The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a budget 5G phone for the US and Canada. OnePlus announced it on June 5, 2023, and pre-orders opened the same day. The first units shipped on June 8, 2023. It launched at $299.99 in the US in a single 8 GB + 128 GB version. Outside North America, the same phone is sold as the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G.
Design and display
The phone has a 6.72-inch LCD panel with a 2400 x 1080 resolution and 391 ppi. The refresh rate goes up to 120 Hz, and touch sampling reaches 240 Hz. The body measures 165.5 x 76.0 x 8.3 mm and weighs 195 g.
Reviewers describe a plastic body with a glossy back. In the US and Canada, the phone comes only in Chromatic Gray. The Pastel Lime color shown on some OnePlus pages belongs to the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G. The fingerprint reader sits in the power button on the right side.
Performance
Inside is the Snapdragon 695, a 6 nm chip with an Adreno 619 GPU. It is paired with 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. A microSD slot lets you add more storage. The Snapdragon 695 is a mid-range chip, so it suits everyday apps and light gaming.
Cameras
The main camera uses a 108 MP Samsung HM6 sensor with an f/1.7 lens. It merges nine pixels into one for 12 MP shots. Two 2 MP cameras handle depth and macro photos. There is no ultrawide camera and no optical stabilization. Video tops out at 1080p at 30 fps on both the rear and the 16 MP front camera.
Battery and charging
A 5,000 mAh battery powers the phone. It supports 50W SUPERVOOC wired charging, and the charger comes in the box. OnePlus notes that the hardware supports 67W, but North American 110V outlets limit it to 50W. There is no wireless charging.
Software and updates
The Nord N30 5G shipped with OxygenOS based on Android 13. OnePlus promises at least one major Android upgrade. It also promises three years of security updates from launch. That makes Android 14 the last major version for this phone.
Should you buy the Nord N30 5G?
The phone suits buyers who want a large screen and a big battery for under $300. It also keeps a 3.5 mm headphone jack, stereo speakers and a microSD slot. On the other hand, it has no official water resistance rating and no wireless charging. Its software support is also short, with only one major Android upgrade. Buyers who plan to keep a phone for many years may prefer a model with longer update promises.
