OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Review with Pros and Cons: Don’t Buy
OnePlus used to launch good smartphones at good prices but things have changed after the launch of the OnePlus 7T 5G. The newly launched OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is a re-brand of RealMe 9 Pro 5G and yet OnePlus is charging extra Rs 2000 compared to RealMe 9 Pro 5G.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Price in India starts from Rs 19,999 for 6GB of Ram and 128GB storage while the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant is priced at Rs 21,999 in India. The device comes with Black Dusk and Blue Tide color options and it will go for sale on 30th April 2022 via Amazon IN at noon.
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Contents
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Review
No, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is not worth buying because it’s an overpriced smartphone, it’s a clear re-brand of RealMe 9 Pro 5G and yet OnePlus is charging extra Rs 2000 for the same device, overall, the OnePlus has changed and it’s not the same company anymore, so save Rs 2000 and go with RealMe 9 Pro 5G.
This is Rs 19999 smartphone and yet OnePlus didn’t add an Ultra-wide lens, they feel a 2MP+2MP sensor makes more sense than an ultra-wide lens.
The Snapdragon 695 is a great processor but the thing is, there are many smartphones that offer the same chipset at a cheaper price, so it doesn’t make any sense to pay a premium, just because OnePlus is offering the processor.
Also, for those who don’t know, the phone doesn’t have that Oxygen OS, it has changed and now, it more looks like Color OS. So whether you buy RealMe, OPPO, or even OnePlus, the software experience will be the same.
Related: 5 Best Smartphones Under Rs 20,000
The phone is made out of plastic, by the way, OnePlus didn’t mention what kind of display protection they have used while that 5000mAh battery will last for a day.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G does have a 120Hz screen refresh rate but the display is LCD which is not the best thing to have in a 20k smartphone in 2022.
Overall, for the price of Rs 19999, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is not a value-for-money device and also, not worth the 20k price too, so don’t buy the smartphone because it has the OnePlus Logo, buy a smartphone because it provides the value and in this case, OnePlus is not providing that Real value.
By the way, as this is a re-brand of RealMe 9 Pro 5G 9 (review), you will see some similarities in this review…
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| 120Hz Refresh rate | No Stereo Speakers |
| 33W Fast Charging | Decent Cameras |
| Solid Battery Life | Low Display Brightness |
| Snapdragon 695 Processor | Plastic Build |
| 6 5G Bands | Night Photography needs improvement |
| Android 12 Out of the box | LCD Display |
| Widevine L1 Support | No Ultra-Wide Lens |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Overpriced |
| Selfie Camera is average |
Display Quality
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G comes with a 6.60-inches FHD+ 120Hz LCD with a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, OnePlus didn’t mention the display protection while the rear and frame are made out of plastic.
The phone also doesn’t feel premium in hand, feels like cheap plastic.
I’m not a big fan of LCD panels, I’m okay if the smartphone is priced at 13k or 15k but when we go above 15k, I expect the AMOLED panel.
So yes, OnePlus has done cost-cutting in the display, they could have provided the AMOLED but they didn’t.
The LCD panel is good but when it comes out outdoors, the display is not that bright, and the screen is visible but, I expected the brightness to be brighter
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Now, the phone does have support for Widevine L1 which means, you will be able to watch FHD+ content on most of the OTT platforms.
Overall, the display could have been better, and also this is Rs 20000 smartphone, OnePlus should have gone with AMOLED but again, this is a re-brand of RealMe 9 Pro 5G, so don’t expect them to change the display either.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 Processor and runs on Oxygen OS 12.1 based on Android 12. By the way, OnePlus didn’t promise anything about the future update but going by the OnePlus record, the phone should get the Android 13 update.
Here comes the confusing part,
Snapdragon 600 Series processors use to be affordable but now, they have changed everything. From now, Snapdraghopn 600 SoC will come under the 20k price range and the 700 series SoC will come under 30k.
