OnePlus Nord CE5 Review: Is India’s Biggest Battery Phone Worth ₹26,999?

The OnePlus Nord CE5 Review starts with an important fact: this phone comes in two versions. The Indian model features a massive 7100mAh battery, while global markets get a standard 5200mAh battery. Both versions cost around ₹26,999 in India, making this review specifically focused on the Indian variant with the larger battery. Launched in July 2025, the Nord CE5 uses the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex processor and includes a 50MP Sony camera with optical image stabilization. The phone runs Android 15 with ColorOS 15.

Launch Date: July 8, 2025
Starting Price: ₹26,999 (8GB RAM/256GB storage)
Best For: People who need long battery life
Key Feature: 7100mAh battery (India only) with 80W fast charging
Overall Score: 7.8/10 – Good Value
Quick Summary: The Indian version of Nord CE5 has the biggest battery OnePlus has ever put in a phone. It charges fast at 80W and works well for daily tasks. The plastic body feels less premium than the price suggests, but the battery life makes up for it. Compare prices on our platform to find the best deal.

The Nord CE5 measures 163.6 x 76 x 8.2 mm and weighs 199 grams. Even with a 7100mAh battery inside, OnePlus kept the phone relatively thin at 8.2mm. However, the entire phone uses plastic – both the frame and back panel. Only the front has glass protection.

The plastic back comes in three colors: Marble Mist (white with a pearl-like pattern), Black Infinity (simple black), and Nexus Blue. The plastic body picks up fingerprints easily but won’t break like glass if dropped.

The phone has IP65 water resistance. This means it can handle splashes and rain but should not be used underwater. The power button sits on the right side, volume buttons are above it. At the bottom, you’ll find a USB Type-C port and a single speaker. There’s no headphone jack.

On the back, there’s an IR blaster that lets you control TVs and air conditioners like a remote. This feature is rare in modern phones. The box includes a pre-applied screen protector, which helps protect against scratches.

The plastic build is the main compromise at this price. Other phones around ₹27,000 often use glass or metal, which feels more premium. But plastic does help with heat management during fast charging. Check detailed OnePlus Nord CE5 specifications on our site.

The Nord CE5 has a 6.77-inch AMOLED screen. The resolution is 1080 x 2392 pixels (Full HD+), which gives clear and sharp images. The screen supports 120Hz refresh rate using LTPO technology. This means it can change between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on what you’re doing, which saves battery.

The display supports HDR10+ for better colors in videos. It can reach 1430 nits of peak brightness, 1300 nits in high brightness mode, and 800 nits normally. While 1430 nits sounds good, it’s actually lower than some competitors that reach 1600 nits or more. Still, the screen stays visible in direct sunlight.

The screen has a single hole at the top center for the front camera. The edges are flat, not curved. The glass protection is rated at Mohs level 5, but OnePlus doesn’t mention the brand name (like Gorilla Glass). This suggests basic scratch protection, which is why the included screen protector is important.

The AMOLED technology gives deep blacks and bright colors. The screen defaults to vivid colors, but you can change this in settings to make colors look more natural. For watching videos and browsing social media, this display works very well. Browse other phones with 120Hz AMOLED displays.

The Nord CE5 uses the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex processor, built on 4nm technology. The processor has 8 cores: one main core running at 3.35GHz, three performance cores at 3.20GHz, and four efficiency cores at 2.20GHz. The graphics are handled by a Mali-G615 MC6 GPU.

The phone comes with 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. This is fast memory that helps apps open quickly. Storage options are 128GB or 256GB using UFS 3.1 technology, which is faster than cheaper eMMC storage found in budget phones.

For gaming, the Nord CE5 handles popular games like BGMI (PUBG Mobile) and COD Mobile at high frame rates. OnePlus claims up to 120 FPS in these games when you enable Pro Gamer Mode and Adaptive Frame Booster. Games like Genshin Impact run at medium-high settings without major lag.

The phone includes a vapor chamber cooling system measuring 7041mm². This helps prevent the phone from getting too hot during gaming or fast charging. The phone runs Android 15 with ColorOS 15 (also called OxygenOS in some regions). OnePlus promises 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security updates, which is good for long-term use.

You can expand RAM virtually by using up to 8GB of storage space as extra RAM. The 128GB or 256GB storage can also be expanded using a microSD card up to 1TB, though you’ll need to sacrifice the second SIM slot.

Main Cameras

The Nord CE5 has two rear cameras. The main camera uses a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor measuring 1/1.95 inches with 0.8µm pixels. The lens has an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS). This is the same camera technology found in more expensive phones.

