I wasn’t planning to buy another phone this year. Really, I wasn’t. My two-year-old Samsung was doing just fine except for that annoying camera glitch and battery that suddenly decided midday was a great time for a nap.
So there I was, standing in Croma on a sweaty Mumbai afternoon, somehow holding a brand new OnePlus Nord 5 and my debit card simultaneously. Classic impulse purchase? Maybe. But six weeks later, I’m still trying to figure out if I made the right call.
And that’s exactly what I want to share with you, not another clinical review with benchmarks and technical mumbo-jumbo (though we’ll get to some of that too), but what it’s actually like to live with the OnePlus Nord 5 as your daily driver in India. The good, the frustrating, and everything between.
The OnePlus Nord 5 Design | Finally Something That Doesn’t Look Like Everything Else
First things first—I’m so tired of phones that look identical. Aren’t you? Walking into any metro station in Bengaluru or Delhi, it’s just a sea of identical glass slabs. But the OnePlus Nord 5 actually tries something different.
The moment I pulled it out of the box, the jade green variant caught my cousin’s attention from across the room. “That’s not another iPhone, is it?” he asked. No, cousin dearest, it most certainly is not and that’s a good thing.
OnePlus has gone with this interesting matte finish that somehow manages to look premium without being a fingerprint magnet. The slightly curved edges make it comfortable to hold during those endless phone calls with relatives who refuse to understand the concept of texting. And at 183 grams, it’s substantial without feeling like I’m carrying a brick.
But let’s talk about that camera island design. It’s… distinctive. Some might say ugly. I wasn’t sure at first—it’s this circular module that protrudes quite a bit. Now? I’ve grown to appreciate how it stands out. When placed face-down on a coffee table at Blue Tokai last week, three separate people asked me what phone it was. That never happened with my Samsung.
The Build Quality Conundrum
Here’s where I need to be honest about something that’s been bugging me. While the OnePlus Nord 5 looks premium, there’s this subtle plastic feeling that reminds you it’s not a flagship.
Wait, that’s not quite right. It’s not that it feels cheap, it doesn’t. It’s more that… hmm, how do I explain this? It’s like when you stay at a 4-star hotel that’s trying really hard to feel like a 5-star. Everything looks right, but there’s just something minor you can’t quite put your finger on that gives away its true nature.
The frame, supposedly aluminum, doesn’t have that cold-to-the-touch feeling that my friend’s iPhone has. Is that a dealbreaker? Absolutely not. Especially since I immediately put it in a case anyway.
Diving Into the OnePlus Nord 5 Display | More Than Just Numbers
Let’s talk about this screen because it’s probably where I spend 70% of my waking hours now.
The OnePlus Nord 5 packs a 6.6-inch AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate. But specs only tell half the story. What really matters is how it performs during a typical chaotic Indian day.
Under the brutal Delhi sun last month, I could actually see what was on my screen while booking an Uber, something my previous phone struggled with. The auto-brightness is surprisingly intelligent too, which is saying something because most phones are absolutely terrible at this. It doesn’t blind me when I check WhatsApp at 2 AM, nor does it dim to the point of uselessness when I’m outside.
The 120Hz refresh rate makes everything feel snappy and responsive. Scrolling through endless Instagram reels is butter-smooth. Though I did notice it occasionally drops the refresh rate while playing heavy games, which is probably for battery conservation but can be jarring.
One quirky thing is that the colors seem slightly more saturated than my friend’s iPhone 14. Some people might love this; others might find it unnatural. Personally? I think it makes my mediocre food photography look more appetizing on social media, so I’m counting that as a win.
That Fingerprint Sensor Though…
A quick side note about the in-display fingerprint sensor: it’s shockingly good. Like, surprisingly good. After years of dealing with sensors that refuse to recognize my finger if it’s slightly damp from Mumbai’s humidity, this one works 9 times out of 10, even after I’ve just washed my hands.
Is it as fast as a physical sensor? No. But it’s fast enough that I don’t think about it anymore, which is really all you can ask for.
Performance and Software | Where the OnePlus Nord 5 Gets Interesting
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it. How does this thing actually perform in day-to-day use?
The OnePlus Nord 5 runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 7300, which sounds impressive if you’re into model numbers. For normal humans, what matters is: can it handle your daily abuse?
