Reviewing the OnePlus Nord CE 5G, a 'Core Edition' mid-range smartphone costing £299 UK, boasting strong battery life and specs. However, the camera tech is basic and it's up against tough competition from the Poco F3 and others. I've been testing the OnePlus Nord CE 5G as my full-time phone for a week and here's my verdict. Is it one of the best budget-friendly 5G mobiles of 2021?

For that price you'll struggle to find a better display - that AMOLED tech is bright and punchy, with 90Hz refresh support. I also enjoyed the audio experience, especially with that headphone jack's return. Performance is fine for everyday shenanigans and simple gaming, while the batter life is better vs the original Nord.

However, the Nord CE 5G's camera tech is a disappointment, coping poorly in testing conditions. OnePlus' OxygenOS launcher is enjoyable as ever thankfully, and proved bug-free on this phone after an essential update. Kudos to OP for offering up 2 years of OS updates and 3 of security updates as well.

OnePlus Nord CE 5G Review Chapters:
0:00 - Get on with it!
0:59 - Design
2:27 - OxygenOS & features
4:25 - Display & audio
5:33 - Performance & gaming
6:59 - Battery life
8:04 - Camera
10:06 - Verdict