There is still a lot to learn on the OnePlus Nord 5 mid -range, but after the official announcement of the phone earlier this week, we at least know that it will be considerably different from the Nord 4 OnePlus.
The model of last year was strongly marketed as “the only 5G unibody metallic smartphone on the market” – according to OnePlus, North 4 used “aeronautical quality aluminum” which made it “elegant, strong and less subject to Shatter”. We agree with this evaluation in our review OnePlus Nord 4, describing the metal frame of the phone as “a small touch that makes the North 4 distinct and feels well protected against drops and blows”.
Why, then, did OnePlus decided to remove the metal on the next North 5? We asked the question to the director of OnePlus marketing for Europe, Celina Shi, in an exclusive interview, and even if she could not share details on the new design of the North 5, she shed light on the reason why OnePlus chose to abandon this characteristic apparently important.
“Although I cannot reveal details on the Nord 5 materials of the series, I can say that it will not be in a metal setting this year,” said Shi. “Our concept of design for all our devices is based on consumer understanding. Following a global survey conducted in Europe, North America, India and China, we found that our target audience highly emphasizes design. ”
“They constantly prefer styles that are short, simple and elegant. In response to this, in the Nord series this year, we offer an inspired Nordic design that reflects these values and resonates with our consumers in the world. ”
Picture 1 of 2
Presumably, OnePlus refers to Scandinavian minimalism when he says “Nordic inspiration design” – and the first teaser image that we saw from the next North 5, it is certainly a more stripped affair than the two -colored biblled pattern on its rear panel).
The colors of North 5 will also be inspired by Nordic geography; We already know that the phone will be launched in a shade called “dry ice”, for example.
And if you are wondering if the name “North” itself has an impact on OnePlus’s latest conception philosophy, it is more a good coincidence. Like the co-founder of OnePlus, Carl Pei, revealed it exclusively to Techradar in 2020, “North” refers both to “North” in the direction of navigation and to oneplus “to return to [its] True North ”as a brand.
But the absence of metal is not the only big change of design to come on the northern oneplus 5. With the North 4, OnePlus overthrew the script on the previous northern models by equipping it with a horizontal camera table, but the North 5 will again wear a vertical camera arrangement.
“With any smartphone, there are always negotiations between aesthetic design and what is physically possible in these parameters,” said Shi in relation to change. “As technological components are evolving, our design will also make the most related products that work optimally.”
“The camera module is vertical in the last northern series, because this arrangement optimizes the space in the device, allowing us to include a chipset, a battery and a screen of the best best in class inside.”
At the time of writing the editorial’s moment, we are only aware of one of these “best” specifications for the next northern 5th 5 – he will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 chipset – but we hope we will hear more about this potential addition to our best OnePlus Phones guide.
