OnePlus Nord CE 5 Review: Big Battery, Better Performance — But Is It the Best Mid-Ranger of 2025?

The OnePlus Nord series has always been about bringing flagship-like features to the mid-range segment, and the new OnePlus Nord CE 5 continues that tradition. With a more powerful processor, a much larger battery, and some AI features, the Nord CE 5 goes head-to-head with rivals like the iQOO Z10, Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, Infinix GT 30 Pro, and Vivo T4 in India.

But does it do enough to stand out? Let’s find out.

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Price in India

The OnePlus Nord CE 5 is priced at:

• ₹24,999 (8GB RAM + 128GB storage)
• ₹26,999 (8GB RAM + 256GB storage)
• ₹28,999 (12GB RAM + 256GB storage)

Pretty much in line with other mid-range smartphones offering similar specs.

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Design & Build

• Dimensions: 163.58 x 76 x 8.2mm
• Weight: 199g
• Colours: Black Infinity, Marble Mist, Nexus Blue (our review unit)

The Nexus Blue variant looks stylish with its plastic rear panel and dual-camera island. Bezels are slim around the 6.77-inch OLED display, and there’s a punch-hole selfie camera at the top.

Buttons are easy to reach, but you don’t get the classic OnePlus alert slider here. Interestingly, the IR blaster sits between the rear cameras, so you’ll have to point the back of the phone at appliances.

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Software & AI Features

The Nord CE 5 runs Android 15 with OxygenOS 15, promising 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches — very impressive for this price.

New AI features include:

• AI Quick Save (three-finger swipe gesture)
• VoiceScribe (summarises call recordings)
• On-screen Translate (works reliably most of the time)

There’s little to no bloatware apart from some optional apps during setup. The overall experience feels smooth and close to the Nord 5.

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Performance

• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex
• RAM/Storage: Up to 12GB LPDDR5x + 256GB UFS 3.1

The Dimensity 8350 Apex is a serious upgrade, offering up to 25% better multi-core performance over the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in last year’s Nord CE 4.

Everyday usage is snappy, and gaming performance is strong — COD: Mobile, BGMI, and Asphalt Legends Unite ran without lags, even after long sessions. Plus, bypass charging helps while gaming.

Display: 6.77-inch OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling, Widevine L1 support. Bright outdoors? No problem.

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Cameras

• Main: 50MP Sony IMX600, OIS, up to 4K@30fps
• Ultrawide: 8MP (OV08D10 sensor)
• Selfie: 16MP Sony IMX480, up to 1080p@60fps

Daylight shots from the main camera are sharp and well-balanced. Night mode is decent, but moving subjects can blur. The ultrawide lens lags behind, especially in low light, producing softer, noisier images.

Selfies are detailed in daylight, though a little smoothened in darker settings.

Video recording tops out at 4K/60fps on the main camera — solid for the price.

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Battery Life

• Capacity: Massive 7,100mAh
• Charging: 80W SuperVOOC fast charging (USB-C)

This is one of the largest batteries in a 2025 smartphone, and it shows — you easily get two days of usage. A full charge takes just about an hour.

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Verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE 5 ticks most boxes: better performance, great battery life, solid display, and useful AI features.

Yes, it lacks stereo speakers and the ultrawide camera could be better, but at this price, it’s a strong contender in the mid-range segment.

If you’re choosing between the Nord CE 5, Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, Nothing Phone 3a, or Vivo T4, this phone’s battery and long-term software support might just give it the edge.

👉 A dependable all-rounder with one of the biggest batteries you’ll find in 2025 mid-rangers.