OnePlus Nord 2T Launch Archives - Gizmochina

OnePlus Nord 2T Review: Good Phone with Bad Software

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 14:36:38 +0000

The OnePlus Nord 2T went official in Europe in late May. It made its debut in India around early July. The smartphone is marketed as an upgraded version of the OnePlus Nord 2, which was released in July 2021.

On paper, the OnePlus Nord 2T arrives with a new chipset, faster-charging speed support, and a revamped design. But most other features remain the same as its predecessor.

Further, it is the only OnePlus-branded phone in its price segment, as the brand has stopped selling the older OnePlus Nord 2. So the question arises whether this handset is worth buying in 2022 despite coming with minor upgrades.

I try my best to explain whether you should invest in this device in my review.

OnePlus Nord 2T Review

Disclosure:

This review is based on my first-hand experience with a OnePlus Nord 2T (8GB + 128GB) loaned by OnePlus India. The opinions stated here are mine alone and the brand did not have any editorial input or early look.

Since the OnePlus Nord 2T is in the market for months, I have tried my best to share my thoughts on its as simple as possible. The review is divided into two parts: Pros and Cons. I am calling them ‘The Good’ and ‘The Not So Good.’

The aforementioned two sections will be followed by ‘Conclusion’, which will include my closing thoughts.

Now that’s out of the way, let’s delve into the review.

OnePlus Nord 2T: The Good

The design and the in-hand feel of the OnePlus Nord 2T are way better than what’s seen in the official renders. I have the Jade Fog color variant, which has a glossy rear finish. Whereas, the Gray Shadow version has a matte texture on its back. Either way, the plastic frame is glossy on both variants, which will wear out soon if the smartphone is used without a case.

The camera placement looks odd in renders, but I don’t mind it in real life. Most likely, you will also feel the same.

Thanks to 8.2mm thickness and the curved rear glass panel, the device is comfortable to wield, though it feels slightly heavy at 190g. The alert slider is quite useful to switch sound profiles instantly, however, it is placed too high for my tiny hands.

The handset flaunts a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) and a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen is comparatively smaller and more compact than on most phones these days due to its size and 20:9 aspect ratio.

By default, the smartphone comes with ‘Vibrant’ color profile, which offers boosted saturation. However, you can switch to the ‘Natural’ profile to get almost accurate colors.

All in all, it’s a good screen with ample brightness to view under direct sunlight. 90Hz refresh rate is enough for most users but if you are used to 120Hz refresh rate like me, then you may find it slower.

As far as content streaming is concerned, you get 1080p (FHD) support on leading platforms, including Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar to name a few. There’s also support for HDR streaming on YouTube.

Generally, the device feels smooth while using regular day-to-day apps spread across categories like social media, tools, banking, and others. That’s because it is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC paired with LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

Though the chipset sounds newer than the Dimensity 1200 chip present inside the OnePlus Nord 2, it is actually the same but with some tweaks relating to gaming (more on that later). Overall, it’s a good system-on-chip for regular usage.

Talking about cameras, the Nord 2T has got the exact same optical sensors as the Nord 2. You get an OIS-assisted 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide unit, a 2MP monochrome sensor, and a 32MP front-facing unit.

The images from the primary camera come out very well if you click them properly. You need to manually lower the exposure slider to get good shots. Else, you end up with pictures with overblown highlights.

The images are sharp with a wider dynamic range. But at times, the HDR processing could be too aggressive, a trend that is common on Oplus group phones.

The main camera is a joy to use in low-light situations, unlike on most mid-rangers. The sensor is big enough to let more light in. Night Mode further helps in difficult scenarios.

The ultra-wide camera is average, just like on most handsets. There’s a color inconsistency between it and the primary camera. Though it only performs well in good lighting conditions, you have support for Night Mode.

Photos from the front camera are also good for the price. But the skin tones are much better in the pictures from the main camera.

Finally, there’s support for up to 4K 30fps video recording on the primary camera, but stabilization is better in 1080p recording. The ultra-wide and front-facing cameras are limited to 1080p 30fps recording.

Other good things about the OnePlus Nord 2T include haptics, loud stereo speakers, and great connectivity.

OnePlus Nord 2T: The Not So Good

The software experience on the OnePlus Nord 2T is unpleasant. It runs OxygenOS 12.1 based on Android 12, which is nothing but a tweaked version of Oppo’s ColorOS 12.1.

I personally consider ColorOS to be one of the best Android skins on the market right now. But unfortunately, OnePlus’ optimizations and changes have ruined the experience on the OnePlus Nord 2T.

I am facing weird bugs on a modern smartphone, like delayed notifications and no notifications on the lock screen. Although the first issue got fixed automatically, I couldn’t find a solution for the latter.

A quick Google search led me to multiple posts on OnePlus forums complaining about this bug. It appears the ‘no notifications on lock screen’ problem is a common issue among most OnePlus smartphones. But I did not face it on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite, which I reviewed prior to this device.

There are UI inconsistencies throughout the software, and the swipe-down gesture from the top right side to access OnePlus Shelf is annoying due to accidental triggers.

