The OnePlus Nord CE 3 has generated much anticipation and excitement among smartphone enthusiasts, aiming to fill the void in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment. With an attractive price tag of Rs 26,999, this new addition to the Nord lineup promises to deliver an impressive user experience without breaking the bank. Here’s our first look at the OnePlus Nord CE 3, which showcases its design, specifications, and potential to take on its competitors.
Unboxing Experience: Familiar and Elegant
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 follows the trend set by other Nord devices, with its black-and-blue box and a satisfying unboxing experience. Inside, you’ll find the smartphone itself, along with essential accessories such as a high-quality teal-colored protective soft case, an 80W SUPERVOOC charger, USB Type-A to Type-C cable, SIM ejector tool, paperwork, and stickers.
Design: Familiar Nord Aesthetics with Subtle Changes
The design DNA of Nord phones is evident in the Nord CE 3, with flat railings and a near-flat plastic rear panel, giving it a stylish appearance. Available in two colors – Aqua Surge and Gray Shimmer – the phone exhibits slight distinctions from the Nord 3. Notably, the Nord CE 3 lacks an alert slider and features a single flash module at the rear. With an IP54 certification for water and dust resistance, it outperforms its similarly priced competitors like the iQOO Neo 7 and Poco F5.
Display and Audio: A Smooth Visual Experience
The Nord CE 3 boasts a 6.7-inch Fluid-AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Unlike the variable refresh rate of the Nord 3, the Nord CE 3 offers three hard stops at 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. The display performs well indoors, and its daylight legibility will be tested in further evaluations. Dual stereo speakers further enhance the audio quality.
Performance: New Snapdragon Processor and OxygenOS
Internally, the Nord CE 3 debuts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G SoC in India, featuring four overclocked Cortex A78 cores. It comes with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 internal storage options of 6GB/128GB and 12/256GB. Running on OxygenOS 13.1 based on Android 13, the device ensures a smooth user experience.
Camera: Same Sensor as OnePlus 11
The camera setup on the Nord CE 3 includes the same 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 sensor as the flagship OnePlus 11, accompanied by an 8-megapixel Sony IMX355 ultrawide and a 2-megapixel macro camera. For selfies, there’s a 16-megapixel front camera.
Battery and Charging: 5,000mAh with Rapid Charge
The Nord CE 3 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that can be fully charged in just 32 minutes using the 80W SUPERVOOC charger.
Conclusion: A Promising Budget Contender
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 appears to fill the gap left by the Nord 2T, offering competitive features and performance in its price range. Although it presents a watered-down version of the premium Nord 3, it retains the core essence of its higher-end sibling. To ascertain its true potential and performance, we await our full review, so stay tuned for more insights. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 is poised to become a favorite choice for those seeking a well-rounded smartphone without breaking the bank.
