OnePlus Nord N30 SE

OnePlus Nord N30 SE Review: A Budget-Friendly 5G Powerhouse

Launched in January 2024, the OnePlus Nord N30 SE has made its mark as a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive features, especially considering its affordable price point of KSh 24,000 in Kenya. Let’s take a deep dive into its specs and see if it lives up to the hype.

OnePlus Nord N30 SE 5G specs and price in Kenya

Design and Build Quality

The OnePlus Nord N30 SE strikes a solid balance between style and durability. With its glass front and plastic frame and back, the device feels sturdy yet lightweight at 193g. The dimensions (165.6 x 76 x 8 mm) ensure that it fits comfortably in your hand without feeling too bulky. The sleek design is offered in two colors – Black Satin and Cyan – both of which give the phone a modern and elegant look.

Display

The 6.72-inch IPS LCD display is large and offers an impressive 86.6% screen-to-body ratio. With a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, this phone delivers a sharp and vibrant visual experience, making it great for media consumption, browsing, and casual gaming. Although the IPS LCD panel doesn’t match AMOLED displays in terms of contrast and colors, it still provides good brightness and clarity, especially at this price range.

Performance

Under the hood, the OnePlus Nord N30 SE is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 6020 chipset, paired with an octa-core CPU (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. For most day-to-day tasks, like browsing, social media, and video streaming, the phone delivers smooth performance. While it may not be a gaming powerhouse, it handles light to moderate gaming fairly well. The 4GB of RAM, however, could limit multitasking on heavier apps, but it’s sufficient for casual users.

Camera

The camera setup is one of the standout features of the Nord N30 SE. The 50 MP primary camera with an f/1.8 wide lens is capable of capturing detailed, sharp photos in well-lit environments. It’s supported by a 2 MP depth sensor that adds a nice bokeh effect to portrait shots. For selfies, the 8 MP front-facing camera does a decent job, producing clear images for social media and video calls. While the camera isn’t flagship-level, it punches above its weight for the price.

Battery and Charging

With a sizable 5000mAh battery, the OnePlus Nord N30 SE can easily last a full day with moderate use, which is impressive for a phone in this price range. Charging is quick, with support for 33W wired charging. In just 30 minutes, the phone can be charged to 51%, which is excellent for those who need a fast power-up. The battery performance is solid overall, making it a reliable companion for daily use.

Software

Running on Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.1, the Nord N30 SE offers a clean, user-friendly interface. OxygenOS provides a smooth and responsive experience with minimal bloatware. It also includes several customization options to enhance the user experience, which is a hallmark of OnePlus devices.

5G Connectivity

The Nord N30 SE comes equipped with 5G capabilities, making it a future-proof device for users who want faster network speeds. While 5G coverage in some regions may still be limited, it’s a nice addition for those in areas with 5G infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

For KSh 24,000, the OnePlus Nord N30 SE offers excellent value for money. It has a solid build, a large display, good performance, and a reliable camera setup. Its battery life and fast charging capabilities further enhance its appeal. The only downside is the 4GB of RAM, which may not be ideal for power users or those who multitask heavily. However, if you’re looking for a budget smartphone with 5G connectivity and strong all-around performance, the OnePlus Nord N30 SE is a great option.

See also the OnePlus Nord N20 SE.

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