OnePlus Nord 2 rumors: We think we have a release date, plus new color options
The OnePlus Nord 2 is on its way on July 22. Here's everything we know about the phone's rumored cost, display, battery, camera specs and more.
The OnePlus Nord 2 is on its way in just a few days and the latest news about the new phone comes in the form of leaked renders from Ishan Agarwal and Evan Blass on Twitter showing that the Nord 2 could come in three colors, Blue Haze, Gray Sierra and Crimson Red. The rumored renders came as a movie poster-like picture was shared from OnePlus India's twitter with a captions saying "Danger. Excitement. And a whole lot of Nord 2." The image itself features a blue Nord 2 floating on an unknown planet surrounded by science fiction inspired characters.
Last year the OnePlus Nord proved that a great phone doesn't have to be the most expensive you can buy. We also loved this year's follow-up, the OnePlus Nord CE, which has a slower processor yet costs a little less. And rumors of a sequel to OnePlus's first global midrange handset, possibly called the OnePlus Nord 2, are all but confirmed.
The updated Android device will likely have many things in common with its predecessor: A modest price tag, lovely design, a decent camera, 5G and a respectable amount of speed and storage. Of course the big caveat here is that the Nord 2, like the original OnePlus Nord, probably won't be designed for the US market, but chances are good it'll be sold in the UK, Europe, India and China. Here's what we've heard about a potential follow-up to the OnePlus Nord and whether buying the Nord 2 makes sense.
Read more: OnePlus Nord CE vs. Nord vs. Nord N10 5G: OnePlus smartphone specs compared
Release Date: The OnePlus Nord 2 is coming on July 22
OnePlus confirmed the Nord 2 will be revealed on July 22 with a not-so-vague tweet saying "July 22. #OnePlusNord" and linking to the official OnePlus Nord 2 landing page. Before OnePlus revealed the date of their new phone, the company's Indian branch accidentally unveiled the date on their website before changing the text by a picture of the Nord 2 to say "coming soon."
Processor: OnePlus Nord 2 could have a little more power
Apparently OnePlus will move in a new direction with the Nord 2. Instead of using a CPU supplied from Qualcomm, word on the street is the Nord 2 will run MediaTek's Dimensity 1200 5G chipset. At its heart is what MediaTek calls an "ultra-core" CPU (Arm Cortex-A78) clocked at 3GHz. Backing that up are three 2.6GHz "super cores" (Arm Cortex-A78), along with four "efficiency" cores (2GHz Arm Cortex-A55).
This level of processing firepower puts the Dimensity 1200 in direct conflict with other high-end mobile computing platforms. Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+5G, you'd better watch out; the competition is gunning for you.
5G connectivity: Will the Nord 2 be built for 5G?
This chipset also comes with an integrated 5G wireless modem that supports dual 5G SIM cellular connectivity. And according to MediaTek, efficient 5G operation is built into the system to help ensure rock-solid data, video and call quality.
Read more: 5G phones are more affordable than ever. But the killer app is still missing
Display: We're looking at speedy 168Hz refresh rates
The hardware rumored to power the Nord 2 is also robust enough to drive cutting-edge phone displays. Specifically, the phone should support screens with refresh rates up to 168Hz. That's a lot faster than the Nord and Nord CE, both of which feature 90Hz AMOLED screens. However, before you get too excited, another leak says the Nord 2 will have a slower 90Hz refresh rate.
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Design: Inspired by the OnePlus 9?
In terms of physical design, the Nord 2 may look a lot like the OnePlus 9. That means a handsome midrange build quality with a glossy back and metallic edging. And like the OnePlus 9, the Nord 2 probably won't have an official IP rating or waterproofing.
Leaked renders from Ishan Agarwal and Evan Blass on twitter also show that the Nord 2 could come in three colors, Blue Haze, Gray Sierra, and Crimson Red.
Battery: A bigger power source is likely
The Nord 2 may have a 4,500-mAh battery, larger than the 4,115-mAh module on the first Nord handset. Whether that translates into greater battery life remains to be seen. A large factor in actual run times will be the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 silicon and just how efficient, or not, it turns out to be.
Camera: Almost the same as before
The camera on the Nord 2 may be very similar to the first Nord. That means triple rear cameras with a main 50-megapixel sensor along with an 8- and a 2-megapixel sensor (ultrawide and macro). A 32-megapixel camera will sit on the front of the phone. The only difference here is the lack of the original Nord's 5-megapixel depth sensor. Apparently OnePlus also squeezed out another 2 megapixels for the main camera compared with the original Nord's 48 megapixels.
Cost: A price that's still nice
One of the most compelling attributes of the OnePlus Nord was its comparatively low price (£379, which converts to about $525). A possible Nord 2 phone with a Dimensity 1200 chipset should offer plenty of power. That said, traditionally MediaTek gear has found its way into budget and midrange smartphones. And being an affordable yet satisfying handset was the original Nord's wheelhouse. Hopefully OnePlus will strive to keep that approach alive. Only time will tell.