After six weeks of punishment, I can say it handles most things without breaking a sweat. Multiple apps, constant Spotify streaming, endless WhatsApp video calls with my mom who insists on showing me every new thing in her garden—all smooth. I’ve even edited some basic videos on it for Instagram, and it didn’t stutter.
Gaming is where you start to see its mid-range nature peek through. BGMI runs fine on medium settings, but crank it up to high and you’ll notice some frame drops. Nothing game-breaking, but if you’re a competitive gamer who needs every advantage, you might want to look elsewhere. For casual gaming sessions during boring office meetings (we’ve all been there), it’s more than capable.
But here’s what really surprised me—the software experience. OxygenOS 14 is… different. I’m still trying to decide if that’s good or bad.
The OxygenOS Experience
Remember when OxygenOS was basically stock Android with a few useful additions? Those days are gone. The current iteration is clearly influenced by ColorOS (thanks to the OPPO merger), and it’s busy. Like, really busy.
The first thing I did was spend an hour turning off features I didn’t want. There are floating windows, quick launch gestures, a sidebar tool, and something called “OPlus Moments” that I still don’t fully understand the purpose of.
Once you trim the fat though, what remains is actually quite good. The system animations are smooth, the always-on display options are extensive, and there are genuinely useful additions like the Work-Life Balance mode that changes your notification settings based on time or location.
Battery optimization is aggressive though sometimes too aggressive. I’ve had WhatsApp notifications delayed because the system put the app to sleep. After some tinkering with settings, it’s better, but be prepared for some initial frustration.
Camera Capabilities on the OnePlus Nord 5 | Surprisingly Capable
Let’s be real—for most of us, the camera is the deciding factor when buying a new phone. And here’s where the OnePlus Nord 5 story gets complicated.
On paper, the setup sounds impressive: 50MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro that we all know is there just to make the spec sheet look better. The front camera is 16MP and promises “AI beautification.”
In good lighting, the main camera takes photos that genuinely impressed me. Colors are vibrant (sometimes a bit too vibrant), details are sharp, and the dynamic range is surprisingly good. I took it to my cousin’s wedding in Jaipur last month, and the photos came out so well that even my uncle—who usually insists on using his ancient DSLR—was asking to see my shots.
The portrait mode deserves special mention. Edge detection is surprisingly accurate, even with complicated subjects like people wearing glasses or having curly hair. The background blur looks natural rather than like someone went crazy with Photoshop’s blur tool.
Where things start to fall apart is in challenging lighting. Low-light photos are… inconsistent. Sometimes they’re impressively detailed with minimal noise. Other times they look like they were taken with a potato. The night mode helps, but requires you to hold still for what feels like an eternity.
Video Capability | The Unexpected Strength
Here’s something I wasn’t expecting—the video recording on the OnePlus Nord 5 is actually quite good. It stabilizes footage admirably, even when I’m walking.
I recorded my friend’s surprise birthday party in a dimly lit restaurant, and the footage was totally usable, something I couldn’t say about my previous mid-range phone. There’s also this “AI Cinematic Mode” that attempts to create professional-looking videos with automatic focus shifts and color grading.
Does it make you the next Bollywood cinematographer? No. But for capturing memories and quick social media stories, it’s more than capable.
The OnePlus Nord 5 Battery Life | A Tale of Two Cities
Battery life is so subjective that I almost hate discussing it. Your experience will vary wildly depending on what you do with your phone. That said, I can tell you about my experience with the OnePlus Nord 5‘s 5000mAh battery.
On a typical workday emails, calls, WhatsApp, some social media scrolling, Spotify streaming during my commute I end the day with around 30% left. That’s with about 5-6 hours of screen time. Not mind-blowing, but reliable enough that I don’t carry a power bank anymore.
However, throw in some gaming or Google Maps navigation during a day of exploring a new city, and you’ll be reaching for the charger by evening. During a weekend trip to Lonavala, with lots of photos, videos, and navigation, I was down to 15% by 5 PM.
The saving grace is the 80W fast charging. It’s genuinely impressive how quickly this thing charges. A 15-minute charge while I’m getting ready in the morning adds about 40% battery. Just remember that this superpower only works with the included charger, use a random one and you’ll be back to normal charging speeds.
What’s puzzling is the lack of wireless charging. I know it’s a mid-range phone, but many competitors in this price range now include it. Not a dealbreaker, but a head-scratcher considering some of the other premium features included.