Then, there are limited AOD styles as compared to stock ColorOS and the feature itself is poorly optimized. Unlike on Samsung’s One UI, you cannot control brightness, and it is too bright.

Initially, when I started using the phone, the battery was draining a lot with AOD turned on. Thankfully, that got fixed with a software update.

But I am still skeptical about the battery life. Though I could get a day’s worth of endurance now, there’s no guarantee whether the next software update will keep it this way.

The handset comes with support for 80W fast wired charging, and the required charger is included in the box. However, in my experience, I found negligible speed improvement from 65W charging. The device takes around 36 minutes to reach 100% from 10%.

Talking about the elephant in the room, the performance of the smartphone throttles a lot for unknown reasons. But it is worth noting that you won’t face this in regular usage.

The throttling issue persists during gaming and other resource-hungry tasks like rendering. In fact, the handset struggles to play 4K 60fps videos on YouTube. Hence, users looking to play competitive and high-end titles should look for other options.

Generally, OnePlus is associated with good performance. But with the extended portfolio of handsets with mid and low-grade chipsets and poor optimizations, consumers should have low expectations from its cheaper models.

Conclusion

The pros of OnePlus Nord 2T clearly outweigh its cons. But a smartphone with notification issues in 2022 is dumb. I hope the brand fixes it soon enough.

As far as the whole software experience is concerned, I don’t think there will be a solution in the near future unless OnePlus fully embraces ColorOS in international markets as it does in its home market China.

Also, I am not sure if the 80W fast charging could be optimized further. Because, in order to maintain battery health, usually brands limit the charging speed via software updates as the devices get older. So it may get worse in the future, but the chances of getting better are low.

There are multiple smartphones that cost around ₹30,000 in India. But only one of them bears OnePlus branding — OnePlus Nord 2T. So if you are strictly looking for a OnePlus smartphone in this price range and don’t play heavy games, I don’t mind recommending it.

WHERE TO BUY

Buy OnePlus Nord 2T @ AmazonIN or @AmazonUK

The post OnePlus Nord 2T Review: Good Phone with Bad Software appeared first on Gizmochina.

OnePlus Nord 2T launched: Dimensity 1300 SoC, 12GB RAM, 80W fast charging & more!

Jed John Ikoba — Thu, 19 May 2022 14:59:01 +0000

OnePlus has officially unveiled the OnePlus Nord 2T for the global market. The smartphone has been a regular in the rumor mill as well as on certification platforms and the launch puts to rest speculations concerning the device.

Design & display

The Nord 2T features a thin build having a dimension of 159.1mm x 73.2mm x 8.2 mm and weighing 190g. The phone also features a unique rear camera design. The device sports a 6.43-inch flat AMOLED display panel with an FHD+ resolution and support for a 90Hz refresh rate. The display panel has a punch hole cut out at the top left corner obviously housing the selfie camera.

The volume and power buttons are located on the right side of the frame with the power button doubling as a fingerprint scanner. Do note that the Nord 2T does not have a headphone jack and a microSD card slot.

Specs & Features

The Nord 2T packs a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC, one of the latest flagship processors from MediaTek. In fact, it happens to be the first phone to utilize the chipset. The Dimensity 1300 is the successor to last year’s Dimensity 1200 and it brings 5G support to the device. The processor pairs with 8GB RAM and 12GB RAM on some models while there are 128GB and 256GB storage options.

Under the hood, the Nord 2T crams a 4,500mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging support. OnePlus even includes an 80W charging brick in the box. The Nord 2T 5G runs on the latest Android 12-based OxygenOS 12.1 from the go.

Camera

For photography, the OnePlus Nord 2T packs a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary sensor with OIS support, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. A 32-megapixel IMX615 sensor is housed in the punch hole cut out for snapping selfies and for video calls.

Pricing, colors & availability

The premium OnePlus Nord 2T 5G starts at €399 and is up for pre-orders across Europe. The company says the phone will start shipping on May 24. Buyers will get to choose from two color options – Gray Shadow and Jade Fog.

OnePlus Nord 2T 5G set to launch in India and Europe on May 19

Sudhanshu — Thu, 12 May 2022 09:56:33 +0000

Last week, the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G was silently listed on AliExpress. The device is already available in many regions like Dubai and Nepal. Now, OnePlus appears to have slipped up again and prematurely teased the launch date of the device in Europe and India.

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer uploaded a live stream countdown video earlier today to their Youtube channel which was quickly taken down within minutes. The video revealed that the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, and the OnePlus Nord Buds will launch in Europe on May 19th. As the Nord CE 2 Lite and Nord Buds have already been launched in India, the company will only be launching the Nord 2T 5G in India.

OnePlus Nord 2T 5G

The device has a 6.43-inch flat AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution. It has a punch hole if the top left corner for the front camera like most OnePlus devices.

Under the hood, the smartphone has the Dimensity 1300 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The device comes with a 4,500mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging support. It boots Android 12-based OxygenOS 12.1 out of the box.

