OnePlus Nord 2T premiered last May 2022, coming to replace the Nord 2 on store shelves. This is the first time we see a ‘T’ model for the Nord series, these refreshed models previously reserved for the flagship OnePlus series.

The formula is retained though and this T iteration also focuses on speed improvements – performance and charging. The Nord 2T comes with a newer Dimensity 1300 chipset and faster 80W wired charging. These, together with the slightly altered design, are the only differences to the original Nord 2. Certainly not a model to make Nord 2 owners jealous, the Nord 2T is meant to keep the line relevant as competition improves.

 

 

 

 

 

And on paper the OnePlus Nord 2T is certainly a very tempting smartphone, one that’s made our Flagship Killer Buyers’ Guide category. It offers a solid dual Gorilla Glass 5 build with beautiful frosted black or glossy mint back covers. Then there is a 90Hz Fluid AMOLED on top of a capable Dimensity 1300 5G chipset.

 

 

 

 

The triple-camera on the back has been carried over from the Nord 2 and is in line with most of the Nord 2T’s competitors – a 50MP primary camera with OIS for most of your shooting, an 8MP ultrawide for the rare more dramatic perspective, and a 2MP depth sensor that’s mostly there for marketing purposes. The 32MP selfie camera within the punch hole is also unchanged from the Nord 2.

 

 

 

 

This OnePlus Nord 2T features a 4.500mAh battery split into two separate cells, which now allows for an even faster 80W charging. The 80W adapter ships with the phone, naturally.

Finally, the new Nord 2T runs on the Android 12 with OxygenOS 12.1 launcher. OxygenOS 13 has been announced already, so we guess it will make it to this Nord 2T later this year, too.

OnePlus Nord 2T specs at a glance :

Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.

The OnePlus Nord 2T, just like the Nord 2, is not IP rated and officially it features no ingress protection whatsoever. Unofficially, we noticed rubber insulation where on certain openings, so it is not entirely unprotected. Still, if the maker is not making any promises about its survival when submerged we wouldn’t risk it.

Now let’s proceed with the unboxing!

Unboxing the OnePlus Nord 2T

The OnePlus Nord 2T ships within a thick black box. It contains an 80W power adapter, a 10A-rated USB-A-C cable, and a cool protective case with two different textures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first smartphone that we could think of was the Xiaomi 12 Lite. Its 256GB version costs the same as the 256GB Nord 2T and we found this 12 Lite to be one of the best phones you can buy around the €450-€500 mark. It offers a magnificent AMOLED with Dolby Vision support, 120Hz refresh and 12-bit native colors. The 12 Lite runs on a similarly powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset and features a similar triple-camera on the back sans the OIS for the primary. If you fancy one of the best screens on the market and don’t mind using MIUI, you may want to consider the Xiaomi 12 Lite.

The Realme GT Neo 3T has a more powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset, a faster 120Hz OLED screen and longer battery life. The OnePlus Nord 2T on the other offers slightly better camera quality and OIS. The base 128GB version of this Realme is slightly more expensive than the Nord 2T, but the 256GB pricing is a match.

The Galaxy A53 is a good alternative if you want a water-resistant smartphone. The starting price of the A53 is about €40 cheaper than the Nord 2T and it comes with a faster 120Hz Super AMOLED screen. The performance is inferior to the Nord 2T, but you will get a more versatile camera experience with a higher resolution ultrawide camera.

And, finally, we want to mention the Nothing Phone (1). It has a great OLED screen with 120Hz refresh and 10-bit color, there is also one of a kind Glyph LED notification system, similar performance, and excellent camera experience. The weak points of the Nothing Phone (1) are the lack of a charger in the box and the mediocre audio quality through wired headphones. The 128GB Nothing Phone (1) is about €80 more expensive than the Nord 2T, but it may be worth the extra money for the better screen, cameras and the Glyph LEDs.

 

 

Xiaomi 12 Lite • Realme GT Neo 3T • Samsung Galaxy A53 5G • Nothing Phone (1)

 

 

Our verdict

The OnePlus Nord 2T is an excellent smartphone with all-round balanced specs, one that delivers on every promise that was made on its official website. The Nord 2T has a beautiful design, solid 90Hz OLED screen and great performance courtesy of the Dimensity 1300 chipset.

We also enjoyed its excellent main camera and the loud stereo speakers. The long battery life and the fast charging are also worthy of mentioning, even if the 80W speeds aren’t actually faster than 65W.

Finally, the Nord 2T costs about €380, which is an attractive price tag, and one we’d say makes it a great deal.

 

 

 

 

The lack of official water protection is an important downside to mention as well as the fact that you can get 120Hz panels in this price range.

Pros

• Attractive dual-glass design – frosted or glossy back panel.
• Bright enough OLED, 90Hz refresh.
• Loud speakers.
• Fast charging.
• Great CPU and GPU speed.
• Excellent photo and video quality.

Cons

• Minor update over the Nord 2.
• The speakers’ audio output could have been better tuned.
• Average sustained performance, limited HFR gaming.
• No official IP rating.