OnePlus Nord US version just leaked — and it will be even cheaper

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The OnePlus Nord's successor may be less powerful than the original, but also cheaper and available for purchase in the U.S.

XDA Developers found references to a new device, codenamed “Billie” within OxygenOS 10.5, OnePlus' latest version of Android 10. This device uses a Snapdragon 690 processor, Qualcomm's newest lower mid-range chipset with 5G capabilities. 

Since the OnePlus Nord used a Snapdragon 765G chipset, it looks like this next phone would see a step down in power, but hopefully that means it will cost less as a result. 

Four different model numbers for this device were identified: "BE2025”, “BE2026”, “BE2028”, and “BE2029”. These could either refer to differently specced models, or to identical versions of the handset optimized to work with specific mobile bands in different markets around the world.

It's speculated by XDA developers that the BE prefix on the model number means that "Billie" refers to musician Billie Eilish. That's because the Nord's model number begins with "AC", and had the similarly musical codename of "Avicii" during development, the name of the acclaimed Swedish DJ.

Elsewhere in the code, there's references to "Billie2T" and "Billie8T". This again may refer to two different models of the same Snapdragon 690-powered phone. 

The 8T in the latter name may have you thinking of the OnePlus 8T that we're expecting to see around October this year. However, the 8T is expected to use a Snapdragon 865 chip like the original OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro devices, or the newer version of it, the Snapdragon 865 Plus. It's highly unlikely that OnePlus would decide to use a Snapdragon 690 in one of its flagship devices, as that would put it at a significant power disadvantage to its competitors.

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei recently said that the U.S. market would be getting a Nord-branded phone later this year. However, he also suggested that this device may not be the same phone as the one the company just released. Therefore it seems plausible that this Snapdragon 690 device will be the Nord phone that OnePlus offers to American customers.

The OnePlus Nord turned out to be a fantastic cheap phone when we reviewed it, offering a lot of attractive features at a sub-$500 price. However, the Google Pixel 4a may be appearing soon according to recent rumors, and it will reportedly start at an even lower $349. So this could be OnePlus' plan to better compete with Google and the $399 iPhone SE while still offering 5G connectivity, something both of its rivals lack.

Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.

Latest in OnePlus Phones
Oppo Find N5 from the top, partly open
OnePlus Open 2 could have been the best foldable of the year — so why is it not happening?
OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R
OnePlus reportedly developing massive smartphone batteries — what we know
Oppo Find N5 partly open, from behind
We won't be getting the OnePlus Open 2 this year
OnePlus 13 back
Major OnePlus leak claims OnePlus 13 Mini is actually OnePlus 13T — here's the specs
OnePlus 13R main interface
I left my OnePlus 13R alone for a week — and I was shocked at what happened when I returned
oppo find 5 teaser images showcasing thickness
OnePlus Open 2 images reveal just how thin this foldable phone could be
Latest in News
iOS 19 logo on an iPhone
Apple WWDC 2025: iOS 19 and everything we know so far
Siri
Siri 2.0 features reportedly only working ‘two-thirds to 80% of the time’
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Sunday, March 16 (#644)
Nintendo Switch 2
New Nintendo Switch 2 FCC filing suggests this beloved Nintendo controller could make a comeback
(From L to R) Rohan (Nik Dodani), Josh (Brandon Flynn), Dorothy (Edie Falco), John (Dean Norris), and Liddie (Lisa Kuthrow) in The Parenting
Max top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching right now
NYT Strands on a cellphone
NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #378 (Sunday, March 16 2025)