For optics, the device has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary sensor with OIS support, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. On the front, the device brings a 32-megapixel IMX615 sensor for selfies and video calls.

The earlier listing on AliExpress revealed that the smartphone will have a price tag of around $400 and in India, it is expected to cost below ₹30,000.

OnePlus Nord 2T specifications revealed: Dimensity 1300, 50MP cameras, and more

Pranav Sawant — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:05:20 +0000

OnePlus Nord 2T will be the upcoming phone in the Nord series. It is expected to be a budget phone with powerful internals. Last time, the phone’s release timeline was revealed, and now, the tipster Yogesh Brar(via Onsitego) has shared the specs sheet and render of the phone.

The OnePlus Nord 2T will come with a 6.43-inch punch-hole display. It will be an AMOLED panel with Full-HD+ resolution. As per the image, the phone appears to have a thin-bezel design on all three sides, but at the bottom, it still has a noticeable chin.

OnePlus Nord 2T renders by Onsitego / Yogesh Brar

Moving to the back, it has a slightly tweaked camera design. It seems to have two small lenses placed below the main sensor in uncanny positions. The phone has a triple camera system with an OIS-enabled 50MP Sony IMX766 main lens. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide Sony IMX355 sensor and a 2MP monochrome lens. Upfront, it features a 32MP Sony IMX 709 selfie snapper.

It is said to come with the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC coupled with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. The phone packs a 4,500mAh battery with support for an 80W fast charging system. It will have a stereo speaker setup with Dolby audio but will not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Interestingly, the phone has an alert slider on the side which will be skipped in its sibling Nord CE 2 Lite.

OnePlus Nord 2T to bring back the Sandstone finish of the OnePlus One: reveals new render

Pranav Sawant — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 14:40:51 +0000

The OnePlus Nord 2T will be the next Nord device from the Chinese phone maker. The smartphone was recently tipped, revealing its codename and colors. Now, the device has appeared in a new render showcasing its back design.

The OnePlus Nord 2T render comes from 91Mobiles. It reveals a new camera module on the device. The smartphone has uniquely positioned camera sensors on the camera island. It has a triple camera system with the main lens placed at the top of a blue-shaped outer circular surface and has two small-sized sensors below on another circular surface. It seems to have two LED flashlight units placed in parallel to the camera sensors.

Apart from the design, what’s interesting is the color. The company seems to get back to the old roots as the Nord 2T has a new color called Sandstone. It seems to have a rough back panel that reminds us of the OnePlus One’s Sandstone Black shade.

Although we do not get to see the front, the publication reveals that the device will feature a punch-hole panel at the front. The punch-hole will be at the top left corner and it will house the selfie shooter. There’s no detail about the phone’s display size or other specs, but previous leaks have revealed some details. Let’s take a look.

The OnePlus Nord 2T, codenamed ‘Karen‘, is expected to come with a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The device is rumored to be equipped with a 50MP + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP monochrome camera system at the back. It may come with the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset and have a 4,500mAh battery. Rumors are rife that the phone could support 80W SuperVOOC charging, similar to the flagship OnePlus 10 Pro.

OnePlus Nord 2T pricing and launch timeline tipped for Indian markets

Sudhanshu — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 13:52:55 +0000

Earlier this week, the existence of the OnePlus Nord 2T was revealed through a specifications leak. The leak revealed that the upcoming Nord 2T will come with MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC which is still unreleased. And now, a new report has surfaced hinting at the expected launch timeline and pricing of the device.

oneplus nord 2

According to a recent report by 91mobiles, noted tipster Yogesh Brar has revealed that the OnePlus Nord 2T will be replacing the existing Nord 2 when it launches. The Nord 2T is said to launch somewhere between April and May and will be priced between Rs. 30,000-40,000 ($400-$533). The base variant of the Nord 2T which is expected to offer 6GB RAM and 128GB storage can be priced just under Rs. 30,000 ($400).

OnePlus Nord 2T specs (rumored)

Previous leaks have revealed that the OnePlus Nord 2T will be powered by the Dimensity 1300. The processor is yet to go official so the Nord 2T could be one of the very first to be powered by it.

It is said to come with a 6.43-inch Full HD+ (2400×1080) AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. Along with the above-mentioned Dimensity 1300 SoC, the phone is expected to be made available in three RAM variants – 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB. As for the storage options, the phone will likely be launched with 128GB and 256GB storage variants. It will also run Android 12 out of the box.

For photography, the camera is expected to be largely unchanged compared to the OnePlus Nord 2, but rumor has it that the Nord 2T might come with the newer version of the sensors. The OnePlus Nord 2T is expected to sport a triple camera setup at the rear, headlined by a 50MP shooter. The primary will be complemented by 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP monochrome sensors. For selfies, you get a 32MP camera that will likely be housed within a punch-hole cutout.

Charging will also receive a notable upgrade, with the 4,500mAh battery now being capable of being filled up at 80W SuperVOOC speeds via wire. This is the same as the OnePlus 10 Pro, meaning you will be getting flagship-level charging capabilities in a mid-range device.