OnePlus just made it official — the OnePlus Nord 5 and Nord CE5 are here, and they mark the beginning of the brand’s fifth generation of Nord smartphones. The focus is clear: performance, battery life, and useful AI tools without breaking the bank. But while the names sound similar, the phones are quite different in their goals.
Let’s walk through everything side by side.
Design & Build
The Nord 5 has a sleek glass and metal build that feels as premium as any upper mid-range phone. You can choose from Marble Sands, Dry Ice, or Phantom Grey, each offering a clean look. The back design is clean, with two big camera rings and subtle branding. In-hand feel, it’s slightly curved on the edges and balances its size well, even with a large battery inside.
The Nord CE5 looks almost as stylish but uses a more lightweight design. The finish is smooth, and colors like Nexus Blue and Marble Mist give it a fun touch. It’s a bit thicker, and that’s because of the massive 7,100mAh battery inside. That extra bulk, though, is surprisingly manageable thanks to smart weight distribution.
Display
Nord 5 brings a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with FHD resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. It’s bright at 1,800 nits, sharp, and incredibly smooth for scrolling and gaming. It’s protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, and the optical fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable.
The CE5 has a slightly smaller 6.77-inch AMOLED screen, with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,430 nits brightness. It’s still very smooth and crisp but just a step behind the Nord 5 in refresh rate and brightness. For most people, though, the difference is hardly noticeable in daily use.
Processor
Under the hood, Nord 5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which is a high-end chipset built for power users. Apps launch quickly, multitasking feels seamless, and games run without stutters. It’s paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage.
The Nord CE5 uses the MediaTek Dimensity 8350, which is more efficient than flashy. You still get up to 12GB RAM and expandable storage, but it’s better suited for everyday users than power gamers. That said, it handles social apps, videos, and multitasking well.
OnePlus Nord 5 Camera
Rear Camera:
- 50MP main sensor (LYT-700) with OIS
- 8MP ultrawide
- Features like RAW HDR and Real Tone (same as the OnePlus 13 series)
Front Camera:
- 50MP selfie shooter — quite rare in this price range
- Ideal for crisp selfies and 4K video calls
OnePlus Nord CE5 Camera
Rear Camera:
- 50MP main sensor (LYT-600) with OIS
- 8MP ultrawide (OV08D10)
Front Camera:
- 16MP front camera — good enough for daily selfies and reels
- Has AI features like skin tone tuning and dynamic exposure
Battery
It packs a 6,800mAh battery, which is above average. It supports 80W fast charging and even offers reverse wired charging — handy when charging accessories. OnePlus says the phone easily lasts a full day, even with heavy use.
Here’s where the CE5 wins. It comes with a huge 7,100mAh battery, the largest ever in a OnePlus phone. It’s designed for people who are always on their phones — think 27+ hours of YouTube, 18+ hours of Instagram, or even 9+ hours of gaming.
Charging is 80W SuperVOOC, and there’s support for bypass charging, which helps reduce heating during gaming.
Software
Both the Nord 5 and CE5 run OxygenOS 15, which is built on Android 15. OnePlus has also bundled its AI suite here, including:
- AI Eraser for removing objects from photos
- AI Summary and AI Reply for messaging
- Google Gemini-powered tools
- Open Canvas for better multitasking
It’s fast, bloat-free, and now smarter than before.
Same as Nord 5, the CE5 runs OxygenOS 15 with all the AI goodies. The difference lies in how fast things feel, thanks to the slightly slower chip, but the overall experience is still smooth and intuitive.
Audio & Haptics
OnePlus Nord 5
- Stereo speakers with rich sound
- Haptics are tight and clicky, close to flagship quality
- No headphone jack, but great Bluetooth audio support
OnePlus Nord CE5
- Stereo speakers are present here too
- Haptics feel lighter than Nord 5 but still responsive
- Also skips the headphone jack
Specs At a Glance
| Feature | OnePlus Nord 5 | OnePlus Nord CE5 |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Glass back, metal frame | Plastic frame, matte finish |
| Display | 6.83″ AMOLED, 144Hz, 1800 nits | 6.77″ AMOLED, 120Hz, 1430 nits |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | MediaTek Dimensity 8350 |
| Memory | 8/12GB RAM, 256/512GB storage | 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB storage |
| OS | OxygenOS 15 (Android 15) | OxygenOS 15 (Android 15) |
| Rear Camera | 50MP + 8MP | 50MP + 8MP |
| Front Camera | 50MP | 16MP |
| Video | Up to 4K 60fps | Up to 1080p 60fps |
| Battery | 6,800mAh, 80W fast charge + reverse | 7,100mAh, 80W SuperVOOC |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Extra | Gorilla Glass 7i, AI features | Bypass charging, expandable storage |
Price and Availability (India)
| Model Variant | Price |
|---|---|
| OnePlus Nord 5 8GB + 256GB | ₹31,999 (€449/£399) |
| OnePlus Nord 5 12GB + 512GB | ₹37,999 (€499/£449) |
| OnePlus Nord CE5 8GB + 128GB | ₹24,999 (€320/£270) |
| OnePlus Nord CE5 8GB + 256GB | ₹28,999 (€370/£310) |
Open sales start today exclusively via OnePlus.in, Amazon, and retail stores.
Why Buy OnePlus Nord 5?
- Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
- 144Hz AMOLED for smooth gaming
- Premium glass design
- 50MP front and rear cameras
- Clean, AI-rich OxygenOS 15
Why Buy OnePlus Nord CE5?
- Huge 7,100mAh battery
- Balanced specs for media lovers
- Expandable storage
- Same AI features at a lower cost
- Best value if you want long battery over power
Why Skip These?
- No wireless charging
- No official IP rating
- CE5’s Dimensity chip is not ideal for gaming
- No headphone jack on either device
Final Verdict
OnePlus has delivered two strong contenders with the Nord 5 and Nord CE5, targeting different types of users. If you want performance, AI tools, and a sleek display, the Nord 5 gives you that with premium polish. If your priority is battery life and solid daily use, the Nord CE5 is a battery beast that doesn’t cut too many corners.
Both models run clean Android 15 with useful AI extras and modern design. The best part? You’re getting thoughtful features without a bloated interface, and that’s always a win.
