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OnePlus Nord 2 disappoints users with OxygenOS 11-based monthly patch
It's nearly time for the beta for OxygenOS 13, but users are still contending with OS 11
Android 13 may be on all of our minds these days, but lots and lots of phones still need to make the journey to Android 12. OnePlus started rolling out the first build of OxygenOS 12 for the OnePlus Nord 2 back at the start of June, and the Android 12-based system update has slowly been trickling out to users. When might everyone hope to get access? If this were a company like Samsung, it might make sense for the big system-level update to arrive alongside the next monthly security patch. With the Nord 2, though, owners are now expressing a little frustration upon the release of the latest patch for their phones ... which is based on OxygenOS 11.
OnePlus Nord 2 gets a taste of Android 12 with its first OxygenOS 12 Open Beta
Be prepared to Oppo-fy your OnePlus
You've heard the advice "don't fix what's not broken," and that couldn't be more appropriate than when we're talking about OxygenOS 12. It feels like hardly anyone's a fan of the updated UI that's largely a rebrand of Oppo's ColorOS, and the numerous issues that arose following the integration of the two platforms only added to the mess. Perhaps due to these lingering concerns, OnePlus Nord 2 users may not be quite as eager for Android 12 as they should be, but for those willing to take the chance, their time is finally here.
OnePlus' next mid-ranger, the Nord 2T, could hit the shelves by May
And it might be a bit more expensive than the Nord 2
All eyes are set on OnePlus because of its recent 10 Pro launch. While it's yet to see a global release, Chinese users are already pretty familiar with it. It's the company's first flagship following its downgrade into what's essentially an Oppo sub-brand, and OnePlus is already doing a lot of things differently with that phone. But if recent reports are anything to go by, the company might also have another launch in the pipeline — a refresh of its existing Nord 2, with familiar branding and tantalizing upgrades. A new leak is giving us an idea of when it will launch and how much it will cost.
The next OnePlus Nord phone could feature insanely fast 80W charging
Zero to a hundred in the blink of an eye
OnePlus is primarily known for its premium phones in the US, but its mid-range Nord phones are also very popular in Europe and Asia. The original Nord was a decent mid-ranger for its price that was followed by the capable Nord 2 in 2021. For this year, OnePlus is working on its sequel, the Nord 2T, which is expected to make its debut soon, and a new leak has detailed its complete specifications.
The OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition could be the best smartphone collaboration ever
This playful limited-edition phone even glows in the dark
OnePlus is no stranger to limited-edition devices, with several McLaren-branded phones under its belt as well as eye-catching tie-ins with the likes of Star Wars and Cyberpunk 2077. Its latest collaboration with Japanese game publisher Bandai Namco has spawned the most fun smartphone of the year. Announced a few days ago without being fully revealed, we've now had a chance to go hands-on with the OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition, and it's another welcome blast of video game nostalgia.
OnePlus' special Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition comes with a glowing back and some software tricks
It will wakka wakka through India and Europe only
The OnePlus Nord 2 is arguably one of the best mid-range smartphones available right now if you can get one in your country. And now, a special edition device called the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition has joined the Nord family. As part of the announcement, the company has shared that it's offering a chance to win one for yourself.
OnePlus really likes releasing special edition smartphones. Just last year, it launched a special edition Cyberpunk 2077 OnePlus 8T, followed a few months back by a matching OnePlus Watch. Although it hasn't necessarily always been gaming-related things, we've seen OnePlus launch devices themed after everything from Star Wars (with the OnePlus 5T) to The Avengers (with the OnePlus 6). OnePlus might now be doing yet another special edition smartphone, but this time it looks to feature a blast from our gaming past.
OnePlus Nord 2 review, one month later: Good phone, bad cameraphone
Inconsistent cameras scupper an otherwise decent experience
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The original OnePlus Nord launched with much fanfare, promising a return to the flagship killing days the company had long since left behind. That first phone delivered excellent value for money, but subsequent devices in the Nord series have mostly left us scratching our heads (with the possible exception of the N200). Nord 2 5G is a true successor that comes at us from a slightly different angle. It’s the first OnePlus phone with a MediaTek processor and — at least on paper — it doesn’t seem to imbue the same excitement as its predecessor.
