OnePlus launched the 12 and 12R earlier this year with fanfare, confetti, and a big show. Today, they decided to release another device but in completely opposite fashion — without any lights and cameras. The OnePlus Nord N30 SE 5G (a mouthful, yes) launched quietly today, bringing exactly what you'd expect from a Nord series phone. A low, low price, and agreeable specs.
A Quiet Launch For A Good Budget Phone
The OnePlus Nord N30 SE 5G — not to be mistaken with the OnePlus Nord N30 — launched silently today. As of now, it only seems to be available in the United Arab Emirates, but I bet that it'll only take a little while before it appears in other regions. The most impressive thing about this device is that it'll only cost about $160 (and you still get 5G!).
But I know you want to know what you get for that price, and I'll tell you. As expected, you get a plastic body, no water resistance, and no wireless charging. But for a budget phone, you shouldn't expect any different. There's a 5,000 mAh battery with 33W fast charging too.
The display is a 6.72-inch IPS LCD panel with FHD+ resolution. The device runs OxygenOS 13.1 (the 12 and 12R launched with OxygenOS 14, but it seems OnePlus isn't ready to share yet). The device comes in one configuration: 4GB/128GB running on a MediaTek Dimensity 6020. You don't get an SD card slot, but you get stereo speakers, and a headphone jack if you're still into those. There's also a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Don't expect to take jaw-dropping shots with a phone at this price. The main sensor is a 50MP one backed by a 2MP depth sensor. The selfie snapper is 8MP. Both cameras max out at recording 1080p video at 30fps, which in 2024, is a bit dismal, but remember: “$160”. Finally, you can get it in Black Satin or Cyan.
What Makes The OnePlus Nord Lineup Different?
When the very first OnePlus Nord launched back in late 2020, OnePlus had already gotten to the 8 series. When smartphone manufacturers bring out new smartphone lines, there's usually a value proposition of some sort, so what's the answer for the Nord?
OnePlus started with budget-friendly devices aiming to be “flagship killers”. However, as time went on, their devices started to become more and more expensive, especially as they tried to compete a lot more closely with flagships. Cutting costs for lower prices would mean less competitive devices.
That's how the OnePlus Nord line was born. They became the company's new series of proper budget smartphones. These devices aren't meant to be shooting for the moon, but they're meant to provide enough value to more than justify the low prices.
When Does OnePlus Release New Devices?
If the OnePlus 12 and 12R launched this month, why did the OnePlus Nord N30 SE 5G sneakily launch days later? When exactly does OnePlus release new phones?
OnePlus typically launches its flagship devices globally in the first quarter of the year, so you can always expect a comparison to Samsung's Galaxy S devices that launch around the same time.
Although other launches from the mobile company tend to vary quite a bit, we usually see new releases in the summer months — most particularly in July. October has also been a popular month for OnePlus, especially with some of the Nord phones.
