OnePlus Nord N30 5G review: Possibly the best sub-$300 phone you can buy

$300 used to get you a crappy Android phone, but OnePlus flipped that narrative

Hyperdrive Hits

• 5/5 Medals of Yavin: Highly recommended for those looking for an affordable phone or a second backup phone that gets the job done

• Large 5,000 mAh battery

• Fast wired charging with the brick and cable in the box

• Capable rear cameras

I spent most of the last couple of decades covering flagship phones and that has cost me thousands of dollars. As I’m no longer getting paid to write about phones, checking out affordable options is a prudent thing to do.

For the past couple of weeks I have been testing out the new OnePlus Nord N30 5G smartphone that is now available for just $299.99. I did not know how low the price was when the review unit arrived and I started testing it out. I assumed it was $450 or so, typical of a mid-range Android phone so I was very impressed when I received the press materials with the launch details and price.

I primarily used the phone with my T-Mobile SIM, but also tested out my secondary US Mobile SIM (running on the Verizon network) to see how it performed. If you are looking for an affordable phone, a first phone for someone, or a backup phone then the $299 OnePlus Nord N30 is clearly one to consider.

Rating:

As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the OnePlus Nord N30 5G five (5) Medals of Yavin. If it was priced in the $450 to $500 range then I would drop that to four, but that $300 price is awesome. The phone gets the job done and has a lot to offer at this price, without causing me any frustration like I have seen even in other more expensive Android phones.

The Good and the Bad

It’s pretty rare for me to not find something that can be improved with a product so here is my summary of the phone.

Pros

• Cheap price

• 120 Hz display

• Massive 5,000 mAh battery

• Ample RAM and storage, microSD expansion too!

• Fast wired charging, brick and cable in the box

• 5G across most carriers

• Even less expensive at Metro and T-Mobile

Cons

• No water resistance

• One year of Android updates

Experiences

There are several specifications and features of the OnePlus Nord N30 5G that punch above its $300 price. These include the ample 8GB of RAM (with an additional virtual 8GB available), 120Hz adaptive refresh rate display, 3.5mm audio port, microSD expansion card slot, and fast charging with a 50W charger in the package. The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is especially attractive as a first smartphone for someone.

We often see connectivity compromises with these low cost Android phones, but the Nord N30 works with LTE and 5G across all US networks and most worldwide networks. There are honestly very few compromises made by OnePlus with this new phone.

The large display supports adaptive refresh rates up to 120 Hz with crisp and clear fonts. OnePlus also includes a screen protector on the display. The front-facing camera is a center hole punch variant, but it is quite small and not distracting at all.

I am a major fan of the right side fingerprint sensor/power button similar to what I saw on the Sony Xperia 1 V and the Galaxy Z Fold 4. There is a microSD expansion card slot on the upper left side too and this supports up to 1TB cards.

There is even a 3.5mm audio port on the bottom of the phone, which is fairly unique on phones today. USB-C is used to charge the phone with fast charging provided through a 50W charger (included in the box).

Three camera lenses are on the back with the major focus on the 108MP main camera that supports 3x lossless zoom. The other two 2MP cameras are used for depth sensing and macro modes. The back is glossy plastic and a serious fingerprint magnet, but plastic also won’t break when you drop it (in most situations).

OnePlus also impresses me with it’s software. The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is powered by Android 13 with OxygenOS. OxygenOS enhances the Android experience through several advanced settings and options while still providing a fairly stock Android experience. There is no bloatware, ads, or other miscellaneous apps added to take away from the experience of having a powerful and capable phone.

OnePlus stated that it will provide one year of Android OS updates and three years of bi-monthly Android security updates. For $300, this is as good as you can expect and the security updates for three years is great to see.

Specifications

Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G

• Display: 6.72-inch, 2400x 1080 pixels, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

• Operating system: Oxygen OS 13.1 based on Android 13

• RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X

• Internal storage: 128GB UFS 2.2

• Cameras: 108MP main with 3x lossless zoom, 2MP depth assist, 2MP macro, and 16MP front-facing

• Battery: 5000 mAh with 50W fast wired charger

• Dimensions: 165.5 x 76.0x 8.33 mm and 195 grams

• Colors: Chromatic Gray

Bottom Line

I’m blessed to be able to afford flagship phones and I am able to justify the cost due to how much work I get accomplished with the phone. However, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G is clearly a fantastic option for those looking for an affordable phone or even a secondary phone. It has not let me down at all and has even allowed me to capture decent photos to share with family and friends.

The Nord N30 5G is one of the best sub-$300 phones I have ever tried out and OnePlus did a great job deciding which areas to compromise and which to promote for a compelling smartphone.

Make sure to check out purchase options from T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile as you may be able to save money from those resellers. There are also pre-order options for a free set of earbuds so take advantage of that offer as well.

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. OnePlus sent the OnePlus Nord N30 5G for evaluation purposes as a long-term loaner, but has no influence over the content in this review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that add no additional cost to you and I may earn a small commission.