The Nord 2 is the first OnePlus Nord phone to get a T-variant in the form of the Nord 2T. Even with minimal upgrades, this phone is worth buying.
OnePlus recently announced the OnePlus Nord 2T as a follow-up to the Nord 2 released in 2021, but does it pack enough features to warrant an upgrade? OnePlus's T-series serves as a mid-cycle refresh for its phones. The first T-series phone was the OnePlus 3T, released in 2016, and since then, OnePlus has launched a T-variant every year for at least one of its flagships.
Up until now, only the flagship series have gotten a T-variant, but OnePlus's recent launch of the Nord 2T means it is extending the program to its mid-range series. Also, instead of a roughly six-month interval between a OnePlus flagship and its respective T-variant, there is an almost one-year gap between the OnePlus Nord 2 and OnePlus Nord 2T.
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OnePlus has given the Nord 2T a distinct design to distinguish it from the Nord 2, an approach different from what it did with the OnePlus 3T, which had a practically identical look to the OnePlus 3. Both Nord phones have Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, but the frame is plastic. They also have the same hole-punch design in their displays. Those looking for differences will find it on the rear. The Nord 2T sports a huge camera island that is home to three cameras. On the other hand, the Nord 2 has a smaller camera housing that also houses three sensors. OnePlus sells the Nord 2 in three colors in addition to a special Pac-Man edition. In contrast, the Nord 2T is available in only two colors.
Since the Nord 2T is a mid-cycle refresh, it shares most of its specs with the Nord 2. Its 6.43-inch FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED display is the same size as the Nord 2. Furthermore, both phones have the same camera setup. The primary rear camera is a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS, and it is paired with an 8MP ultrawide angle camera with EIS and a 2MP Mono camera. Owners also get a hi-res 32MP camera for selfies on either phone. Where OnePus has made its first spec change is in the processor. The Nord 2T is powered by the newer Dimensity 1300 chipset, which has the same CPU and GPU specifications as the Dimensity 1200 inside the Nord 2 but features a more powerful gaming engine. Other features common to both phones are dual SIM support, NFC, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers. However, folks won't be able to plug in wired earphones with a 3.5mm connector as the phones are missing an audio jack. The Nord 2T's later release allows OnePlus to ship it with Android 12, whereas the Nord 2 launched last year with Android 11. In addition, OnePlus offers two OS upgrades for the mid-range Nord phones which means while the Nord 2 will receive Android 12 and Android 13 updates, the Nord 2T will get Android 13 and Android 14.
The Nord 2T is available in 8GB or 12GB RAM variants with 128GB or 256GB of storage. On the other hand, the Nord 2 has the configurations mentioned above and a base model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage sold in India. Neither of the two devices has a MicroSD card slot. With both devices packing a 4500mAh battery capacity, the Nord 2T gains the upper hand with its 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging against the Nord 2's 65W Warp Charge. OnePlus advertises that the Nord 2T will charge from one percent to 67 percent in 15 minutes while the Nord 2 will charge to 60 percent in the same duration. A charger is included in the box of both models.
The Nord 2T doesn't bring many upgrades, save for a slightly better chipset that many people might overlook; faster charging and a more recent version of Android. It is not worth upgrading for those who already own the Nord 2. However, those considering which of the two phones they should purchase are better off with the Nord 2T, thanks to its price. The phone has a starting price of £369 in the UK, £30 less than the Nord 2 with the same configuration. On the other hand, both phones' 12GB + 256GB configuration is priced at £469. In other parts of Europe, such as Germany, the Nord 2T is sold for €399, the same price as the Nord 2. What cements the Nord 2T as a worthy purchase is that OnePlus is bundling orders with a free pair of OnePlus Buds Z2, which retails for £99/€99. Based on this pricing, it would be sensible for OnePlus to simply discontinue the Nord 2
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Habeeb enjoys writing about the consumer technology space and has a keen interest in wearables, Android smartphones and tablets, and Chromebooks. When he's not writing, he's catching up on the latest TV shows and movies.