OnePlus Nord CE6 hands-on review

A basic 50MP camera

The Nord CE6 has a basic camera system, comprising a single 50MP f1.8 OmniVision OV50D40 sensor on the back, and a 32MP f2.0 GalaxyCore GC32E2 camera on the front with autofocus. There is no ultra-wide camera on this phone, something you did get on previous Nord CE models.

Both cameras can record 4K video, but the rear camera can only record it at 30fps, and the front camera cannot record 60fps video at all, even at lower resolutions.

The camera app has all the basic features, including a portrait mode, pro mode, document scanner, panorama, and a film mode that records 21:9 video. The pro mode offers a bunch of controls, but a RAW mode isn't one of them.

Starting with the rear camera, the images look decent at first glance. The color reproduction is good, and it has improved quite a bit on OnePlus devices over the years. The dynamic range is okay, as occasionally some highlights will be sacrificed in favor of metering the entire scene correctly. However, the details are lackluster, as the images look a bit soft and fuzzy at 100% zoom levels.

Main camera

There is also a 2x digital zoom mode. While the images from this look fine at first glance, upon closer inspection, the lack of detail from the sensor becomes especially glaring.

Main camera: 2x digital zoom

We decided to compare the Nord CE6 camera with its predecessors to see how things have come along.

Starting with the Nord CE5 with its Sony LYT-600 sensor, the Nord CE6 shows some regression in terms of detail. The CE5 is definitely a bit over-sharpened, and it's good that OnePlus does not do that anymore, but the CE6 images go far too much in the opposite direction, thanks to more natural processing but also just a worse sensor. The result is that the older CE5 has better surface detail and texture resolution, creating a more visually appealing image overall. And the difference becomes massive in low light conditions.

Main camera: Nord CE6 • Nord CE5 • Nord CE4

We also threw in the Nord CE4 in there, since we had one lying around. This phone also has the Sony LYT-600 sensor, but shows different processing compared to the other phones. The colors definitely look worse now compared to modern devices; however, the level of detail is still good, and ever so slightly better than the Nord CE6. If the same sensor was carried over a third generation in a row but had the improved processing of modern OxygenOS, then the CE6 could have had the best images of the bunch here.

Unfortunately, one area where the Nord CE6 simply cannot compete against its predecessors is in ultra-wide photography. The decision to leave this out is simply bizarre, and unlike with the OnePlus 13s, it is not supplanted by a telephoto lens. You just get one camera, take it or leave it, and, at this point, the company may as well put up a sign that says 'We do not wish to compete on cameras anymore'.

The only saving grace here, to some extent, is the new front camera. This is a definite improvement in terms of quality compared to the previous Nord CE cameras, even if it cannot do 4K60 video.

Selfie camera

Speaking of video, the Nord CE6 captures decent 4K 30fps video from its main camera. Unfortunately, there is no 60fps recording at 4K, something the Nord CE5 with its faster chip could do.