I held the OnePlus Nord 6, and it feels nothing like a 9,000mAh phone

The Nord 6 is OnePlus’ first phone to launch globally with a humongous 9,000mAh battery. Before its launch on April 7, OnePlus has already teased most of its specifications and what to expect from the design, but there’s definitely more to talk about.

Ahead of the launch, OnePlus has sent us a unit of the Nord 6, which allows us to bring you real-life images of the phone. While OnePlus plans to launch the Nord 6 in three colors, we have it in Mist Green. The color is a tad similar to the green we once saw on phones like the OnePlus 8 or the 10T, even though the design is more in line with the recent OnePlus flagships.

From the get-go, you’ll notice the similarities with the flagship OnePlus 15. We know that Samsung sells enough phones to defy the idea that each phone must look different, and perhaps that’s what guides OnePlus, too. In fact, OnePlus proudly trumpeted this design choice during the pre-launch briefing.

The design also notably varies significantly from the Nord 5 launched last year.

Even the square camera bump on the Nord 6 is roughly the same size as the OnePlus 15’s, making the two devices even less distinguishable. However, the subtle differences, such as distinctions in the camera, will not escape the practiced eye.

Unlike the OnePlus 15, the Nord 6 has only two cameras on the back, including a 50MP Sony primary sensor. The third opening is occupied by the infrared scanner, which can be used to control your electrical appliances, such as air conditioners or TVs, provided they are from recognized brands.

Other differences pertain to the materials used; the Nord 6 uses plastic for both the back and the frame, even though the latter’s metallic finish could fool you into believing it’s made of metal. The frame also houses a mono speaker grille and a USB-C port at the bottom, as well as a noise-canceling microphone at the top.

The Nord 6 also comes with a Plus Key, further cementing OnePlus’ departure from the alert slider. The Plus Key, as you may know, is used to save screenshots to Plus Mind, where AI analyzes the screen’s contents and suggests suitable actions. However, it can also be customized to perform actions such as turning the flashlight on or off or switching audio profiles.

A step away from bulky big-battery phones

What’s striking is that the OnePlus Nord 6 will not weigh your hand down like other bulky phones with 9,000mAh batteries might. While the lighter materials are partly to credit for that, Nord 6 also uses a silicon-carbon battery for the high capacity without adding a substantial weight or making the device unpleasantly thick.

OnePlus expects us to refrain from sharing the exact weight until the launch, so we’ll discuss that once the device is officially released next week.

Meanwhile, we can show the contents of the OnePlus Nord 6’s box. Do note these are for the Indian unit, and OnePlus may skip the 80W SuperVOOC charger from the box in certain European markets, as it has in the past. In addition to the 80W charger, the box includes a silicone case, SIM ejector, and some documentation detailing the warranty.

OnePlus Nord 6’s specs are almost out already

When it comes to the Nord 6’s specifications, OnePlus hasn’t left much to the imagination. Apart from its game-changing 9,000mAh battery and 80W fast charging, the Nord 6 is confirmed to feature a 1.5K 165Hz display and be powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip.

These features combined will allow the Nord 6 to run certain heavyweight titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile at 165fps. It also borrows the G2 Wi-Fi accelerator and another chip to enhance touch response.

Alongside the 50MP primary camera, the Nord 6 also gets a 32MP selfie camera with autofocus. The phone also gets a big durability boost with IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings along with an MIL-STD-810H certification for military-grade toughness.

While the pricing remains a mystery, previous leaks suggest it could be priced at €449 in Europe, £399 in the UK, and under Rs. 40,000 in India.