The OnePlus Nord N10 and Nord N100 have had a good run at T-Mobile and MetroPCS since they arrived in the United States in February 2021. The Nord N20 5G is a descendant of the Nord N10, and it is looking and acting like it will be a runaway hit as well. If you are looking for the best phone under $300 in the United States of America, you should consider it. Here’s why.
Let’s start with the price. The Nord N20 is going for only $229 right now. But price is nothing on its own. It is only when we look at the value it offers for that price that we can tell for sure whether a phone is a good deal or not. So, how good is OnePlus Nord N20 5G?
A 6.43” FHD+AMOLED Display with 120Hz refresh rate and Schott Xensation Up glass protection graces the front of the Nord N20. If the name is new to you, Schott Xensation is a toughened glass Gorilla Glass alternative. There is a fingerprint sensor embedded in the display.
Powering the phone is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, which delivers solid performance along with 5G Internet connectivity. It is the same processor in the Nokia G60 5G which we reviewed here. For RAM, there is 6 GB, which is decent. Built-in storage is 128GB. There is an expandable storage slot for up to 512GB cards.
The battery is of 4500mAh capacity and charging is a 33W affair, which is pretty fast. OnePlus Nord N20 has a 15MP selfie camera and a triple camera configuration at the rear. We are looking at a 64 MP wide angle camera, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP depth sensor. Don’t expect outstanding photo quality from these; at best they produce okay photos, which is good for most people. If you are a photography enthusiast who wants more out of their smartphone cameras, look higher up. You have to spend more than $300.
What colors is the OnePlus Nord N20 5G available in? Only one: It is available in Blue Quantum. And it looks good. The frame is made of plastic, as is the back panel. Which is why the phone is lightweight. That is a good thing.
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What are some features we wish were different in the OnePlus N20 5G?
The display lacks higher refresh rate; all you get is 60Hz. Also, the loudspeaker is a single unit; a stereo speaker setup would have been nice, but then we must remember that this is a $229 phone. For a phone that was released in April 2022, it is a shame that it runs Android 11 out of the box. It should have launched with Android 12. What is worse, it will get only one update – to Android 12, the very version it should have shipped with.
Why OnePlus Nord N20 5G is the best phone under $300 in the United States
There are phones that cost more than the Nord N20 in the $300 category. None of them offers quite the value that the N20 does. Some even offer more features. But the total package of the N20 makes it the most attractive smartphone in the category. You can even trade-in an old eligible phone and get up to $100 value for it.
OnePlus Nord N20 5G was initially available only through T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile carriers at launch. While still mostly limited to T-Mobile and its MVNOs, you can now also buy one from OnePlus’ website, Amazon, and Best Buy. OnePlus says it supports the 4G networks of Verizon and AT&T. If you are not on T-Mobile’s network, be sure to check with your carrier before making the purchase, though.
The Best Phone Under $300 In The USA: Alternatives
Alternative phones to consider in place of OnePlus Nord N20 5G in the USA include: iPhone SE 3rd Generation (2022), Samsung Galaxy A23 5G, Samsung Galaxy A33 5G, Moto G Power (2022), and Motorola Moto G82. All of these offer similar features along with 5G connectivity. If you are not convinced that the Nord N20 is the best phone under $300 in the US, do have a look at these models and others.