OnePlus Nord 2: A Great Midrange Android Phone

OnePlus recently announced its latest “flagship killer,” the mid-range OnePlus Nord 2. While it’s a great phone as far as mid-range Android handsets go, “flagship killer” might be a bit of a stretch.

The phone also has one fatal flaw that eliminates it as a serious contender for a significant slice of the smartphone market. More on that later, but first: here’s what you need to know about the latest phone from OnePlus.

The OnePlus Nord 2 is an Android-based handset boasting a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a respectable 2400 x 1080 display. The display runs at 90Hz as well, which isn’t as good as the Android flagships but is still pretty solid for a mid-range handset.

There are two versions of the handset. The lower-priced phone has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the more expensive model bumps up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The phone boasts a dual-camera module on the camera front, with standard and super-wide lenses and a 50 MP resolution. AI improves camera results, and the phone produces adequate pictures. Again, this is an expected trade-off for a mid-range handset.

In addition, the phone comes in three colors, including a very intriguing Blue Haze (somewhere in the neighborhood of sky blue). Unfortunately, it’s not waterproof or water-resistant. Because of that, buyers who need their phones to be adventure-proof should look elsewhere.

One of the headline features on this handset is the 65-watt fast charging, which is impressive, to say the least. You can charge the phone from dead to full in just 30 minutes or get a shockingly big boost with just a few minutes on the charger.

Wireless charging, on the other hand, is missing entirely. Granted, this seems to be one of the corners that OnePlus cut to reach the mid-range price point.

In contrast to certain big phone makers, OnePlus continues to include a charger in the box — and it’s a 65-watt fast charger, too.

It seems like every decent Android handset in existence runs on a Snapdragon chip. But OnePlus has taken a different approach, going with a MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI chipset. It’s a powerful chipset, if not an unconventional choice. However, you won’t notice much of a difference for everyday use, and it certainly performs at least as well as the corresponding chip from Qualcomm.

How powerful exactly? CNet did some benchmarking that shows the Nord 2 is better than the Pixel 5 and competitive with the more expensive OnePlus 9.

The MediaTek processor enables some interesting innovations not found on other phones, including AI Color Boost and AI Resolution Boost, enhancing the quality of video playback on the device. These enhancements are nice to have, if not particularly revolutionary.

This is an Android phone, no question about it. But on top of stock Android 11, OnePlus has layered its Oxygen software, which continues to perform exceptionally well. In addition, it’s lean and free of bloatware, which is especially important for a mid-range device.

All in all, the OnePlus Nord 2 is a simply fantastic Android handset. But, unfortunately, there’s just one fatal flaw, at least for Upsie customers: you can’t get this phone in the US.

Just like with the original OnePlus Nord, the manufacturer has made the inexplicable decision to release the phone with a focus in Europe. However, they won't release it in the USA in any way, shape or form. That means that US customers who want a OnePlus Nord 2 have to order one from overseas, which increases the price and could complicate the activation process on your carrier.

Most US customers who want a OnePlus phone will end up getting pushed up to the higher 9 Series or down into OnePlus’s budget releases.

This mystifying release limitation is doubly problematic for customers who want an extended phone warranty, too. Upsie only covers phones released in the US.

All that said, if you ultimately settle on a different phone — one that has been released in the USA — Upsie is here to help. Upsie offers industry-leading smartphone subscription warranties with accident protection. Their warranties are affordably priced and more affordable than alternative warranties, with clear terms and conditions that are easy to understand. Upsie’s customer claim’s team is professional and ready to help 24/7 if you need to make a claim.

If you’re looking for an extended warranty for your OnePlus phone, Upsie is a fantastic choice.