The OnePlus Nord 20 5G smartphone with a 6.43 inch FHD+ AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a microSD card reader, and a 4,500 mAh battery.
It’s the latest budget model from OnePlus, and it’ll be available in the US exclusively from T-Mobile, which will sell the phone for $282.
While that prices seems pretty good for a phone with an OLED display, 6GB of RAM, and 5G support, the phone has a 60 Hz display rather than 90 Hz and ships with Android 11 rather than the newer Android 12 operating system. It’s also unclear if or when OnePlus will deliver software or security updates.
And while the phone does have a microSD card reader, it lacks a headphone jack. Instead, like most modern phones, you’ll need to use the USB-C port or Bluetooth for headphones.
Other features include support for 33W fast charging, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and a camera system that includes a 16MP front-facing camera and three rear cameras: 64MP primary, 2MP monochrome, and 2MP macro.
That seems like a really good value for $282. Samsung’s closest competitor (correct me if I’m wrong) is the A53 5G, which sells for $450. Samsung has some models closer to the Nord’s price, but not with comparable specs.
Personally, I’d still spring for the 2022 model iPhone SE for $430. Aside from having the most powerful smartphone SOC on the planet, I’d rather consider the support lifespan of these phones. Most Android phone makers don’t provide support for very long on budget phones. The iPhone SE will be receiving support for 7 years past the date it becomes discontinued.
If you’re looking for a T-Mobile phone, OnePlus’s own OnePlus 8 5G often goes on sale for around $250-300, on the OnePlus online store. Even being a couple years old, that hardware would be greater than both budget phones. And I imagine the software support will be better than the Nord 20, too!