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The budget OnePlus Nord 2 5G leaks in full with a big camera upgrade

Updated: Jul 13, 2021, 6:03 AM

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Gather around, value-for-money fanboys, as that tech leak wunderkind Steve Hammerstoffer from @onleaks fame has done it again, leaking the OnePlus Nord 2 in its full frontal and rear glory!

The leak is based on early prototype, and the folks from 91Mobile have already done a few renders to flesh out the upcoming budget OnePlus champ.

The biggest piece of specs news, of course, is the move from the middling 48MP camera sensors of yesteryear to the new and excellent 50MP ones.

Be they Sony or Samsung, they've all proven great so far, able to capture a wider dynamic range, and with better low-light sensitivity than what's in the OG Nord. Now off to the rest of the leak trip.

OnePlus Nord 2 specs and display

6.45" 90Hz OLED screen with 1080p resolution
8GB RAM/128 GB storage and 12GB/256GB versions
MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G chipset
50MP main camera + 8MP ultrawide + 2MP B&W
32MP selfie camera
4500mAh battery
30W charger

First things first, even though this is a design render leak. While a modern 6nm chipset with integrated 5G modem and a high refresh rate display can be expected from OnePlus even at this price point, the company surprises in two other important specs categories where the first Nord was somewhat lacking.

While a jump from a 48MP main camera to a 50MP one may not sound very significant, there are only a few 50MP sensors that OnePlus could've used, and they are all great. We wouldn't dare to dream that the OnePlus Nord 2 could be equipped with Samsung's ISOCELL GN2 sensor because, well, just look at its specs:

Huge 1/1.12" sensor size with large 1.4 micron physical pixels (vs 1/2.3" and 1 micron for the Sony 50MP IMX766 in OnePlus 9 and Find X3)
50MP/100MP shots
Default 12.5MP mode with binned 2.8 micron pixel giants
New Dual Pixel Pro autofocus with both left/right and top/bottom focusing phases
Efficient Staggered-HDR and Smart ISO Pro for greatly improved dynamic range
120fps 4K slow-motion video

It's more likely that OnePlus used the Sony sensor that sits below the ultrawide lens in the 9 series. It's a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor that’s 1/1.56” large, and Oppo already uses it as both a main and an ultrawide camera sensor in the Find X3 Pro, for instance.

Given the tie-up between Oppo and OnePlus, the Nord 2 may very well have stolen the excellent main camera from the X3 Pro. Alternatively, Samsung just announced the smallest 50MP camera sensor for phones, and OnePlus could've scooped that one for the budget Nord 2. The other three cameras on the phone are well-known performers from plenty of OnePlus phones - the 8MP ultrawide camera that is present in the OG Nord, too, as well as a 2MP sensor which could be either a macro or B&W one, as OnePlus has used both for various phones.

The other big Nord 2 upgrade would be in the battery life department as it will come with a nice 4500mAh piece, which is a welcome boost from the 4100mAh pack of its predecessor. Coupled with a fast 30W charging and frugal 90Hz display panel, the Nord 2 should deliver some excellent battery endurance scores.

OnePlus Nord 2 design and dimensions

160 x 73.8 x 8.1mm
Punch-hole selfie camera
Triple rear camera kit nested in an elevated island on the back
In-display fingerprint sensor

OnePlus Nord 2 price and release date

~$400 starting price for the base 8GB/128GB model
July 9 release

Walmart still sells the OG Nord for $429 which is its original pricing, and there is no indication that the Nord 2 will be priced higher. After all, the Northern warriors are all part of the OnePlus budget line, even though they stretch up to the upper midrange when it comes to specs.

For that kind of money you will be receiving quite a lot more this year, mainly in the camera department. Any takers?

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.