The OnePlus Nord has already received a taste of aftermarket development via an unofficial TWRP build and a pair of custom ROMs, but all of these builds were utilizing the pre-built kernel from the stock OxygenOS firmware. The unavailability of the official kernel source code for the Nord at launch is a bit strange, considering the fact that OnePlus has historically published day-1 kernel sources for many of their phones. The wait is now over, though, as OnePlus has finally refreshed its GitHub repo and uploaded the kernel source code for the OnePlus Nord.
OnePlus Nord Review: Great Performance at a Great Price
The initial kernel source code release for the OnePlus Nord (code-name “avicii”) is based on OxygenOS 10.5.2 and not the latest OxygenOS 10.5.4. Nevertheless, the published sources should be useful to get the ball rolling on refining the stability of AOSP-based custom ROMs and aid in making custom kernels. You can take a look at the code by following the link below. Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the tip!
Besides OnePlus, Realme is another brand under BBK Electronics that maintains an admirable track record when it comes to publishing the kernel source code for the smartphones they sell. The company has now released the kernel source for the Realme X3 SuperZoom - an aggressively priced sub-flagship phone with some solid specifications like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC, a 120Hz display, and 30W Dart 3.0 fast charging.
Realme X3 SuperZoom: Kernel Sources ||| XDA Forums
Unlocking the bootloader of the Realme X3 SuperZoom is not a difficult task. And now that the kernel source for the phone is here, it should help kickstart third-party development for the device. Note that the base edition of the Realme X3 and the "SuperZoom" variant are almost identical except in their camera configurations, thus it could be possible that the aforementioned kernel source has been unified for both of them.