The Battery Anxiety Factor
Something interesting I’ve noticed despite having objectively better battery life than my previous phone, I still get more battery anxiety with the OnePlus Nord 5. I think it’s because the battery percentage seems to drop in chunks rather than gradually.
I’ll look at it showing 75%, then check an hour later and suddenly it’s at 62%. That inconsistent drainage creates this weird psychological effect where I’m always a bit worried about running out of juice, even though it’s usually fine.
Value Proposition | Is the OnePlus Nord 5 Worth Your Hard-Earned Rupees?
Now for the million-rupee question : Is the OnePlus Nord 5 worth buying in India’s incredibly competitive smartphone market?
Starting at ₹27,999 for the base 8GB/128GB variant and going up to ₹33,999 for the 12GB/256GB model, it’s positioned squarely in the upper-mid-range segment. That’s a fiercely competitive space with offerings from Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme, and even iQOO.
What the OnePlus Nord 5 has going for it is a balanced overall package. There’s no single feature where it absolutely destroys the competition, but there’s also no glaring weakness. It’s like that student who gets solid Bs in every subject rather than As in some and Ds in others.
The closest competitors are probably the Samsung Galaxy A54 (better software support but slower charging), the Realme GT Neo 5 SE (faster processor but questionable software), and the Poco F5 (better performance but less premium feel). Each has its strengths, but the Nord offers perhaps the most balanced experience.
What you’re paying for with OnePlus is also the ecosystem and brand experience. The service centers are generally better than many competitors (though still not Apple-level), and there’s a certain social cache that comes with the OnePlus logo that brands like Poco haven’t achieved yet.
The Non-Technical Factors
Something we don’t talk about enough in phone reviews is the non-technical aspects of ownership. Like the fact that when you pull out a OnePlus Nord 5 in a coffee shop, it doesn’t scream “I spent two months’ salary on my phone!” like an iPhone would, but it also doesn’t say “I bought whatever was on sale” like some budget options might.
It occupies this interesting middle ground that feels appropriate for young professionals in India—people who care about quality and experience but also recognize that spending ₹70,000+ on a phone might not be the most responsible financial decision.
And that actually matters in real life. Your phone is a social signal whether you want it to be or not.
FAQ:
How does the OnePlus Nord 5 camera perform compared to other phones in the same price range?
The OnePlus Nord 5‘s camera system is competitive but not class-leading. In good lighting, it produces vibrant, detailed images that rival phones costing ₹10,000 more. Where it falls short is consistency in low-light photography—sometimes it surprises you with excellent night shots, other times it produces noisy, underwhelming results.
Is the OnePlus Nord 5 worth upgrading to if I already have the Nord 3 or Nord CE?
If you’re using a Nord 3, the OnePlus Nord 5 represents an incremental rather than revolutionary upgrade. You’ll notice slightly better performance, marginally improved camera capabilities, and faster charging. Unless your current phone is giving you problems, I’d suggest waiting for the next generation.
How long can I expect software updates for the OnePlus Nord 5?
OnePlus has committed to 2 years of Android version updates and 3 years of security patches for the OnePlus Nord 5. That’s decent for a mid-range phone but falls short of Samsung’s 4-year promise on some of their A-series devices. In practical terms, your OnePlus Nord 5 should receive Android 15 and 16, keeping it reasonably up-to-date until 2027.
Does the OnePlus Nord 5 have any issues with overheating during gaming or fast charging?
The OnePlus Nord 5 manages heat reasonably well under normal circumstances, but it does warm up noticeably during extended gaming sessions (45+ minutes) or when using the camera for long periods, especially in India’s summer heat. During the recent 40°C days in Delhi, I noticed the phone getting uncomfortably warm while playing BGMI at high settings.
How does the battery life on the OnePlus Nord 5 hold up with heavy usage?
With heavy usage, constant WhatsApp video calls, location services running, hours of gaming, and brightness cranked up, the OnePlus Nord 5‘s 5000mAh battery will likely need a recharge by early evening. During a recent trip where I was constantly using maps, taking photos, and sharing them instantly on social media, the battery dropped to about 20% after about 6 hours of such intensive use.
Is the OnePlus Nord 5 a good choice for someone buying their first Android phone?
The OnePlus Nord 5 makes an excellent first Android phone, particularly for someone transitioning from an iPhone or upgrading from a budget smartphone. OxygenOS, while not as clean as it once was, remains one of the more intuitive Android interfaces with a relatively gentle learning curve.
