OnePlus Nord N20 5G

Vibrant and bright display.

No high refresh rate mode.

There is no shortage of devices to choose from in this segment outside the US, but if you're buying from the carrier within the US, and that carrier happens to be T-Mobile or Metro, and you have a strict budget of $300 or less, then the Nord N20 5G...

Smooth and elegant software ; Sharp design ; Excellent battery life ; Supports fast charging ; Features headphone jack and microSD card slot

Limited camera capabilities ; No upgrade path to OxygenOS 13

The OnePlus Nord N20 is a smooth, striking, and affordable phone; just don't expect a flagship camera experience.

Big 1080p OLED that’s enjoyable to use ; Fast in-display fingerprint sensor ; Very good overall performance with 6GB of RAM ; Fast wired charging and charger included

Only one useful rear camera ; Still on Android 11 ; Unclear if unlocked version will offer broad 5G support

The OnePlus N20 5G offers a rich 6.4-inch OLED screen, fast wired charging, 5G connectivity on T-Mobile, and a speedy in-display fingerprint sensor. It all adds up to a phone that feels like it should cost more than its sub-$300 price tag.

Nails the basics ; 64-megapixel camera with good low-light capability ; Under screen fingerprint scanner ; Includes a headphone jack and room for a micro-SD

Screen smudges easily ; Display refresh rate capped at 60 MHz ; Not waterproof ; No huge advancement in specs from the N10

Solid performance ; Good cameras ; Quick 33W fast charging ; Beautiful AMOLED display

Weak vibration motor ; Only one major software update promised

The OnePlus Nord N20 5G is a solid all-arounder device that offers good value for the money despite some faults.

6.43-inch AMOLED display ; Clean and snappy software experience ; 4,500mAh battery with 33W fast-charging ; Sleek build quality

Only one year of OS upgrades (up to Android 12) ; No ultra-wide camera ; Single-firing speaker

It's easy to be spoiled by the glitz and glamour of flagship smartphones, but I'm genuinely surprised by how well the OnePlus Nord N20 5G holds its ground in the sub-$300 level. For the price , it's one of the cheapest phones to have a quality AMOLED...

Gorgeous AMOLED screen ; Solid performance ; Great battery life

Extra rear cameras are meaningless ; Only sold through T-Mobile ; Bloatware galore

as more fully featured alternatives. Otherwise, the OnePlus Nord N20 is the phone to get when money most definitely is an object.