Related: 5 Best Gaming Smartphones Under Rs 20,000
In short, the Snapdragon 695 SoC is as powerful as Snapdragon 750G.
The device also has 5G support and it has 6 5G bands which include n41, n77, n78, n1, n28A, and n41
Now, the Snapdragon 695 SoC is powerful enough to handle almost all mobile games.
So there won’t be any problems while using the smartphone in day-to-day life or playing games.
In short, don’t get confused by the processor name, the performance will be better.
Cameras
I don’t know what should I talk about the cameras because only has one useful camera which is a 64MP primary sensor, other 2MM+2MP sensors are added for showcase only.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is a re-brand of RealMe 9 Pro 5G, so here, I feel, OnePlus should have gone with the same cameras setup as RealMe 9 Pro 5G but they didn’t, OnePlus removed the 8Mp ultra-wide lens.
Still, let’s talk about the 64MP primary sensor.
Most of the OnePlus smartphone has one weak part which is their cameras, even their Flagship OnePlus 10 Pro 5G doesn’t have the best cameras, so can’t expect much from the budget OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G.
The 64MP camera is very powerful and it can take some of the best images but looks like, the OnePlus didn’t optimize the sensor very well.
Under good lighting, the sensor captures a good image but when there is low light or taking images at night, the sensor doesn’t provide good images, it loses out on details and there is a lot of noise in images too.
Also, the image doesn’t come out neutral, OnePlus is trying to boost the colors.
For example, if you’re taking an image of the sky then you won’t get the same image, OnePlus will add extra blue color.
In short, the colors will pop up a little bit more than in reality.
By the way, OnePlus didn’t add OIS support, so the videos won’t come out stable. If you’re walking slowly then the video will come out stable while running or speed talking, the videos won’t come out stable.
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The 16MP front camera also takes good videos but sometimes, it messes out the dynamic range, and sometimes, it takes good videos, so it’s hit or miss.
The selfie also comes out very good, likewise, the selfies have whities color ton, other than that, I feel, you will like the front-facing camera, still, there is a lot to work on, one or two OTA updates can make the front camera better.
Also, ignore the 2MP+2MP sensors, it’s added for numbers only.
By looking at everything, including competition, and pricing, OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G doesn’t have good cameras, and there is a lot of work to do.
Audio Quality
The phone doesn’t have stereo speakers, OnePlus has provided a single bottom-firing speaker.
The single speaker is loud enough to watch YouTube videos or even movies without earphones but still, OnePlus should have provided stereo speakers because this is a 20k smartphone.
It also has a secondary noise cancellation microphone along with carrier aggregation which will help a lot in calls.
By the way, OnePlus has also added a 3.5mm audio jack which is another plus point.
Overall, the audio is decent, and no complaints about the call quality.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G comes with a 5,000 mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. The 33W charger will take about 59 minutes to charge from 0 to 100%.
Overall, the battery will last for a day, the Snapdragon 695 SoC is power-efficient SoC and it will give better battery life.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G FAQs
Q: Does OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G has a 3.5mm Audio jack?
A: Yes
Q: Does OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G has NFC Support?
A: No
Q: What is the pick brightness of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G?
A: It has a Pick Brightness of 450 nits.
Q: How many OS updates will the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G will get?
A: OnePlus didn’t promise anything about the future update but going by the OnePlus record, the phone should get the Android 13 update.
Q: What is the screen refresh rate of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G?
A: It has a 120Hz refresh rate LCD.
Q: Does OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G has stereo speakers?
A: No.
Q: Does OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Widevine L1 support??
A: Yes.
Q: Does OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G has a camera2api enabled?
A: Yes
Q: Does OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G has 5G Support?
A: Yes and it has 6 5G bands which include n41, n77, n78, n1, n28A, and n41
Q: Does OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G have fast charging support?
A: Yes, it has 33W wired fast charging support.
Q: Does OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G has carrier aggregation?
A: Yes.
