OnePlus Nord 5’s 144Hz Gaming Beast: Ready to Top the Competition?
As the smartphone market heats up, OnePlus is poised to make waves with the OnePlus Nord 5, set to launch globally, including in India, on July 8, 2025. Priced at an expected ₹34,999, this mid-range powerhouse promises flagship-level performance, with a standout feature: a 6.83-inch 144Hz OLED display tailored for gamers. Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, a massive 6,700mAh battery, and advanced cooling technology, the Nord 5 is being hailed as a gaming beast. But with fierce competition from the likes of the Google Pixel 7a, Samsung Galaxy A55, and iQOO Neo 9 Pro, can the Nord 5 truly dominate the mid-range gaming segment? Let’s dive into what makes this device a contender and whether it’s ready to topple its rivals.
A Display Built for Gaming Glory
The OnePlus Nord 5’s centerpiece is its 6.83-inch 1.5K LTPS OLED display, boasting a 144Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. This high refresh rate ensures buttery-smooth visuals, critical for fast-paced games like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile, where every millisecond counts. OnePlus claims the Nord 5 delivers native 90fps gameplay for BGMI, with frame interpolation pushing it to a seamless 144fps, and Call of Duty Mobile running natively at 144fps. Social media buzz on X highlights the display’s prowess, with one user noting, “144Hz OLED on Nord 5 is gonna make gaming insane! #OnePlusNord5”.
The display’s 2500Hz touch sampling rate during gaming minimizes input lag, while a peak brightness of 2150 nits ensures clarity even in bright sunlight. The Aqua Touch feature, inherited from the Nord 4, distinguishes between wet fingers and accidental touches, a boon for sweaty-handed gamers during intense sessions. Compared to competitors like the Pixel 7a’s 90Hz OLED or the Galaxy A55’s 120Hz AMOLED, the Nord 5’s 144Hz display sets a new benchmark for fluidity in the mid-range segment.
Powerhouse Performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
At the heart of the Nord 5 lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, a 4nm processor with a Cortex-X4 core at 3.0GHz, four Cortex-A720 cores at 2.8GHz, and three Cortex-A520 cores at 2.0GHz, paired with an Adreno 735 GPU. This setup delivers an AnTuTu score exceeding 2.2 million, a significant leap over the Nord 4’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, which scored around 1.1 million. The Nord 5’s hardware supports real-time ray tracing, enabling lifelike graphics in games like Genshin Impact, which runs at 60fps with minimal lag.
The device comes in configurations of 8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB, using LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage for lightning-fast app launches and reduced game loading times. OnePlus’s 7,300mm² VC Cryo-Velocity Cooling System, a 72.9% improvement over the Nord 4, keeps thermals in check, with reports claiming it runs 4.3°C cooler than competitors like the Vivo A56. X users have praised this feature, with one stating, “Nord 5’s cooling system is a game-changer for marathon gaming! #OnePlus”. While the iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers comparable power, the Nord 5’s newer chipset and cooling edge give it a slight advantage for sustained performance.
Battery and Charging: Built for Endurance
The Nord 5’s 6,700mAh battery is a standout, dwarfing the Pixel 7a’s 4,385mAh and Galaxy A55’s 5,000mAh cells. Paired with 80W SuperVOOC charging, OnePlus claims a full charge in just 32 minutes, making it ideal for gamers who need quick top-ups between sessions. Unlike the Nord 4, which faced minor heating issues during extended gaming due to its metal frame, the Nord 5’s advanced cooling and larger battery capacity promise better thermal management and all-day endurance. However, the lack of wireless charging, a feature present in some rivals, is a minor drawback.
Camera and Design: More Than Just Gaming
While gaming is the Nord 5’s forte, its camera system holds its own. The triple rear setup includes a 50MP Sony LYT800 main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP monochrome sensor, with a 50MP front camera for selfies. Features like AI Photo Enhancement, HDR, and 4K video recording cater to content creators, though the ultra-wide lens lags behind the Pixel 7a’s 13MP offering. The Nord 5’s sleek 8.1mm design, weighing 211g, sports an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, a step up from the Nord CE 5’s IP54. Its single-tone finish and Gorilla Glass protection add durability, though some X users have noted the plastic frame feels less premium than metal alternatives.
OxygenOS 15 and Software Support
Running OxygenOS 15 on Android 15, the Nord 5 offers a clean, bloatware-free experience with AI-driven features like text summarization and photo enhancement. OnePlus promises four years of major updates and six years of security patches, outpacing the Galaxy A55’s five-year commitment but matching the Pixel 7a’s software support. The OS’s gaming optimizations, including a dedicated Game Space hub, prioritize performance by reducing notifications and optimizing network latency, a feature lauded in the Nord 4.
Facing the Competition
The Nord 5 enters a crowded mid-range market. The Google Pixel 7a, priced at ₹39,999, offers superior camera performance and Google’s clean Android experience but falls short with its 90Hz display and less powerful Tensor G2 chipset. The Samsung Galaxy A55, starting at ₹36,999, boasts a premium build and vibrant 120Hz AMOLED but lacks the Nord 5’s gaming-specific features like ray tracing and advanced cooling. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 144Hz display, is a direct rival, but its higher ₹39,999 price and smaller 5,160mAh battery give the Nord 5 an edge in value and endurance.
Posts on X reflect strong sentiment for the Nord 5’s gaming credentials, with one user stating, “Nord 5’s 144fps gameplay and massive battery make it a steal at ₹35k! #OnePlusNord5”. However, some fans express skepticism, noting, “Nord 5 looks great, but can it really beat iQOO’s gaming phones?”. The Nord 5’s lower price and robust feature set position it as a strong contender, but its success will hinge on real-world performance against these rivals.
Verdict: A Gaming Beast with Broad Appeal
The OnePlus Nord 5 is shaping up to be a mid-range marvel, blending a 144Hz OLED display, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 power, and a colossal 6,700mAh battery to create a gaming phone that punches above its weight. Its advanced cooling and optimized software give it an edge for gamers, while its camera and design appeal to everyday users. However, the plastic frame and weaker ultra-wide camera may deter some, and competitors like the iQOO Neo 9 Pro offer stiff competition in raw performance. With a starting price of ₹34,999 and availability through Amazon India, OnePlus’s online store, and offline retailers, the Nord 5 is poised to shake up the market.
As the July 8 launch approaches, the Nord 5 has the potential to redefine mid-range gaming smartphones. Whether it can topple its rivals will depend on its real-world performance, but one thing is clear: OnePlus has crafted a device that’s ready to compete. For gamers and budget-conscious buyers alike, the Nord 5 is a beast worth watching.
Pre-order the OnePlus Nord 5 starting July 1, 2025, with free Nord Buds 2r for early buyers. Stay tuned for hands-on reviews post-launch!
Last Updated on: Friday, June 20, 2025 10:34 pm by Charan Sai Reddy | Published by: Charan Sai Reddy on Friday, June 20, 2025 10:34 pm | News Categories: Technology
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