PRAISE THE NORD: OnePlus Nord

Thanks to its slick screen, strong camera and great price, this is the ultimate mid-ranger

SPECIFICATION

Processor Snapdragon 765G 5G

Screen 6.44 inch, 2400x1080 AMOLED

Memory 8GB / 12GB

Storage 128GB / 256GB

Battery 4115mAh

Cameras 48MP main, 8MP ultra wide lens, 5MP depth, 2MP macro rear; 32MP main, 8MP ultra-wide front OS Android 10, OxygenOS Dimensions 73.3x158.3x8.2mm

Weight 184g

Mid-range handsets are having a moment as the smartphone market matures: decent-quality screens, chipsets and camera lenses are getting cheaper all the time, which means you can get a lot more for your money, and it’s becoming harder and harder to justify spending four-figure sums on top-end flagships. If you can buy a phone that’s almost as fast and takes photos that are almost as good as the very best handsets for half the price, why wouldn’t you?

This was the thinking behind the Google Pixel 3a and the Samsung Galaxy S10e last year, and the second-gen iPhone SE this year, and it’s also the thinking behind the OnePlus Nord. While the OnePlus flagships aren’t going anywhere (and we might see another before the year is out), OnePlus is joining Google, Apple and Samsung in jumping into the competitive mid-range market too.

It’s a segment of the smartphone scene that’s busier than ever. The likes of Nokia and Motorola have been trading here for years, while Chinese phone makers such as Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei are constantly trying to undercut the top-tier models as well. If you’re looking for a competent smartphone in the £300-£500 price bracket, then you’ve got more options to pick from than ever before.

Firm foundations