OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition Review – The Retro Flagship Smartphone

The OnePlus Nord 2 x PAC-MAN Edition comes with PAC-MAN themes, wallpapers, retro-style app icons, charging animation, ringtones, and sounds from the game, as well as the original PAC-MAN 256 app pre-installed on the mobile and a protective case that covers almost every aspect of the PAC-MAN video game, providing fans with a nostalgic experience. If you buy the phone through the OnePlus store, you’ll also get a special LEGO-styled building blocks DIY mobile holder.

While the OnePlus Nord 2 was advertised as bridging the gap between the premium and budget pricing categories under the OnePlus name, the question remains as to whether the latest addition is worth the selling price. This is our review of the OnePlus Nord 2 PacMan edition.

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The OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage and is priced at Rs 37,999, about Rs 3,000 more than the standard OnePlus Nord 2. It is available on Amazon India and on the OnePlus store.

Along with the OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition, you will get the following inside the box:

• ‎SIM Tray Ejector
• 65W Fast Charger
• PAC-MAN themed protective hard case
• Type C USB Cable
• OnePlus stickers, quick start guides and manuals

Before we talk in detail about the OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition, let’s see what the on-paper specs look like:

• Display: 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED

• Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 1200

• RAM & ROM: 12 GB RAM 256GB Internal Storage

• Software: OxygenOS 11.3, Android 11

• Rear camera: 50MP + 8MP + 2MP

• Selfie camera: 32MP

• Battery: 4,500 mAh

• Weight: 189 grams
• Dimensions: 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm

To begin with, the design of this limited edition OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition is nearly identical to that of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G that we reviewed earlier this year. However, a new silver-themed back cover composed of a dual-layered material that glows in the dark has been added. The glowing back cover shows a Pac-Man-inspired maze pattern, which puts the smartphone to life and makes it pop out in dark surroundings. The back cover strikes in normal light with simple design elements like small shiny dots, a Pac-Man motif, and the OnePlus logo.

Internally, the special edition OnePlus Nord 2 is identical to its sibling with the plain cover, as I previously stated. With HDR10+ support, you receive the same 90Hz display. The OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition includes the AI-enabled features found on the Nord 2- AI Colour Boost and AI Resolution, which uses MediaTek’s Picture AI quality technology. The features automatically enhance colours and brightness while playing videos on YouTube, VLC, with the Resolution Boost feature also working for Instagram.

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The OnePlus Nord 2 x PAC-MAN Edition is equipped with a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G flagship-level CPU that is capped at 3.0 GHz at max, instead of a Qualcomm chip. Aside from its looks and fast charging capabilities, the phone’s CPU is another important selling point.

The Mediatek Dimensity 1200 is a high-end SoC with support for 5G. The hardware hasn’t changed; it’s the same as on the top-of-the-line OnePlus Nord 2 5G. The OnePlus Nord 2 x PAC-MAN Edition is the highest variant of the group, with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

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When it comes to the software in OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition, it’s the same OxygenOS 11 you’re used to, but with PAC-MAN-inspired content available everywhere. There are PAC-MAN-themed themes, wallpapers, icons, animations, and colour schemes available. OnePlus has hidden some stuff, like wallpapers, ringtones, stickers, and other treats, throughout the retro-themed operating system that may be unlocked by completing various challenges. There’s also a PAC-MAN camera filter called ‘Pacnomaly,’ which overlays the normal frame with retro effects and moving ghosts.

Among the many PAC-MAN-inspired items, I enjoyed the OnePlus apps’ pixelated icons. However, I wish the icons were available for all applications on the system, not only OnePlus apps, to provide a consistent experience.

The camera specifications of the OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition are the same as on other Nord 2 smartphones. A triple camera layout is present on the backside, with two large camera housings and one small housing with a dual-tone LED flash. It appears to be a step backwards in the camera department when compared to the predecessor; there is no fourth camera on the back, and the phone lacks a macro camera.

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In daylight, the triple-camera arrangement does a solid job capturing images. In good and moderate lighting settings, the primary camera does most of the heavy lifting, rendering photographs with good dynamic range and details.

The wide-angle camera is reliable, takes excellent wide-angle photos, and outperforms competitors in its category. Selfies taken with its 32 MP selfie camera are fair and decent.

With a 4,500mAh battery, the OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition easily lasts a day under normal conditions. The high-performance mode consumes a significant amount of power, but the super-fast charging feature eliminates this issue. The 65W Warp Charge is incredibly fast, charging the battery from 0 to 100% in around half an hour. After only 15 minutes of charging, the smartphone can last up to a whole day.

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OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Edition includes NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2, as well as stereo speakers (one on the bottom and one on the earpiece). There is a USB Type-C port on the bottom that also serves as an audio output; there is no 3.5 mm jack for earphones or headphones. The phone features both an in-display fingerprint reader and a face unlock option when it comes to security.

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Pros

• 90 Hz Fluid AMOLED display
• Good Cameras
• Great Performance
• Stereo Speakers
• Dual 5G SIM Support
• 65W charging
• Glowing Fluorescent Design
• Excellent Battery

Cons

• No IP rated
• No 120Hz refresh rate

Here’s the detailed review of the standard OnePlus Nord 2.