OnePlus Nord 5: The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition comes with a plastic back and frame, designed to appeal to budget-conscious consumers. While the racing-inspired aesthetics look unique, especially with the dual-camera layout and metallic ring, the use of polycarbonate and the absence of a premium in-hand feel may not sit well with Indian buyers expecting more at the ₹30,000 price point. At 203g with an 8.3mm thickness, it’s fairly balanced considering the large 7100mAh battery, but the single speaker setup is a real letdown. Many Indian smartphones have faced backlash over mono speakers, and for a phone expected to compete in the mid-range segment, dual speakers are a must. OnePlus will likely need to make this change to avoid consumer disappointment.
Display and Multimedia Experience: Great, But Needs a Brightness Boost
The phone features a 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED flat panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, which delivers sharp visuals and punchy colors. However, the lack of a 1.5K resolution panel is noticeable when compared to rivals in this segment. Although the bezels are impressively slim and viewing angles are solid, the typical brightness is capped at just 800 nits — a spec we’ve seen in phones under ₹15,000. Its peak brightness tops at around 1300 nits in high-brightness mode, which performs well outdoors but feels underwhelming by current standards. If this model launches in India, OnePlus should boost brightness levels to stay competitive, especially as rivals now offer 4000+ nits on flagship displays.
Performance and Software: Flagship-Level Speed in a Budget Body
Under the hood, the MediaTek Dimensity 9300E powers the device, backed by LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. The chipset has already impressed in high-end devices like the Realme GT 7, and here too, the performance was smooth with benchmark scores crossing 2 million on AnTuTu. Gamers will appreciate the ability to run BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile at up to 90fps, although the Indian variant may unlock even higher refresh rates. The Chinese unit runs ColorOS on Android 15, but the Indian version is expected to ship with OxygenOS. While animations felt sluggish on the Chinese ROM, we can expect a smoother experience once the OxygenOS version arrives with proper regional optimization and less bloatware.
Camera and Battery: Capable Yet Compromised Where It Matters Most
The Ace Racing Edition sports a 50MP Sony LYT600 sensor — reliable but clearly outdated — paired with a 2MP monochrome lens. There’s no ultra-wide camera, which feels like a major miss in a phone that may cost upwards of ₹30,000 in India. Thankfully, 4K video at 60fps and OIS support redeem the main shooter. On the front, a 16MP camera offers decent selfies but lacks 4K recording, which is quickly becoming a standard in this bracket. The 7100mAh battery is one of its biggest strengths, offering 1.5 days of real-world usage. Fast charging is handled by an 80W charger (possibly upgraded to 120W for India), capable of fully charging the device in under an hour. Features like 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC round out the package nicely, although the lack of an alert slider might irk long-time OnePlus fans.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on publicly available sources. Prices and features are subject to change over time; please verify details on the official website before making a purchase.
