Why the OnePlus Nord N200 belongs among the top affordable phones

The smartphone industry spent years inching towards larger, more expensive handsets. Now, the market is swinging back to affordable devices, but they’re not giving up their powerful flagship features. One such example is OnePlus’ Nord lineup, specifically the OnePlus Nord N200. It’s an excellent pick for just about anyone who wants speedy 5G connectivity, but it offers so much more than that.

See also: OnePlus Nord N200 review

The premium OnePlus touch

High-end 5G speeds launched as an exclusive feature for pricey flagship phones. Now, they’ve come to the masses as Qualcomm has found ways to embed even more power into affordable chipsets. The Nord N200 packs one such SoC, the Snapdragon 480, and the chip helps it rise above other devices at a similar price.

OnePlus has always made a name for itself with its remarkable displays, and even the budget-friendly Nord N200 is no exception. Every version offers the same Full HD+ 6.49-inch display. If that’s not enough, you also get a crisp 90Hz refresh rate to keep everything running smoothly — another classic OnePlus touch.

As for other creature comforts, the Nord N200 hides a massive 5,000mAh battery and snappy 18W fast charging onboard. Even the fit and finish on the N200 is a perfect example of what OnePlus can do.

Features that flagships forgot

As affordable devices become more popular again, they’re hanging onto key features. A few features, in fact, that the fancy flagships have left behind. For example, the Nord N200 still comes with a headphone jack. Even though Bluetooth earbuds are having their moment, true audiophiles can tell you how nice having a 3.5mm jack really is.

OnePlus doubled down on its commitment to expandable storage with a microSD slot. You already get 64GB of space right out of the box, but now you can boost it by up to 256GB any time you like. You’ll even find the fingerprint reader mounted on the side for convenient access in a time where most have moved to an under-display option.

Who could forget OxygenOS? It’s not necessarily a feature that flagship phones have forgotten, but it remains an excellent Android skin. You won’t find any bloatware, and it keeps a minimalist profile — uncommon on some of the best budget devices.

Can you find another $250 rival?

For all of the features you get in the OnePlus Nord N200, you might expect it to rival the Google Pixel 4a 5G on price. It doesn’t. In fact, the Nord N200 will set you back just $239.99 at full price. Better, it’s available almost anywhere you look, including T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy, and of course, OnePlus itself.

See also: The best budget phones you can currently buy

Should you decide on a carrier version of the OnePlus Nord N200, T-Mobile has plenty of ways to save. Right now, you can grab your Nord N200 for free from the Un-Carrier as long as you don’t mind trading in your old device. Over at Metro by T-Mobile, you can get the Nord N200 for free just for signing up.

While you take the time to decide between an unlocked Nord N200 and a carrier version, don’t forget to check out @oneplus_usa on Instagram. It’s your home for all of the latest gram-worthy OnePlus content around.