While the OnePlus Nord isn't a perfect phone, it scores very highly in all the key areas – camera, performance, battery life, design, screen, software experience – and it's just about our favourite phone right now if you want to maximise the bang you get for your buck.

Fluid; bright 6.44-inch display; Great camera for the price; OxygenOS continues to impress

No waterproofing; No wireless charging; No Wi-Fi 6 support

What OnePlus has quite expertly done is make a phone that doesn't leave you pining for a greater experience - and you might even be grateful you saved the price difference by opting not to go for an 8 series. Because who really needs a pricey flagship anyway?

Large and flat AMOLED panel; 30W fast-charging; Oxygen OS is fast and fluid; 90Hz refresh rates; 5G capable; Great battery life

Plasticky edges; More cameras than there needs to be; Launch is restricted to a couple of regions

OnePlus's return to budget-friendliness is one of the best-value 5G phones you can buy today.

5G without the 5G tax; 90Hz OLED screen; Solid low-light camera mode; Glass and metal design

Display could be brighter; No 4K/60fps rear camera video; No headphone jack

Don’t feel that you need to spend a fortune for your next phone. Don’t feel that you need to go with the most heavily-advertised brand either. The OnePlus Nord is a top quality smartphone. Ignore the price.

In our review of the OnePlus One we wrote that it had an "outstanding price-performance ratio, which remains unmatched". Now, five years later, the OnePlus Nord also has an excellent price-performance ratio, although it is no longer unmatched.

great price-performance ratio; lots of storage; fairly color-accurate 90-Hz display; flexible; high-quality camera setup; good battery life; no throttling; fast Wi-Fi; good locating capabilities

no IP certification; display could be brighter; no Wi-Fi 6; poor low-light camera performance; high heat development under load

The OnePlus Nord is one of OnePlus' strongest launches ever, just because it offers so much for such a low price. Like the OnePlus 7 Pro launch last year, the Nord is one of those phones that is just so miles ahead of its Android competition, it will probably compare favorably to mid-range phones...

A 90Hz display, at this price range, is an absolutely killer feature; A flat, distortion-free display, just like every content, app, and website creator intended; A modern, slim bezel design that is indistinguishable from a flagship smartphone.

OnePlus doesn't do monthly security updates. It'll be more like every other month; No always-on display; Facebook crapware; Shipping six mediocre cameras instead of two good cameras.

OnePlus Nord Software And User Experience We really like OnePlus’ take on Android 10. OxygenOS 10.5 (as it’s called) is quick, smooth, and always a pleasure to use. Most importantly, it’s almost stock.

Really nice 90Hz display; Good enough cameras w/ OIS; Excellent performance; Stock Android; Great value

Plastic mid-frame; really?; Not sold in the US; No wireless charging; No headphone jack

OnePlus has done a good job with the Nord. The Blue Marble version has a distinctive appearance, a great AMOLED screen and good front and rear cameras. These are all important factors whatever your budget.

Distinctive and attractive design; Dual front and quad rear cameras; 5G and dual SIMs; High-quality 90Hz AMOLED screen; Fast charging; Oxygen OS is both capable and subtle

Battery life could be better; Disappointing speaker; No IP rating for dust/water resistance; No 3.5mm headset jack or MicroSD card slot

There’s been a lot of talk about how OnePlus seems to be going back to its roots with its latest phone, the OnePlus Nord. This is a brand that first made a name for itself by offering similar specs to competing flagships at a much lower price.

90Hz OLED display; Sub-6GHz 5G; Worry-free battery life

Processor holds back display; More cameras than it knows what to do with; No headphone jack