Dhiraj Singh Why the Nord 5 matters
Ever since the original Nord was launched in 2020, OnePlus has leveraged the series to pack upper-mid-range power into an affordable package. As the OnePlus Nord 5 launch in India this July, it looks set to be the most ambitious Nord yet—taking on phones that cost ₹10–12k more. Early leaks point to a flagship-class Snapdragon chipset, a huge battery, and a cleaner, minimalist design—exactly the kind of upgrades fans have been asking for.
OnePlus Nord 5
Launch date: 8 July 2025
Status: Official launch confirmed, full specs still under wraps
Table of Contents
Key specs at a glance (leaked/rumoured)
| Component | Nord 5 (rumoured) | How it compares to Nord 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 |
| Display | 6.7‑6.8″ flat OLED, 1.5 K, 120 Hz | 6.74″ 1.5 K, 120 Hz |
| Battery | 7,000 mAh, 100 W wired | 5,500 mAh, 100 W |
| Rear cameras | 50 MP main + 8 MP ultrawide | Same |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP | 16 MP |
| Build | Glass back, plastic frame (rumoured) | Aluminium frame, metal back |
| Expected price | < ₹30,000 | Launched at ₹29,999 |
All details based on leaks and certifications; final hardware may differ.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3: flagship DNA on a budget
OnePlus has confirmed the move to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3—the first time a true “8‑series” chip has appeared in the Nord family. Built on TSMC’s efficient 4 nm process, the 8s Gen 3 shares CPU cores and the Adreno 735 GPU with the more expensive 8 Gen 3, but with slightly lower peak clock speeds. In real‑world gaming and daily multitasking, it should feel much closer to a flagship than last year’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3.
What happened to the MediaTek rumour?
Early whispers pointed to a Dimensity 9400e, but OnePlus publicly quashed that theory in Weibo replies last week. Even so, the 8s Gen 3 is no slouch—expect smooth 90 fps PUBG sessions and stable Genshin Impact at high settings.
A monster 7000 mAh battery (finally!)
Battery life has long been the Nord line’s weak link, and OnePlus seems ready to over‑correct in the best possible way. Multiple certification databases list a rated 6650 mAh cell, likely marketed as 7000 mAh, paired with 100 W SuperVOOC charging (some docs show 80 W, but OnePlus often up‑bins for retail units). If the numbers hold, the Nord 5 would ship with the largest battery ever in a mainstream OnePlus phone, beating even the R‑series.
What it means in practice: casual users could see two full days per charge; heavy gamers might still finish the day with 30 % left. A complete 0‑100 % top‑up should take roughly 30‑33 minutes.
Display & design: flatter, cleaner, classier
- Panel: 1.5 K (2 772 × 1 240) OLED, 120 Hz adaptive
- Size: Leak consensus hovers between 6.74″ and 6.82″
- Fingerprint: Optical sensor under glass
After last year’s dual‑tone metal rear, renders show a single‑colour glass back with a pill‑shaped vertical camera island, reminiscent of the flagship 12 R. Subtle pastel finishes—Dry Ice Blue, Off‑White Mist—have surfaced in early promotional teasers.
Switching to a plastic mid‑frame could shave a few grams and keep costs in check, though some long‑time Nord fans may miss the premium heft of aluminium. We’ll reserve judgment until we hold the phone.
Cameras: same hardware, hopefully smarter software
Hardware‑wise, leaks point to a 50 MP Sony IMX882 main sensor (f/1.8, OIS) plus an 8 MP ultrawide—identical on paper to the Nord 4. On the selfie side, the familiar 16 MP shooter returns. That might sound underwhelming, but OnePlus could still squeeze better output through:
- New image‑processing pipeline bundled with OxygenOS 15
- Snapdragon cognitive ISP for improved HDR and skin tones
- Extra AI features teased as “Plus Mind”—think object eraser, style transfer
We’ve seen OnePlus pull this trick before: the Nord 4’s camera quietly improved after two OTA updates. Expect something similar here.
Pricing expectations
- Base 8 GB / 128 GB: ₹27 999 – ₹29 999
- 12 GB / 256 GB: ₹31 999 – ₹32 999
The pricing of the Nord 5 places it comfortably between the outgoing Nord 4, which launched at ₹29,999, and the Nord 3, priced at ₹33,999. With competitors like the iQOO Neo 10 entering the sub-₹30,000 market, OnePlus cannot afford to exceed this important price range.
First impressions: the most “flagship‑lite” Nord yet
- Power leap: moving to an 8‑series chip obliterates the usual “mid‑range compromise.”
- Battery life solved: 7000 mAh + 100 W should quiet long‑time critics.
- Polished design: the glass back looks slick, though durability tests will tell the full story.
- Cameras unchanged: hardware parity with Nord 4 could be a miss if image tuning falls short.
Bottom line: If OnePlus nails pricing below ₹30 k, the Nord 5 could dominate the Indian mid‑range, at least until the POCO F7 Pro and iQOO Neo 10 Pro arrive later this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will the Nord 5 get three Android version upgrades?
Yes. OnePlus has already committed to 3 OS updates + 4 years of security patches for all 2025 Nord models.
Q. Does it support wireless charging?
No reliable leak suggests Qi charging; OnePlus is keeping that for its flagship numbered series.
Q. How heavy will it be with a 7000 mAh battery?
Leaked certification docs list 217 g—noticeably heavier than the 193 g Nord 4, but still lighter than many 5000 mAh gaming phones.
Q. Is the Alert Slider gone?
We’ll get a new “Plus Key” instead—a multi‑function button that can be mapped to alerts, camera, or Google Assistant.
Final verdict (pre‑launch)
If you’re upgrading from a Nord 2 or anything older, hold off your purchase decisions until 8 July. On paper the Nord 5 finally delivers flagship‑grade speed, massive stamina and a cleaner design, all while (hopefully) staying under ₹30 k. Keep an eye on official pricing—if OnePlus overshoots, Realme and Redmi are ready to pounce.
Good one