Skip to main content

OnePlus Nord 2 will use a customized version of MediaTek’s flagship chip

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is now officially coming soon, and it will be the first OnePlus phone to feature a MediaTek processor and not a Qualcomm chip. The Nord 2 will use MediaTek’s flagship, top-spec Dimensity 1200 chip, which will be customized under the Dimensity Open Resource Architecture initiative, where device makers can tune the processor to its own requirements.

Rumors about a MediaTek-powered Nord 2 have spread for a while, and while this announcement has made the partnership and device name official, there’s no indication when the phone will get a full launch, or its other specifications. Instead, it concentrates on how MediaTek and OnePlus have customized the Dimensity 1200.

Teaser poster for OnePlus and MediaTek's partnership on the Nord 2 5G.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The chip inside the Nord 2 will be called the Dimensity 1200-AI, chosen to reflect the alterations made using the Open Resource Architecture, which are mostly to the artificial intelligence (A.I.) capabilities of the chip. For example, the camera on the Nord 2 will recognize 22 different scenes and adjust the color and contrast accordingly, whether it’s for stills or video, plus it will add live HDR effects to video. Optimization for lowlight photography is also mentioned.

The A.I. enhancements continue on the screen. AI Color Boost will add an HDR-like effect, and AI Resolution Boost upscales the resolution of content shared on some as-yet-unnamed social media apps. A Smart Ambient Display feature will alter the screen’s brightness based on ambient lighting conditions to make viewing more comfortable. Finally, OnePlus says the Dimensity 1200 will be great for gaming, with low latency and low power consumption, while highlighting the screen’s high refresh rate on games like Brawl Stars.

These A.I. features will be exclusive to the OnePlus Nord 2’s Dimensity 1200-AI processor, and based on MediaTek’s explanation of the Open Resource Architecture project, should be tailored to make the best use of the other hardware used inside the phone. In other words, the chip will hopefully make the screen and camera on the Nord 2 something special. This is also the first phone to be announced with a Dimensity 1200 chip tuned this way.

Although OnePlus says we should “stay tuned” for details of the Nord 2 5G’s arrival, a recent rumor places the launch date as sometime around July 24.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The new OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is perfect if you hate expensive phones
Promotional image showing the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite.

OnePlus describes the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite as, “exuding a simple charm,” and in the world of folding smartphones and $1,500 iPhone models, there are probably a lot of people looking for a phone exactly like it.

If you’re new to the Nord series, these occupy the lower end of the market compared to the flagship OnePlus 11 and are released outside of the U.S., where instead the company releases phones like the OnePlus N300.

Read more
It’s finally happening — OnePlus will release a folding phone this year
The Oppo Find N2's open screen.

OnePlus just announced during its “From Fast & Smooth to Beyond” panel at MWC 2023 that it will be launching its first foldable smartphone this year. While OnePlus launched the OnePlus 11 earlier this month, it has revealed plans for its first foldable smartphone in the second half of 2023.

“Our first foldable phone will have the signature OnePlus fast and smooth experience. It must be a flagship phone that doesn’t settle because of its folding form, in terms of industrial design, mechanical technology, and other aspects. We want to launch a device that aims to be at the pinnacle experience of today’s foldable market.” said Kinder Liu, President, and COO of OnePlus, at the event.

Read more
OnePlus Buds Pro 2’s spatial audio makes me want to ditch the AirPods Pro
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 black case on a cork coaster and black earbuds on a white and gray table top.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Bluetooth earbuds are among a half-dozen gadgets OnePlus launched at its Cloud 11 event. These earbuds intend to elevate your sound experience with a rich and highly customizable audio profile, Google's Fast Pair support, high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) audio through the LDAC and LHDC Bluetooth audio codecs, Dolby Audio, and noise cancellation.

While these features have essentially been carried over -- and slightly improved -- over the first generation of the OnePlus Buds Pro launched last year, the Buds Pro 2 are equipped with spatial audio capabilities that help create a realistic and experiential 3D audio space around you. Along with spatial audio, the earbuds also support head tracking to simulate an ambiance that changes as you move your head around.

Read more