With Nord Buds and Nord CE 2 Lite, OnePlus experience becomes more affordable and that's a good thing

OnePlus has always been very serious about the Indian smartphone market. This year is no different. The company has launched multiple smartphones within the first five months of 2022 in India already. But at the same time, there is also a change in the way the company approaches the market. It is broadening its footprint. We have seen the top-of-the-line OnePlus 10 Pro and an affordable flagship, the OnePlus 10R. These smartphones offer flagship-grade hardware and signature Oxygen OS experience. However, they come with a premium price tag. So, this time, OnePlus has also added to the mix the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, a smartphone that brings the classic Oxygen OS and OnePlus experience to consumers at a lower price point.

That's a good thing. The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is the company's most affordable smartphone in India. It comes in two storage configurations. The base 6GB + 128GB variant has a price tag of Rs 19,999. Those seeking more RAM can opt for the 8GB RAM option, which costs Rs 21,999.

Now before we talk about the Nord CE 2 Lite, there is a key point to highlight: One reason, apart from the goodness of the recently launched OnePlus products, why the new Nord devices like Nord CE 2 Lite and the Nord Buds are significant is because of how they allow Indian consumers to get into the OnePlus ecosystem at a lower price points. And as we will explain in the following paras there are several benefits of getting into the OnePlus ecosystem.

Affordable yet competent

For the price, the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is a well-equipped phone. There is the Snapdragon 695 SoC inside it, which is competent enough in this segment. Then there is the display, which sports 120Hz refresh rate on its 6.59-inch IPS LCD. There is a 64MP triple-camera setup on the back and the battery life is excellent from its 5000 mAh battery. Despite the affordable price, the phone also comes with a 33W fast charging bundled with the box.

Essentially, OnePlus ticks the right boxes to offer value-for-money hardware at an affordable price. More significantly it is an advantage for consumers because now for the first time (if we discount the OnePlus X) they have access to signature OnePlus experience under Rs 20,000 thanks to the clean Oxygen OS, a refined design approach, some good hardware optimisation, and the kind of ecosystem -- read earbuds, TVs fitness bands and smartphone -- that work together seamlessly. The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G comes with Oxygen OS 12 based on Android 12 out of the box. You not only get some of the best Android 12 features that Google offers but the option to customise your phone for an enhanced user experience.

With Oxygen OS 12, consumers get classic OnePlus features like Zen Mode, Digital Wellbeing, etc. The new update brings OnePlus Shelf, OnePlus Scout, Private Safe, and the option to change icon shapes, font, etc. A more important point to highlight here is that the UI is almost bloatware-free, which gives it an edge over most of the other phones in the market.

The combination of value-for-money hardware, along with a clean, yet feature-rich software experience, does make the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G an attractive offering in the mid-range smartphone segment in India.

There are Buds too

The strategy of pushing OnePlus experience to more people is also evident from the Nord Buds, which have been launched along with the Nord CE 2 Lite. The Buds means users can get a system (TWS + a phone) that works seamlessly to offer an experience that is one up on what users will otherwise get in this price segment.

This is because Nord Buds unlocks some great features that work flawlessly with the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. When paired with the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, the TWS gives users the option to customise gestures, EQ settings and more within the Bluetooth settings itself. It also supports Fast Pair, meaning that the TWS is connected to your OnePlus phone in a jiffy as soon as you open the lid of the charging case.

The Nord Buds come with a price tag of Rs 2,799. Again, this relatively affordable pair of truly wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds -- most big brands are close to Rs 5000 -- packs some good hardware. The 12.4mm drivers inside each earbud are large enough to offer clean sound and good bass, as we found in our review. The earbuds also support fast charging, where a 10-minute charge will give you up to five hours of battery life. The unique-looking flat stem design is also a plus point as it distinguishes the Nord Buds from others who sport an AirPods-like cylindrical stem design.

All in all, the new Nord devices mark a welcome change in the OnePlus strategy. Long considered a brand for enthusiasts who had to spend Rs 40,000 or Rs 50,000 for clean and fast Android experience, OnePlus with the new Nord devices is bringing similar experience at a more affordable price point.

At the same time, it is worth noting that a more affordable Nord phone and competent yet well-priced Buds also open doors for consumers to get into the larger and seamless OnePlus ecosystem. The company also sells TVs -- both affordable and premium -- and fitness bands and smartwatches. All these devices often work seamlessly to offer consumers extra. For example, a pair of Nord Buds connected to a Nord smartphone offers little extra. Same for a Nord phone, when used alongside a OnePlus TV. Or a OnePlus phone when used along with a OnePlus smartwatch. Earlier, the price for entering this ecosystem was slightly high. Now, with Nord CE 2 Lite and Nord Buds, it has become more affordable.