The sensor uses pixel binning – combining four pixels into one larger pixel. This creates better photos in low light. The OIS helps reduce blur when your hand shakes, especially useful for night photos and videos.

The second camera is an 8MP ultra-wide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and 112-degree field of view. It uses an OmniVision OV08D10 sensor. This camera works well in good light but struggles in dark conditions.

Front Camera

The front camera is 16MP using a Sony IMX480 sensor with f/2.4 aperture. It takes good selfies in normal lighting. The camera uses screen flash (the screen lights up) for low-light selfies since there’s no LED flash on the front.

Camera Performance

The main camera takes good photos with accurate colors and good detail. Night mode helps in dark scenes. The camera can record 4K video at 30fps or 60fps with HDR. You can also shoot slow-motion at 1080p/480fps or 720p/960fps.

The ultra-wide camera shows more grain in low light compared to the main camera. There’s no telephoto lens, so zooming beyond 2x uses digital zoom, which reduces quality.

The camera includes AI features like removing unwanted people from photos and reducing glare. These features work through software updates.

India-Specific 7100mAh Battery

This is the biggest difference between the Indian and global versions. The Indian Nord CE5 has a 7100mAh battery, while Europe and other markets get only 5200mAh. This is the largest battery OnePlus has ever put in a Nord phone.

OnePlus says you can get up to 2.5 days of normal use on one charge. According to some user reviews the battery lasts about 1.5 to 2 days with normal usage (social media, videos, calls). Even with heavy gaming, you’ll get through a full day with battery left over.

80W SuperVOOC Charging

The phone supports 80W fast charging. OnePlus claims 10 minutes of charging gives you 6+ hours of video playback. A full charge takes around 50 minutes from 0% to 100%.

The phone includes bypass charging technology. When gaming while plugged in, power goes directly to the phone instead of through the battery. This reduces heat and prevents battery wear during long gaming sessions.

No Wireless Charging

The Nord CE5 doesn’t support wireless charging. You can only charge through the USB-C cable. However, the phone does support reverse charging, meaning you can use it to charge other devices through the USB port.

The large battery is the main reason to buy this phone. If you’re tired of charging your phone every day, the Nord CE5 solves this problem.

The Nord CE5 runs Android 15 with OnePlus’s ColorOS 15 interface (called OxygenOS in some markets). The software includes OnePlus’s Trinity Engine, which helps optimize performance over time.

OnePlus promises 4 years of Android version updates (up to Android 19) and 6 years of security patches (until 2031). This is excellent for a mid-range phone and means you can keep using it until 2031 without security concerns.

Security Features

The phone has an in-display fingerprint sensor using optical technology. It sits in the lower third of the screen and unlocks quickly. There’s also face unlock using the front camera, but this is less secure than the fingerprint sensor.

Special Features

• IR Blaster: Control TVs, air conditioners, and set-top boxes
• Circle to Search: Long-press the home button to search anything on screen using Google
• AI Features: OnePlus includes several AI tools like removing people from photos and glare reduction
• Pro Gamer Mode: Optimizes performance for gaming
• Aqua Touch: The screen works even with wet or oily fingers

What’s Missing

The phone has only a single speaker at the bottom – no stereo speakers. This makes audio sound less immersive than phones with dual speakers. There’s also no headphone jack, so you need USB-C or Bluetooth headphones.

The software has some pre-installed apps, but less bloatware than older OnePlus phones. You can uninstall most unwanted apps.

Network Support

The Nord CE5 supports 5G with both SA (Standalone) and NSA (Non-Standalone) networks. It works on multiple 5G bands including N1/N3/N5/N8/N28/N38/N40/N41/N77/N78, covering all major Indian telecom operators like Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL.

The phone has dual SIM support using Nano-SIM cards. However, it uses a hybrid slot – you must choose between using two SIM cards or one SIM plus a microSD card. Both SIMs support VoLTE for HD voice calls over 4G.

Wireless Connectivity

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Works on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for faster internet
• Bluetooth 5.4: Supports aptX HD and LHDC 5 codecs for high-quality wireless audio
• NFC: Available in most regions for contactless payments (not available in Indian version)
• GPS: Supports GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS, and NavIC for accurate location

Ports and Other Features

The phone has a USB Type-C 2.0 port at the bottom. It supports OTG (On-The-Go), letting you connect USB drives, keyboards, and other accessories. Data transfer speed is limited to 480 Mbps (USB 2.0 speeds).

The IR blaster on the back works as a universal remote for TVs, air conditioners, and other home appliances. This is a useful feature that most modern phones have removed.

What’s Missing: No 3.5mm headphone jack, no FM radio, and no stereo speakers.