Verdict
We have tons of better smartphones available under Rs 20000 in India, so it doesn’t make any sense to pay Rs 20000 for OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. I have already told you the Pros and Cons of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, so if you’re okay with the Cons then go for it otherwise, do take look at POCO X4 Pro 5G or even RealMe 9 Pro 5G.
Reasons to Buy OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G?
There is only one reason why you should buy OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G which is the OnePlus brand, yes, if you wanted to buy the OnePlus smartphone and you don’t want to go with another brand then now you have the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G at Rs 19,999.
Reasons to Not Buy OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G?
There are many reasons to not buy OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G starting from its an overpriced smartphone, there is no Ultra-wide lens, the build quality is average, the cameras are also decent, no stereo speakers, ColorOS integration, low display brightness, LCD display and still, OnePlus is charging Rs 19999 which is not acceptable for what OnePlus is offering.
Still, if you’re confused or have any kind of question then let me know in the comments, I would love to help you out…
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OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Full Specifications
| Launch Date | 28 April 2022 |
| First Sale | 30 April 2022 via Amazon at noon |
| Display | 6.59-inches FHD+ LCD Touch sampling rate Up to 240Hz 401 PPI density |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels resolution |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm |
| Display Protection | Unspecified |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 120Hz Refresh Rate |
| Build | Glass front Plastic frame, Plastic back |
| OS | Android 12 – OxygenOS 12.1 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6×1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Storage | 6GB Ram + 128GB Storage 8GB Ram + 128GB Storage – LPDDR4x Ram – UFS 2.2 Storage |
| Card Slot | Hybrid Slot |
| Rear Cameras | 64 MP Primary Sensor 2 MP Depth 2 MP Macro |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
| Front Camera | 16MP Selfie Shooter |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
| 3.5mm Jack | Yes |
| Stereo Speakers | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| 5G Support | Yes, 6 5G Bands. |
| 5G Bands | n41, n77, n78, n1, n28A, and n41 |
| NFC | No |
| IR Blaster | No |
| Sensors | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Accelerometer Electronic compass Gyroscope Ambient light sensor Proximity sensor Sensor core |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-Mounted |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh (non-removable) |
| Charging Speed | 33W wired fast Charging |
| Charging Time | 0% to 100% in 59 Minutes |
| Colors | Sunrise Blue Midnight Black and Aurora Green |
| SAR Value | Head: 1.186 W/kg, Body: 0.709 W/kg |
| Model Number | – |
| Weight | 195 Gram |
| Benchmark Score | – |
| Price | 6GB Ram + 128GB storage: Rs 19,999 8GB Ram + 128GB storage: Rs 21,999 |
| In the box | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G 33W SUPERVOOC power adapter Type-C Cable (supports USB 2.0) Phone case Screen protector (pre-applied) SIM tray ejector Welcome letter Brand sticker Red Cable Club membership card Quick start guide Safety information and warranty card |
| Available at | Amazon IN |
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Oneplus Nord CE 2 lite is a budget phone with average specs and they all resemble Redmi note 11 pro. This is the most affordable OnePlus phone and is a good one compared to other phones at this price! The display is LCD is the only drawback because the Redmi Note 11 pro and plus comes with an AMOLED display and some brands give LED screens. The 120Hz display is a good one with an advanced LCD panel it will be smooth to use. The 5000 mAh battery is great and can withstand more than 1&half days so it is a plus! Snapdragon 695 5G gives a good performance too it is not bad because it is a new chip which is enhanced to do more than the previous 600 series! 5G is available in this phone and this much is enough for a budget phone! OnePlus included an sd card slot which is useful for extended storage. There is a macro lens included which is not even on the OP10 Pro and it is a plus for this phone and fingerprint is side-mounted and is also good for security! As the back of the phone looking not that good I will apply skins from Gadgetshieldz to make it look good or a case from Spigen!
Does OnePlus Nord few lite give high radiation