OnePlus continues to solidify its “inexpensive but highly effective” popularity with the Nord N300 5G. It goals to enhance upon its predecessor however stumbles in some locations.

When the N200 launched again in July 2021, we preferred its hefty 5,000mAh battery, which lasted two full days in our assessments, and its first rate, if considerably restricted, digital camera system. The N200 apparently struck a chord with shoppers, so releasing a successor is smart. 

At a look, the N300 is a little bit of a combined bag (opens in new tab) because it builds upon what the older mannequin had, however does not increase the bar in all areas. In reality, the telephone really sees a number of function downgrades. Nonetheless, this seems to be like a very good mid-range 5G telephone at an ideal worth; not many can declare that. 

Options

Beginning with the nice, the N300 sports activities the identical 5,000 mAh battery because the N200, plus it helps 33W quick charging because of the corporate’s personal SuperVOOC tech. OnePlus, sadly, didn’t give any particulars on precisely how briskly the telephone can cost. To offer you an thought of what the speeds could possibly be, the iPhone 14 Professional can go from a lifeless battery to a 50 % cost (opens in new tab) in about half an hour with a 30-watt charger. However in contrast to Apple, OnePlus will embody a 33W charging block with the N300.

OnePlus opted for the MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset as an alternative of the Snapdragon 480 on the N200. The previous has a “20 % larger CPU clock velocity” (2,400 for the 810 vs 2,000 MHz for the 480), in response to benchmark assessments (opens in new tab). This leads to sooner processing, extra environment friendly battery utilization, and better-performing video games. It’s also possible to anticipate speedy connectivity because of the 5G help.

In the case of the remainder of the N300’s package deal, it’s kind of of a rollercoaster journey. The rear digital camera system, for instance, has gone down to only two lenses (the N200 had three). No less than the principle lens acquired an improve. It’s now a 48MP lens for larger high quality images, whereas the N200 had a 13MP lens (the opposite rear lens and the front-facing digital camera are nonetheless 2MP and 16MP, respectively). 

At 6.56-inches, the N300’s display screen is a bit larger than the one on the N200, and it presents a 90Hz refresh fee for a smoother viewing expertise. The decision, nonetheless, dropped in high quality. It’s now an HD Plus decision (1600×900 pixels) as an alternative of the N200’s Full HD Plus (2400 x 1080). Storage continues to be 64 GB, however it may be upgraded to 1 TB.

Restricted availability

Our different subject with the N300 is its availability; it is slightly restricted. You should purchase the telephone (in both Midnight Black or Jade Inexperienced) in america for $228 beginning November 3. There will likely be just one 4GB RAM mannequin at launch. The N300 can also be launching in Canada, however no date was given. It’s additionally unique to T-Cellular and its pay as you go service, Metro.

Do not misunderstand: T-Cellular isn’t a nasty provider by any means; removed from it. Earlier this yr, a report from Speedtest confirmed that T-Cellular has the best-performing 5G community out of all of the telephone carriers within the US. It simply would’ve been good to see different choices obtainable. We reached out to OnePlus and requested if there are plans to incorporate different carriers for the N300 telephone, and for particulars on the Canadian launch date. This story will likely be up to date if we hear again.

Should you’re excited about different low-cost smartphones, TechRadar simply up to date its finest funds US telephone listing for 2022.