OnePlus Nord 2 vs 9R: OnePlus just made its own phone irrelevant
Cutting back on your budget will actually get you a better phone in this case
OnePlus’s growing smartphone lineup can get a bit confusing with very little difference between devices. That’s particularly true for its upper-mid-tier segment in India, where it has both the Nord 2 and the 9R on offer. Even though they belong to different families, OnePlus has priced them rather closely. And with the latest Nord getting a major chip upgrade and improvements in other key areas, OnePlus has created a device that eats its own sibling’s lunch.
Netflix brings HD and HDR support to the OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and 8T
Among lots of other OnePlus and Oppo phones
If you've been binging your favorite Netflix show on a recent phone from OnePlus or Oppo, you might have been missing a lot. The Android app has to certify that the devices it's running on (and the software they're using) are of sufficient quality to enable HD playback. That probably has more to do with anti-piracy measures than performance, but that doesn't matter a whole lot to customers who are stuck with lower-quality video.
OnePlus plans to add an option in OxygenOS 12 to disable throttling
The OnePlus 9R and OnePlus Nord 2 may also be affected by throttling
Some of you may remember as far back as two weeks ago when OnePlus was caught throttling the performance of the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro based on the app that was currently running, altering performance pretty drastically. One benchmarking application even considered the practice "benchmark manipulation." But OnePlus tells us it's heard the complaints, and it plans to address them with a new option in an upcoming OxygenOS 12 update, letting customers choose whether to enable or disable this "optimized mode."
The OnePlus Nord 2 looks like an even better value than the original — assuming you can even buy one
It's the first OnePlus phone with a MediaTek chipset — how will it stack up?
After all the usual leaks and rumors, the next entry to OnePlus' budget Nord line has been officially announced. As with the original Nord and the recent Nord CE, the Nord 2 5G won't be making its way to the US. But for those of you in Europe and elsewhere, it's an intriguing smartphone, the first by OnePlus to be powered by a MediaTek chipset, the exclusive Dimensity 1200-AI.
The latest Nord 2 leak gives you all the details OnePlus won't
Looking to be a solid iterative upgrade
OnePlus will make its proper Nord successor official on July 22, but for now, we can only learn more about the Nord 2 thanks to leaks. While we've already seen first renders of the phone and got official confirmation regarding a few key specs, we've now got a much more complete picture thanks to a leak from 91mobiles.
The OnePlus Nord 2 will be introduced on July 22, but not for the US
Pete Lau confirms the phone is coming to Europe and India
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Until now, the OnePlus Nord 2 has only been the subjection of leaks and speculation, unless you count this accidental mention on the company's website. We had heard that it might be the first OnePlus phone to feature a MediaTek processor, and it turns out that's spot on. Today, OnePlus officially acknowledged the existence of the upcoming Nord successor and confirmed that it'll use an exclusive version of the Dimensity 1200 chipset.
OnePlus Nord 2 spec leaks say it has a monster camera and fast-charging battery
Does this Oppo lookalike have anything special up its sleeve?
OnePlus recently lifted the veil on its latest Nord smartphones, but missing amongst those was the previously-leaked Nord 2. The company accidentally confirmed the phone's existence a few weeks ago but we didn't hear anything more about it as the Nord CE 5G and N200 were launched. The true successor to the original Nord is still on its way, though, and today we're getting our first picture of what it's going to look like.
We've heard a little bit about the upcoming OnePlus Nord2 over the last few months, but this is the first time we're getting anything right from the horse's mouth. OnePlus, either intentionally or not, has seemingly confirmed the existence of the phone with a mention on its website.
A previous rumor indicated that OnePlus would announce a special edition of the Nord alongside the OnePlus 9 series. That clearly didn't happen, and if a new report is to be believed, it never will — the SE has been canned.
Nord 2 will reportedly be the first OnePlus phone with a MediaTek chipset
Expected to arrive in Q2 2021
OnePlus has a few phones in the pipeline, and we're expecting to see three of them (read: OnePlus 9 series) before the end of March. However, there won't be a half-year gap between these and the next OnePlus phone because the OnePlus Nord successor is expected to be announced in Q2 2021.