Design & Build: 6.5/10 – Plastic body feels cheap, but slim design is good
Display Quality: 8/10 – Excellent AMOLED with 120Hz, but brightness could be higher
Performance: 8/10 – Dimensity 8350 handles daily tasks and gaming well
Camera System: 7.5/10 – Main camera is good, ultra-wide needs improvement
Battery Life: 9.5/10 – Outstanding 7100mAh battery with 80W charging
Value for Money: 8/10 – Good value if battery life is your priority

Best For

1. Battery-Focused Users
If you hate charging your phone every day, this is your phone. The 7100mAh battery easily lasts 1.5 to 2 days with normal use. Heavy users still get through a full day without worrying.

2. Mobile Gamers
The Dimensity 8350 handles popular games smoothly. Bypass charging lets you play while plugged in without damaging the battery. The vapor chamber cooling prevents overheating.

3. Budget-Conscious Buyers
At ₹26,999, you get flagship features like 80W charging, 50MP OIS camera, and 120Hz AMOLED display. The phone will receive software updates until 2029.

Not For

People who want premium build quality – Plastic body doesn’t feel as nice as glass or metal
Music lovers – Single speaker lacks stereo sound
Photography enthusiasts – No telephoto lens, ultra-wide camera struggles in low light
People with small hands – 6.77-inch screen is too big for one-handed use

The Nord CE5 competes with several mid-range phones. Here’s how it stacks up:

Against Battery-Focused Phones: Most competitors offer 5000-6000mAh batteries. The Nord CE5’s 7100mAh battery is significantly larger. Competitors typically charge at 44W-67W, while the Nord CE5 charges at 80W. For battery life, the Nord CE5 wins clearly.

Against Camera-Focused Phones: Some competitors offer triple or quad camera setups with telephoto lenses. These phones take better zoomed photos. However, the Nord CE5’s main camera with Sony sensor and OIS takes good photos in most situations.

Against Premium Build Phones: Phones with glass backs and metal frames feel more expensive in hand. They also look better. But these phones usually have smaller batteries (around 5000mAh) and slower charging speeds.

Against Performance Phones: Some competitors use Snapdragon processors, which perform slightly better in benchmarks. However, for daily use, the Dimensity 8350 is fast enough for 95% of users. The Nord CE5 focuses on efficiency rather than maximum performance.

The Trade-off: The Nord CE5 sacrifices build quality to maximize battery life. If you can accept a plastic body, you get incredible battery endurance and fast charging. If premium materials matter more than battery life, consider other options.

At ₹26,999, the Nord CE5 sits in the upper budget segment. Most phones in this range cost ₹24,000-₹25,000. OnePlus charges extra for the large battery, fast charging, and Sony camera.

The launch price matches the current price, showing stable pricing. OnePlus usually offers discounts during festive sales. Bank offers and exchange deals can reduce the price by ₹2,000-₹3,000.

Important Note: Only the Indian version has the 7100mAh battery. If you buy from global markets (Europe, UK, US), you’ll get the 5200mAh version at the same price. Make sure you’re buying the Indian model (CPH2717) if you want the bigger battery.

Pros

7100mAh Battery – India’s Biggest Nord Battery
The battery easily lasts 1.5 to 2 days with normal use. Even heavy users get through a full day. This solves the biggest problem most people have with smartphones.

80W Fast Charging with Bypass Technology
Charges from 0% to 50% in about 19 minutes. Full charge takes around 50 minutes. Bypass charging protects battery health during gaming, making the battery last longer over years.

50MP Sony Camera with OIS
Takes good photos in most lighting conditions. OIS helps with night photography and video recording. Can record 4K video at 60fps, which is rare at this price.

120Hz AMOLED Display
Smooth scrolling and good colors. Works well in sunlight. LTPO technology saves battery by adjusting refresh rate automatically.

Good Software Support
Four years of Android updates and six years of security patches. You can safely use this phone until 2031 without security worries.

Cons

Plastic Build Feels Cheap
The entire phone uses plastic, which doesn’t feel premium at ₹26,999. Competitors offer glass or metal at similar prices. The phone picks up fingerprints easily.

Only One Speaker
Single bottom speaker sounds okay but not great. No stereo sound makes videos and games less immersive. Many competitors offer dual speakers.

No Headphone Jack or Wireless Charging
You must use USB-C or Bluetooth headphones. No wireless charging means 80W wired is your only option. No convenient overnight wireless charging.

Ultra-Wide Camera Struggles in Low Light
The 8MP ultra-wide camera produces noisy photos after sunset. The main camera is good, but the second camera disappoints.