OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review: in search of the classic OxygenOS experience

Why am I publishing a OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review in April 2022? Yes; I know the OnePlus Nord N100 is a year and a half old, having been released in October 2020, so a hands-on review in Q2 2022 seems strange; right?

Just last year, I had on written about the N100 as a valid option if you want a $200 smartphone with 90Hz refresh rate. It still is, and you should probably try it, if that is the value you are looking for. But that’s not why I am writing a OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review in April 2022. I am doing so because this is my first OnePlus smartphone ever.

I have had tons of Nokias, some Samsungs, iPhones, Xiaomis, TECNOs, Infinixes, itels, and others. But never a OnePlus before now. And I have wanted to for a while now.

I am testing the waters, and a budget OnePlus phone makes sense. What is OxygenOS like? What was it like before the recent mishmash with ColorOS? Those are questions I am particular about.

If you are a OnePlus lover, or you have been considering buying a OnePlus phone, this hands-on article will interest you, as old as the N100 is. One thing I will find out from this experience is how its age impacts on the everyday experience. I really don’t think that the Snapdragon 460 processor is that aged that it is redundant in 2022, but I shall find out. Let’s look at the key specs of the phone, for starters.

OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review: Phone Specs

• Launched with OxygenOS 10.5, based on Android 10
• 2G/3G/4G mobile networks
• 6.52”, 720 x 1600 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, IPS LCD, Gorilla Glass 3
• 8 MP selfie camera
• 13 MP main lens + 2 MP macro lens + 2 MP depth sensor
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 chipset (11 nm)
• Adreno 610 GPU
• 4 GB RAM
• 64 GB built-in storage
• memory card slot (dedicated)
• Dual Speakers
• Fingerprint scanner (rear-mounted)
• USB-C connector.
• 5000 mAh battery, with 18W fast charging
• Colours: Midnight Frost

OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review: Unboxing

The box is a decent package that contains the phone itself, a red USB cable, a power adapter, and documentation. There is no 3.5mm audio headset in there.

OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review: First Impressions

The N100 has a good feel in the hand: you will be forgiven for supposing that it is more premium than its price indicates. Setting it up was fairly easy. Using the OnePlus switch app (now called Clone Phone), I was able to move everything – audio, images, video, and apps – from the phone I was using to the Nord N100. And it all happened in under 30 minutes.

I didn’t have to install my apps on the phone. Beautiful. That is usually the most painful part of switching to a new smartphone. It also copied text messages and phone call logs over. Did I say, beautiful? Thereafter, I logged into all my regular apps – Google apps, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. I was ready to start using it.

I didn’t take note of how long it took to charge the battery from around 39 to 100%, because I was busy with other things. So, I can’t provide any definite feedback on the charging in this Nord N100 hands-on review. But you can be sure I will pay attention to charging times and include that info in this article as soon as I can. But OnePlus Nord N100 has 18W fast charging for filling up its big 5000mAh battery.

As for performance, I already had an idea of what to expect from a Snapdragon 460 processor and 4 GB of RAM. I still have access to a Nokia 3.4, which has those exact specs. Here is the conclusion about the performance on the 3.4:

Clearly, Qualcomm’s claims about the Snapdragon 460 chipset are true. Plus, the Nokia 3.4 uses Adreno 610, the same GPU coupled with the more powerful Snapdragon 665 chipset. Then, there’s 4 GB RAM bolted in there to help with app launching and switching.

Altogether, Nokia 3.4‘s performance has been dreamy.

Nokia 3.4 review

OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review: OxygenOS

OnePlus Nord N100 shipped with OxygenOS 10.5, based on Android 10. It has received a number of smaller updates and one major update, which is its last. It now runs OxygenOS 11.0.5, based on Android 11. And that is sad for me, because I was hoping to have an experience of OxygenOS 10, which was the last time the UI had the classic look and feel before the new visual changes, including the dalliance with OPPO’s ColorOS UI took place.

I have played with OxygenOS 11 a bit. I got used to it quickly, which is a good thing. I don’t think it is bad, but it isn’t what I was looking forward to. What I really wanted to experience was the classic OxygenOS experience, so I decided to make it happen. I decided I would find the original OxygenOS 10 system file and downgrade the OS to v10.

I haven’t done any flashing or manual firmware installation in years, having decided long ago that I was done with that life. But I really wanted to experience OxygenOS as it originally was, so I set out to find stock OxygenOS 10. I found a website that had the firmware file for OxygenOS 10.5.7 – total of 2.2GB in size. I figured I would need a download accelerator to make the download happen really fast, so I installed one and set myself to the task. Some adventure again; right?

I got the firmware file in the foot folder of the Nord N100 and went over to the Local upgrade menu to run it. Alas; I got a message that says, “The version of your selected package is lower than that of the current system. To avoid failure when booting up, downgrading is not allowed”. Tears. Looks like I do not get the chance to talk about legacy OxygenOS in this Nord N100 hands-on review.

I have been away from flashing for years, so perhaps there is something I can still do to make it work? If you know, please leave a comment. But for now, this OnePlus Nord N100 is stuck on Android 11. My longing to experience legacy OxygenOS might just have to wait till v13 is out, which is when OnePlus reverts to the old user interface. More adventure in the future.

My conclusion about OxygenOS 11 is that it looks like OnePlus tried to implement a one-handed style similar to what Samsung did with OneUI, but didn’t implement it across board, and certainly didn’t implement it as well as Samsung did.

OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review: Competitors

It is natural to compare it with a phone like Nokia 3.4, which exists in a similar bracket. Like the N100, the 3.4 shipped with Android 10, is powered by a Snapdragon 460 too, has 4GB RAM and 64GB built-in storage, a 13 MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. See our Nokia 3.4 review.

A more recent competitor with similar specs is TECNO Spark 8C. It has a 6.6-inch display with 90Hz refresh rate, ships with Android 11 and TECNO’s heavily customised user interface, has a Unisoc Tiger processor coupled with up to 3GB RAM, 64 GB storage, 13 MP rear camera, a 5000mAh battery, and 10W charging.

Neither of these phones quite matches the package of the Nord N100. If you want one, it is available on Amazon for $180. It is still available on AliExpress as well. It is also available from local retailers in different countries. In Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, for example, it can be found on Jumia sites and Jiji.

My first encounter with OnePlus Nord N100 has been good. I haven’t used it yet to make any phone calls or do anything heavy, so I can’t speak about how it holds up under those conditions, but I will get to it. Also, because this is an older device, there will not be a follow-up full review. Anything I have to say about my experience with it will keep being added to this OnePlus Nord N100 hands-on review article.

You can read our Nokia 3.4 review.

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Author: Mister Mobility

Master storyteller and founder of Mobility Nigeria, Mister Mobility, has used and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.