The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is making waves in the smartphone market, and for good reason. With 256 GB storage, an 80W SuperVOOC charger, and a host of flagship-level features, this smartphone is a powerhouse of performance and style.
It is a substantial upgrade from its predecessor and is poised to compete with premium devices.
Let’s dive into the details and explore what makes the OnePlus Nord 3 5G a must-have device.
Contents
- 1 OnePlus Nord 3 – Comprehensive Review:
- 1.0.1 Design and Build Quality:
- 1.0.2 Display:
- 1.0.3 Battery Life and Charging:
- 1.0.4 Performance and Software:
- 1.0.5 Audio and Speakers:
- 1.0.6 Camera Performance:
- 1.0.7 Connectivity and Other Features:
- 1.0.8 Performance, Camera, and Features:
- 1.0.9 Performance and Benchmarks:
- 1.0.10 Camera System: A Flagship-Like Experience:
- 1.0.11 Video Recording:
- 1.0.12 Alternative Offers to OnePlus 5g Nord 3:
- 1.1 Our Verdict:
Key Specifications of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G:
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G boasts some impressive specifications:
This phone promises a flagship experience at a mid-range price.
OnePlus Nord 3 – Comprehensive Review:
The OnePlus Nord 3 has quickly gained attention for its impressive specs and competitive pricing. Packed with features that rival flagship devices, the Nord 3 promises to offer a premium experience without breaking the bank.
Let’s dive into its specifications, performance, and user experience to see how it stacks up.
Design and Build Quality:
The OnePlus Nord 3 boasts a sleek design with ultra-thin bezels and one of the smallest punch-hole cameras available. The Dragontrail glass ensures durability, while the matte glass back adds a premium touch.
Despite its large display, the phone maintains a lightweight and ergonomic design, making it comfortable for extended use.
Display:
The OnePlus Nord 3 features a stunning 6.74-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels (450ppi), offering sharper visuals compared to its predecessor.
Its dynamic 120Hz refresh rate (40Hz–120Hz), 10-bit color depth, and HDR10+ certification ensure vibrant colors and smooth transitions.
Key highlights include:
Brightness: Up to 1114 nits (auto) and a maximum of 1450 nits, making it ideal for outdoor use.
Color Accuracy: Multiple modes like Vivid (DCI-P3) and Natural (sRGB) deliver accurate colors.
Visual Enhancements: Features like Image Sharpener, Video Color Boost, and Bright HDR Video Mode elevate the multimedia experience.
The refresh rate operates efficiently across apps, dynamically switching between 120Hz, 90Hz, and 60Hz depending on usage, though the promised 40Hz mode was not observed in testing.
Battery Life and Charging:
Equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, the Nord 3 delivers exceptional endurance with a 103-hour rating in testing. Whether browsing, streaming, or calling, the phone sustains all-day use effortlessly.
Charging is a breeze with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging, allowing the device to reach:
60% in 15 minutes
100% in 32 minutes
This matches OnePlus’s claims, ensuring users spend minimal time tethered to a charger.
Performance and Software:
Powered by Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.1, the Nord 3 combines smooth navigation with a host of customizations.
The MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of RAM, ensures lag-free multitasking, gaming, and app usage.
OxygenOS brings enhancements such as:
Custom AOD Themes: Display personalized designs, clocks, and Spotify controls.
Zen Space and O Relax Apps: Promote focus and relaxation with dedicated modes and ambient sounds.
RAM Expansion: Virtual RAM up to 12GB, providing a boost for heavy tasks.
The interface is clean, fast, and packed with useful tools like Large Folders, Sidebar, and flexible windows for multitasking.
Audio and Speakers:
The stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos offer a rich and immersive audio experience. The hybrid setup ensures balanced sound with a punch of bass, scoring Very Good in loudness tests.
Whether streaming movies or playing games, the sound quality is crisp and detailed.
Camera Performance:
The Nord 3’s 50MP Sony IMX890 main sensor excels in daylight and low-light scenarios, capturing sharp and vibrant images. It’s accompanied by:
8MP Ultra-Wide Lens: Great for landscapes and group shots.
2MP Macro Lens: Suitable for close-up photography.
The 16MP front camera delivers high-quality selfies and video calls. Features like Night Mode, HDR, and AI enhancements further improve photo quality.
Connectivity and Other Features:
The OnePlus Nord 3 includes:
5G Connectivity: Ensures faster internet speeds.
Under-Display Fingerprint Scanner: Quick and reliable.
IR Blaster: Handy for controlling appliances.
Widevine L1 DRM: Supports HD streaming on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video.
Performance, Camera, and Features:
The OnePlus Nord 3 sets a new benchmark in the mid-range smartphone category by packing flagship-level performance and an impressive camera setup.
Here we will understand the performance, camera quality, and overall user experience, backed by benchmark tests and real-world observations.
Performance and Benchmarks:
At the core of the OnePlus Nord 3 is the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, a flagship-grade 4nm processor that also powers the OnePlus Find N2 Flip. This powerhouse CPU consists of:
One ARM Cortex-X2 core clocked at up to 3.05 GHz.
