 2 offered 65W fast charging. The phone doesn't have an IP rating, a feature that's now common in mid-range phones.
The phone runs on OxygenOS 12.1 based on Android 12. The software is similar to the OnePlus 5, but I noticed a strange omission: it doesn't offer live wallpapers, only static wallpapers. For support, the company promises two major Android updates and three years of security updates, which is good for a mid-range device.
