The OnePlus Nord was a very well-received smartphone from the brand that has consistently increased prices with each new release. However, it was not released globally and was limited to markets like Asia and Europe. In the days following the launch, it was subsequently confirmed that OnePlus will launch a "North Device" in the United States in the coming months. While there has been no further confirmation from the company during the period, leakers and insiders were able to share some details about the upcoming 'OnePlus Nord Lite'. The best part is that this new device will be even cheaper. We won't know what corners will need to be cut for this yet, but it should retain the essentials that make OnePlus phones attractive: a high refresh rate display, a clean software experience, fast charging, and multiple cameras. The name of the phone is also an assumption at this time. Some leaks suggest it could be called the Aurora, while others call it the Nord Lite. The final name could be something even more vague than what North was.
Come to the point
- What is it? An even more affordable OnePlus smartphone
- When will it come? In the next few months
- What price? About Rs 20.000
Expected price and release date of OnePlus Nord Lite
OnePlus hasn't suggested a timeline for the next launch of its phone (other than "later this year"), but we expect it to be unveiled around October, ideally alongside the OnePlus 8T series. According to a tweet from Chun, a popular Twitter tipster, the OnePlus Nord Lite will launch at the end of September in India, but that could change in the coming weeks. In India, the OnePlus North started at less than Rs 25.000 (€399 in Europe). If the Next North is indeed cheaper, it could hit the highly competitive Indian market for under Rs 20.000, a space occupied by Xiaomi, Realme and Samsung. In the US, we could consider a competitor to the Google Pixel 4a for under €400. The same leak suggests that it could be valued at between Rs 16.000 and Rs 18.000. Discover OnePlus Nord on Amazon
Design and display
![OnePlus North]()
(Image credit: TechRadar) OnePlus' design has been the same for quite some time now and since the OnePlus 6 series the design hasn't evolved as much as we'd like. OnePlus' flagship smartphones feature a glass back, while the mid-range OnePlus Nord has a polycarbonate body. While we don't have a confirmation on the design of the phone yet, we can expect the Nord Lite to come with a plastic build, which is acceptable for a phone in this segment. A notable leaked rendering from OnePlus suggested that the design would be very similar to the North at first glance, but with fewer cameras on the front and rear. Details around the screen haven't surfaced yet, but we should get a Full HD+ panel covering around 6.5-inches. OnePlus mentioned that all of its phones will now have a high refresh rate. If no exceptions are made for the Nord Lite, it could be one of the most affordable phones with a 90Hz panel. Even more exciting would be the inclusion of an AMOLED screen. The last OnePlus phone with an LCD panel was the OnePlus 2 six years ago. Although it's expensive, we doubt OnePlus will ever go back to an LCD panel. The location of the fingerprint reader will also depend on this decision.
This is where things get tricky as we have multiple sources claiming various chipsets in the OnePlus Nord Lite. The OnePlus Nord Lite is rumored to ship with the Snapdragon 690 SoC for the first time, offering 5G at an affordable price, even cheaper than the Snapdragon 765G. Another report claims that the device could come with budget chipsets like the Snapdragon 662 or even the Snapdragon 665. Similarly, RAM and storage will likely start at 4GB and 64GB, with higher configurations coming at higher prices. It would be a surprise if the storage was expandable.
Cameras
![OnePlus North]()
(Image credit: TechRadar) Cameras have never been the strong point of OnePlus smartphones. The Nord had a very similar setup to the OnePlus 8, while adding an extra sensor on each side. As for the Nord Lite, we'd expect things to be very conservative with a triple camera array on the back. Even the high-resolution 48MP sensor can be undone. We'd love to see OnePlus include the same camera module we saw in the OnePlus Nord with slightly downgraded specs. On the front, we can expect OnePlus to bring a single selfie snapper in a dewdrop notch or punch-hole cutout.
battery and charging
![OnePlus North]()
(Image credit: TechRadar) The exact battery capacity of the OnePlus Nord Lite is not yet known. However, the upload speeds have already been leaked. The rumored OnPlus Nord Lite will likely bring 18W fast charging. The 18W speed is pretty standard for most mid-range and even budget phones these days. However, it's rather strange to see OnePlus go back to this charging speed given that the company has charged at least 20W on its phones in recent years, and even the North comes with 30W charging. State that you have opted for a different charging standard, as opposed to Dash/Warp charging.
OnePlus Nord Lite: what we want to see
A starting price of less than Rs 20.000 In India, the OnePlus North was surprisingly cheap, with even the best-performing variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage costing less than Rs 30.000. It would be great to see OnePlus join the budget smartphone segment and try to win with a software approach. A high refresh rate display OnePlus has always focused on experience more than raw specs. To maintain its iconic smooth feel, we expect the Nord Lite to have a 90Hz panel, even if it means switching to an LCD panel. All-Purpose Cameras There is a lot of competition when it comes to cameras. On one hand, we have phones like the Pixel 4a winning hearts everywhere, and on the other hand, we have offerings from Redmi and Realme that boast high-resolution quad-camera setups. For the Nord Lite, we expect to see at least a secondary ultra-wide camera with similar overall results to the Nord. Quick Charge OnePlus was one of the first smartphone manufacturers to offer really fast charging. While this has now become a staple for the entire portfolio, low voltage fast charging solutions are in short supply in this segment. The detection of the 18W charger could indicate that OnePlus is considering other standards as well.