OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G review: More than you'd expect


It is 2023. It is a new year, which could mean something fresh for some of us. It could be a new home, a new car, or a new job. It could also be a new smartphone. But for those still exploring which new phone to buy without breaking the bank, there is the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G which might be worth your consideration.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, as its "Lite" designation suggests, can be considered an entry-level smartphone that may also fall under the midrange category, depending on one's budget. 

The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G comes in two colors: Blue Tide and Black Dusk. The latter has a dusky matte-black finish, a fingerprint-resistant homage to the sandstone rear cover of the OnePlus One, the first smartphone model OnePlus introduced in 2014.

Sporting a 6.59-inch LCD, the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G has a 2412 x 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Considering the size of the display, one could easily assume that it would put a dent in its battery life. OnePlus claims that it is energy-efficient. 

On the back, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G carries an AI triple camera system that consists of a 64-megapixel primary camera sensor, a 4-megapixel macro, and a 2-megapixel depth-assist camera for dramatic bokeh effects. 

The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G also features Nightscape mode, which allows users to capture brilliant, sharp images even under low-light conditions. Content creators who want to add drama to fast-moving scenarios may explore the phone's Slow Motion feature at 720p/120fps. 

Another imaging feature to explore with the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is Dual View Video, which enables users to film simultaneous views with the phone's rear and 16-megapixel Sony IMX471 front camera. 

Under the hood, the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset with Adreno 619 GPU, 8GB RAM, and 128GB onboard storage. Along with an energy-efficient display and a 5000mAh battery, the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G promises hours of juice for all-day gaming, streaming, internet browsing, and content creation. Rechargeable via a USB Type-C connector, the phone's battery features 33W SUPERVOOC fast-charging technology. 

Running on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, OxygenOS 12.1 contributes to power-saving optimizations and faster loading of applications. The phone also converts up to 5GB of its internal storage into temporary virtual RAM to make phone software run as smoothly as butter. For users who might need additional storage, insert a microSD card. The phone can support up to 1TB of expandable storage.

Are you planning to buy a new smartphone this new year? Looking back at its features and capabilities, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G might be worth your consideration. It has a large display, a feature-packed imaging system, and a long battery life to cover one's all-day needs in today's fast-paced living. On top of these, the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G sells for only P12,990, which becomes more affordable given the flexible payment options available today.