After much hype and hullabaloo, the OnePlus Nord is finally here. And this time, it brought back the long-dead ‘Flagship Killer’ slogan, thanks to the use of quality mid-range processors and the smooth experience. But a phone is much more than just using the processor and camera sensors. The software also plays a vital role and more importantly it depends on how you tune the internals of your phone.
Since its official launch, we’ve had a good time with the OnePlus Nord and have gathered a number of important tips and tricks based on our experience and findings.
If you want to get the most out of OnePlus Nord, here are the top tips and tricks you need to know.
OnePlus North
Still haven’t bought the OnePlus Nord? If you haven’t already, check it out here.
1. Quick Launch Shortcuts for Fingerprint
Who doesn’t love shortcuts? Well, then, you’re ready for something great with the OnePlus Nord. With your new phone, you can access app shortcuts directly from the fingerprint scanner. Yes, you read it right.
All you have to do is touch and hold the fingerprint scanner for a little longer than usual. When the phone is unlocked, the shortcut menu will be displayed immediately.
To enable this feature, go to Settings > Utilities > Quick Launch and toggle the switch.
After doing that, tap on the Shortcut Settings option to add all the apps you want in the Quick Launch menu. So if you use Google Maps a lot, this is one of the fastest ways to access it. The best? You can also add a Settings shortcut to it.
The only downside to this feature is that you have to disable Face Unlock. But fingerprint unlock is fast enough if you ask me.
2. Face Unlock
If you can’t take advantage of the Face Unlock feature of your OnePlus phone, how about making it a little smarter? You may have observed that when the phone is unlocked, it immediately opens to the home screen.
It can be a bit problematic at times. Imagine a scenario where you just want to check notifications, but unlocking in the middle of the screen means you have to take a few more steps.
Fortunately, there is a way to change this. To do this, go to Security & lock screen > Face Unlock and disable the ‘Auto unlock once…’ option.
Now your phone will unlock the moment it sets its sights on you. But unlike the previous one, it won’t rush you to the home screen.
3. Ambient Clock Style
With OnePlus Nord, OnePlus has added a number of stylish clock styles to its ambient display. Now you can have a mix of analog and digital watch faces on your lock screen. And to tell the truth, the combination of white and red looks really stylish.
To enable a specific watch face, go to Customization > Watch Style and choose a style.
At the same time, you want to select all the information you want to appear on the lock screen. To make selections, go to Display > Ambient Display and toggle between the options you want displayed.
4. Back to Power Menu
Do you find it annoying that Google Assistant opens when you long press the power button? Because you can easily invoke Google Assistant by swiping up diagonally on the home screen. So if you want to go back to the traditional power menu, don’t worry, there is an easy way.
Go to Settings > Buttons & Gestures and select ‘Press and hold power button’. Select Power Menu from the options and that’s it.
So, what benefits does it provide? For starters, if you are using the phone with one hand, you can take a quick screenshot using the screenshot option.
Cool Tip: Did you know that you can trigger Amazon Alexa using the power button? To do this, install the Alexa app on your phone and use the same settings as above to select Alexa from the Assistant menu.
5. Enable Dark Mode in Other Apps
Dark Mode is a godsend in disguise for phones like the OnePlus Nord with AMOLED displays. It not only allows you to squeeze more juice, but also provides a cool look. All you have to do is activate the mod from the Quick Settings menu and the mod will be active in certain applications.
Everything that is beautiful. But did you know that you can force this mode in certain apps? Yes, you read it right! There is a great experimental feature that lets you get the most out of the AMOLED display.
Go to Settings > Utilities > OnePlus Lab and select ‘Enable dark tone in more apps’.
Then toggle the switch next to the app for which you want to enable dark mode. Once done, restart that app and that’s it. Hello dark side.
In the meantime, Star Wars fans can check out some great wallpapers here.
6. Hello 48 Megapixel Shooter
OnePlus Nord lets you shoot using both a 12-megapixel lens and a 48-megapixel or 12-megapixel lens. However, the camera defaults to only 12-megapixel mode.
To switch to 48 megapixel mode, go to Photo mode in camera mode and tap the icon named 12 MP. Choose 48-MP and that’s it. Is not it beautiful?
Do you know: You can enable Filters when 48 MP mode is active. To enable it, tap the little Filter icon in the upper right corner of the screen and choose one from the list.
7. Rearrange Camera Modes
Are you using all camera mods? If no, you can discard some of the less used mods from the camera interface. This simple gesture lets you get to your favorite mods faster, but it also helps you give the camera interface a clean look.
To do this, open the camera settings by tapping the button in the top right corner and scroll down until you see the Special Modes option. Tap on it to select.
Now tap on the Minus sign opposite the mods you want to remove. You can also rearrange some mods by dragging them up/down.
Other than the wide-angle selfie mode setting, the OnePlus Nord’s camera settings share many similarities with the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. Click here to find the best camera settings for your OnePlus phone.
Get the Most Out of Your OnePlus Nord
These were some of the settings you could change on your OnePlus Nord. Of course, these are not the only ones. If you want, you can go to Utilities and fiddle with Parallel Apps and App Locker options. Or you can change the image type to Vivid (Display > Vivid Color Effect). In short, there is so much to discover on your new phone.
And have you tried the Dirac Audio Tuner in Sounds & Vibrations? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below.
Next: How does OxygenOS stack up against Samsung’s One UI? Check out the comparison below to see what you’re missing.
OnePlus North
Still haven’t bought the OnePlus Nord? If you haven’t already, check it out here.
