Nord Vs Nord
How does the Core Edition of the OnePlus Nord really compare to the original Nord
OnePlus released its latest device in the Nord range during its Summer Launch, the OnePlus Nord CE which stands for Core Edition. I just so happened to be part of that launch and was the first person in Europe to receive the device. You can read about the experience here: Mrwhosetheboss, a Lamborghini and an airfield…
The OnePlus Nord retails here in the UK for £379 while the OnePlus Nord CE retails at £299. With this price difference we know for sure that things will have been removed from the CE to drive the price down but how does it actually compare with the original Nord.
The Nord CE comes with a full plastic body and no Gorilla Glass screen whereas the Nord has a Gorilla Glass screen and back. The plastic body on the Nord CE allows it to be the lightest and slimmest OnePlus device since the OnePlus 6T. I don’t mind phones with plastic bodies as I always put a case on my device. Who wouldn’t want to rock that classic sandstone look!
The Nord CE brings back the headphone jack, which I was certainly surprised to see as I’ve seen a big shift of people using wireless headphones. The headphone jack will certainly come in handy for when I’m using an external microphone as I won’t need to faff with adaptors. But as one thing is added, another is removed. In this case, it’s the iconic alert slider. Looking at the other budget devices OnePlus has released it does appear that those with a price sub of £300 won’t have the alert slider which is certainly a shame as it is such a handy feature.
The Nord CE comes packed with a 4,500mAh battery while the Nord only comes with a 4,115mAh battery. Whilst using both devices, having that bigger battery is definitely a big positive for the Nord CE.
In terms of the software side, both run Oxygen OS and have the usual smooth experience we come to expect from OnePlus.
So let’s talk cameras — my favourite part!
Before we begin we do need to remember that the OnePlus Nord is 10 months old which means it has had numerous software updates to improve its camera.
Due to the Nord CE not having Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), the quality of videos filmed using the rear camera drastically suffer. This is where you really notice that OIS is missing.
As I saw with the original Nord when I first brought it, the wide-angle shots tend to be quite grainy around the edges and nightscape mode needs some work for indoor shots. In both these areas, the original Nord has massively improved with software updates so I do hope to see them improved here with the Nord CE.
It’s not all bad with the Nord CE, in most situations it does take a good photo and I’d say the colours are more true to life than the original Nord.
The Nord does feel like the device for selfies especially with the original Nord having a wide-angle selfie camera. Although they’ve not included a wide-angle selfie camera in the Nord CE — which I’m personally a little bit disappointed about — OnePlus has massively upped the selfie game with the Nord CE. The Nord CE wins the selfie battle every time, no questions asked. Even the videos taken on the front camera are amazing.
📸 See for yourself in my camera test video of how each device handles the shots.
Want a deeper dive in the specs, compare the full specs here: Nord Vs Nord: Specs
In my opinion, both devices are great all-rounders and provide the average user everything they’d need from a mobile for day-to-day use. Both have their positivities and drawbacks in different areas. Although I don’t feel like this Core Edition includes the core aspects of what I define as OnePlus, it certainly puts OnePlus out there to more users.
Which Nord would you choose?
Prices are correct at the time of writing this post.
