OnePlus Nord vs. OnePlus 8: Which should you buy?
OnePlus Nord
Outstanding value
₹24,999 at Amazon India
Pros
90Hz AMOLED flat display
Snapdragon 765G delivers reliable performance
Bloat-free software with three years of updates
Decent cameras for the price
All-day battery life with 30W wired charging
5G connectivity
Cons
Plastic mid-frame
No water resistance
Not launching in the U.S.
With the Nord, OnePlus is once again focusing on the mid-range segment. The phone has all the core features from recent OnePlus flagships, including a fluid 90Hz AMOLED panel, 30W wired charging, same OxygenOS software with timely updates, and the same 48MP camera as the OnePlus 8. The chipset isn't quite as powerful as the one on the OnePlus 8, but the value on offer here is incredible.
OnePlus 8
Flagship hardware
₹41,999 at Amazon India
Pros
Sublime 90Hz AMOLED panel
Flagship-tier performance with Snapdragon 865
Bloat-free software with three years of updates
Better image quality from 48MP camera
All-day battery life with 30W wired charging
5G connectivity
Cons
Costly for the hardware on offer
Water resistance limited to U.S. carrier models
No wireless charging
The OnePlus 8 combines flagship hardware with a gorgeous design. There's a 90Hz AMOLED dual-curved screen, the latest internal hardware money can buy, 30W fast charging, and clean software with fast updates. Even though the 48MP sensor is the same, you get better photos on the OnePlus 8 thanks to the Snapdragon 865. The OnePlus 8 may not deliver the same value, but it is available globally.
OnePlus is back to making mid-range phones with the Nord. The phone is making its debut in India and European markets, where it is available for $450; undercutting the OnePlus 8 by a couple of hundred dollars. So what are you missing out on the Nord, and does it make sense to pick it up over the OnePlus 8? Let's take a look.
OnePlus Nord borrows a lot of features from the OnePlus 8
The Nord is OnePlus' first sub-$500 phone in over two years, and there's a lot of excitement around the phone . While the device itself is aimed at the mid-range segment, it comes with a lot of the key features that made OnePlus' flagships stand out over the last 15 months: there's a 90Hz panel, 30W fast charging, 48MP camera at the back, and clean software.
The Nord has a plastic mid-frame, but the fit and finish is top-notch.
Let's start with the design: the Nord has a similar design aesthetic as the OnePlus 8 , with the same curves at the back, the same oblong camera housing, the same grille for the speaker, and the same rounded edges. The key difference between the two phones is that the Nord has a plastic mid-frame. The sides of the phone feature a...
