There used to be a time when OnePlus just sold flagships, releasing just two phones a year. While that allowed the Chinese manufacturer to build an initial following, it needed to focus on the mid-range and budget categories to cater to a mainstream audience, and it started doing just that with the introduction of the Nord back in 2020.
It would be an understatement to say that the debut of the Nord series has catalyzed OnePlus sales globally; the mid-range portfolio now makes up an overwhelming majority of the company's sales, and allowed it to shoot up the ranks in key markets, particularly North America.
However, OnePlus looks very different in 2026; the Nord series is limited to select regions now, and it doesn't sell the budget-focused models in North America any longer. The phones are still good; if anything, the Nord 6 has the best battery life in its class, but with limited availability, the Nord series isn't quite getting the same level of reach as in its heyday.
OnePlus Nord 6: This is a battery monster
If you want a new mid-ranger in 2026, you should consider the Nord 6 — if you're in a country where it's available. The Nord 6 is one of the best mid-range choices in India, and a lot of that is down to the massive 9,000mAh battery. The battery easily lasts over two days, and you get 80W charging.
The rest of the phone is just as good — it has powerful internals, a bright OLED panel, and decent cameras. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is one of the best platforms in this category, and it does a standout job in daily use as well as gaming. You don't miss out on any of the extras either, with the phone getting IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance.
What I'm saying is that the Nord 6 nails what it means to be a mid-range phone, and it's my choice if you want a OnePlus phone.
The Nord 6 has unmatched battery life, and thanks to powerful internals and a vibrant OLED panel, you get a phone that's just a joy to use.
OnePlus Nord 4: Still a great mid-ranger
The Nord 4 is one of the best OnePlus phones I used in a long time, and most of its allure is down to its all-metal chassis. Most manufacturers got comfortable with metal-and-glass designs in recent years, so it was refreshing to see OnePlus return to a metallic chassis on the Nord 4, and it absolutely makes a difference in daily use.
The rest of the hardware isn't all that bad either; the AMOLED panel is vibrant, there's a 5500mAh battery with 100W charging, and it has decent internal hardware — gaming wasn't an issue on the device. But where it truly excels is the cameras; the Nord 4 is able to deliver striking images, and that gives it a distinct edge in the mid-range segment.
The Nord 4 is one of the best mid-rangers of 2024, delivering great hardware, stellar cameras, 100W charging, and two-day battery life.
OnePlus Nord CE 6: A standout budget choice
OnePlus says the CE in the naming of the Nord CE 6 stands for Core Edition, and just like the last two models, the phone has a lot going for it. Thanks to a 8,000mAh battery, the device easily delivers two days of battery life without any problems, and you get the standard 80W charging.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 is another positive, and this platform does a fantastic job both with gaming and regular use. In an interesting move, the Nord CE 6 gets the same IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance as the regular Nord 6, and this gives the device much better resilience against water ingress. Combine that with an elegant design, decent main camera, and a fluid interface, and you get a good overall budget phone.
The Nord CE 6 has a lot of the same features as the Nord 6, and it holds up just as well in daily use.
