ISSUE 88 • ANDROID ADVISOR 33the same size – a
millimetre taller
and fractionally
wider, but also a
touch slimmer – and
adopts the same
rounded, vertical
camera module on
the back.
The primary
colour is a similar
shade of blue
- dubbed Blue
Void, thanks to
thesubtlehaloof
darkershadesaroundthephone’sedge - thoughyoucanalsograbthephonein
SilverRay(silver)orCharcoalInk(black).
Thesimilaritiesarejustasstriking
onthefront,wheretheNordCEuses
analmostidenticallysizeddisplay,but
thereis onebigchangehere:a single
selfie cameraonly. That’s a downside
whenit comestotakingphotos,but
is undoubtedlyanimprovementin
aesthetics,withnomoreclunkypill-
shapedcut-out.
Therehavebeenlargerchanges
though.Thebiggestis in buildquality
anddurability.LastyearOnePluswas
bullishaboutitscommitmenttousing
glasstobuildtheoriginalNord,but
thatwasoneofthecornerscuthere:
notonly are the NordCE’sframeand
rearbothmadeofplastic, but the glass
onthedisplayis no longer the strong
GorillaGlass.
Thatmeansthe CE is both less
durableandfeelsless premium. In
fairnesstoOnePlus, just about every
phonearoundthis price uses plastic, but
theglassbodywas part of the Nord’s
USP, and the CE will therefore find it that
muchhardertostand out from the pack.
Thereis anupside to using plastic
though.I’vealreadymentionedthat
theCEis slimmerthan the Nord at
7.9mm,butit’salso lighter – just 170g.
Thatis impressivewhen compared to
rivals,andmakesthe Nord CE a good
choiceforanyonewho wants a smaller,
lighterphonewithout compromising
ondisplay size.We were sent the Blue Void model.