The OnePlus Nord series has established itself as a reliable option for those seeking premium features without the flagship price tag. The latest addition to this lineup, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G, continues this tradition by offering an impressive array of features that closely mirror those of its high-end counterparts. With a powerful MediaTek chipset, a vibrant AMOLED display, and a versatile camera setup, the Nord 3 5G promises to deliver a premium experience at a more accessible price point. In this review, we’ll dive deep into its design, performance, and overall value to see if it truly lives up to the hype and meets the expectations of discerning smartphone users.

Design

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G keeps things simple with a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 back and flat edges, giving it a premium and glossy look that is prone to fingerprints. The phone includes a quality rubber case for added protection. Weighing 193.5g, it is lightweight and comfortable to hold, with a plastic frame and four rings on the back for cameras, LED flash, and PDAF sensor. It holds an IP54 certification for water resistance.

The design is consistent with its predecessor, the OnePlus Nord 2T, featuring an alert slider and power button on the right, volume rocker on the left, and a USB Type-C port, SIM tray, and speaker grille at the bottom. It also includes an IR blaster at the top and a fingerprint scanner under the display for quick unlocking.

Display and Audio

The 6.74-inch Super Fluid AMOLED display with a dynamic 40Hz-120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color depth, and HDR10+ support delivers an incredibly smooth and responsive experience. The display’s colors are sharp and crisp, and the brightness is sufficient for visibility even under direct sunlight. With razor-thin bezels, Widevine L1 certification, and HDR10 support, the viewing experience is exceptional. The dual speakers, tuned by Dolby Atmos, provide immersive audio quality.

Cameras

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G features a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary camera with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP macro unit. The primary camera delivers vivid, well-defined images in daylight and captures acceptable details in low-light conditions, albeit with some noise. The ultra-wide camera, with a 112-degree FoV, captures expansive shots with minimal distortion, though the details and color accuracy are not as good as the primary sensor. The macro sensor struggles to deliver crisp shots.

The 16MP front camera performs well in both daylight and low-light conditions, capturing likeable selfies with accurate skin tones and some smoothing. It supports portrait mode, though edge detection could be better.

Performance and Software

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G shows significant performance improvements over its predecessor. It scored 8,45,270 points on AnTuTu and topped the charts on Geekbench. The device handles multitasking and gaming smoothly, with minimal throttling during intensive tasks. The vapour chamber cooling system helps manage heat during prolonged use.

With up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, the Nord 3 5G offers ample memory, though the storage is not expandable. Virtual RAM expansion is possible up to 12GB.

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G runs on Oxygen OS 13.1 based on Android 13, featuring minor bug fixes and improvements. The Zen mode has been enhanced, and a new O-Relax app offers soothing sounds and mini-games for relaxation. OnePlus promises three years of major software upgrades and four years of security updates. The handset is TÜV SÜD rated for fast and smooth performance for at least 48 months.

Battery Life and Charging Speeds

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G boasts a 5,000mAh battery, delivering up to 9 hours of screen-on time and a commendable score of 13 hours and 50 minutes on the PCMark 3.0 battery test. The phone supports 80W fast charging, achieving a full charge in about 50 minutes.

Price and Value

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is available in India starting at Rs 23,999. At this price, it offers a compelling blend of flagship-like features, including a high-quality display, robust performance, capable cameras, and fast charging. Compared to other mid-range competitors like the Motorola Edge 50 and POCO F5 the Nord 3 5G stands out with its overall balanced offering, making it a great value for the price.

Final Verdict

In our OnePlus Nord 3 review we found out that the OnePlus Nord 3 5G stands out in the mid-range segment, competing with the Motorola Edge 40, POCO F5, and iQOO Neo 7. While the Motorola Edge 40 offers a premium design, IP68 rating, and wireless charging, it may have heating issues and shorter battery life. The POCO F5 excels in battery life but suffers from bloatware. The iQOO Neo 7 offers 120W flash charging but lacks an ultra-wide sensor.

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G offers a superior display, solid camera performance, smooth operation, respectable battery life, and fast charging, making it a compelling choice despite its slightly higher price. The handset is available in India starting at Rs 23,999.

Pros and Cons

OnePlus Nord 3 5G – Pros:

• Outstanding display quality
• Strong camera performance in various lighting conditions
• Smooth, lag-free performance
• Exceptional battery life and fast charging speeds

OnePlus Nord 3 5G – Cons:

• Non-expandable storage
• Design choices like a glass back and flat edges instead of curved ones

Image Credits :The images used in this review are sourced from the official One plus Website https://www.oneplus.com/ . All rights reserved to their respective owners.

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