Three Cortex-A710 cores running at 2.85 GHz.
Four Cortex-A510 cores operating at 1.8 GHz.
The device is equipped with the Mali-G710 MC10 GPU, featuring 10 cores and clocked at 850 MHz, ensuring exceptional graphics capabilities.
It comes with either 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, providing a seamless multitasking experience.
Benchmark Tests:
Geekbench: The Dimensity 9000 chip in the Nord 3 delivers competitive single-core and multi-core scores, solidifying its position as a performance leader in its price bracket.
AnTuTu Compound Test: This test places the Nord 3 among the best-scoring smartphones in its segment, reinforcing its flagship-grade hardware reputation.
GPU Performance: While on screen GPU tests were somewhat underwhelming due to the higher-than-1080p resolution and lack of support for high-frame-rate gaming, offscreen tests revealed the raw power of the Mali-G710 GPU. The results highlight its ability to handle even demanding games and apps efficiently.
Stress Tests:
The CPU Throttling Test showed excellent results with an 80% stability rate, even in warmer conditions.
The 3D Mark stress test, however, revealed performance throttling after 10 minutes, dropping to 55.4%. While this may seem concerning, real-world performance remains unaffected, as the phone constantly runs smoothly and fast.
Camera System: A Flagship-Like Experience:
The OnePlus Nord 3 is equipped with a triple-camera setup that has seen significant upgrades, particularly in its primary sensor:
Main Camera: A 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor (1/1.56″) with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Octa-PD autofocus.
Ultrawide Camera: An 8MP Sony IMX355 sensor with a 16mm f/2.2 lens.
Macro Camera: A 2MP GalaxyCore GC02M1 sensor.
Camera App Features:
The Nord 3’s camera app is intuitive, featuring AI Scene detection and Auto HDR for improved dynamic range. A Pro mode offers granular control over ISO, shutter speed, and white balance, with RAW image support for enthusiasts.
Daylight Photography:
The main camera delivers excellent 12.5MP photos with high detail, vivid colors, and minimal noise. However, there’s noticeable over-sharpening, which OnePlus could address with a software update.
The 2x zoom produces decent results that are more than just basic cropping, maintaining good detail and dynamic range.
Portrait shots shine with accurate subject separation, vibrant colors, and convincing background blur.
The ultrawide camera, while decent, lacks the punch of the main sensor, producing slightly desaturated colors and over-sharpened images.
Low-Light Photography:
The Auto Night Mode elevates the Nord 3’s low-light photography.
The main camera captures detailed and bright images with excellent color reproduction.
The ultrawide lens also performs admirably, producing noise-free images with good saturation and dynamic range, albeit with a longer capture time.
Selfie Camera:
The 16MP Quad-Bayer selfie camera delivers sharp, vibrant images under ideal lighting conditions. However, in low-light scenarios, detail drops, and noise becomes noticeable, even with HDR enabled.
Video Recording:
The OnePlus Nord 3 offers a versatile video recording experience across all its cameras, except the macro lens. Here’s a detailed look:
Main Camera: Supports up to 4K@60fps video recording with sharp detail, realistic colors, and impressive dynamic range. Bitrates are generous at 50Mbps for 4K and 25Mbps for 1080p at 30fps (h.264 codec). However, the lack of electronic image stabilization (EIS) in 4K videos is a significant drawback.
Ultrawide Camera: Records in 1080p@30fps, offering good quality with plenty of resolved detail, accurate colors, and minimal noise. Low-light videos are usable but slightly underexposed.
Selfie Camera: Captures 1080p stabilized videos, delivering pleasant results with good detail and realistic colors, despite some softness.
AI Highlight Mode: Available in 1080p, it enhances exposure and saturation, giving light sources a better look.
While the overall video quality is solid, the digital 2x zoom struggles with low detail and over-sharpening, and low-light 4K videos, though decent, could benefit from brighter exposure.
Alternative Offers to OnePlus 5g Nord 3:
In the highly competitive midrange segment, the Nord 3 faces stiff competition. Here are some alternatives:
Realme 11 Pro+ (€500): Offers a unique design, faster charging, and up to 4x lossless zoom. However, its Dimensity 7050 chipset is less capable for gaming.
Poco F5 (€430): Boasts Dolby Vision OLED, EIS for 4K videos, better battery life, and powerful hardware. However, the Nord 3 edges out with faster charging and IP54-rated protection.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (€380): Features Dolby Vision display, 200MP OIS main camera, and 120W fast charging but falls short in graphics and ingress protection.
Samsung Galaxy A54 (€400): With IP67 waterproofing, 6.4-inch AMOLED, and capable cameras, it’s a good option for those prioritizing durability. However, performance and charging speeds lag behind.
Vivo V27 Pro (€400): Offers better overall camera quality and similar size/power but lacks stereo speakers and ingress protection.
Our Verdict:
The OnePlus Nord 3 strikes a balance between affordability and premium features. Its Fluid AMOLED display, long battery life, 80W charging, and stereo speakers make it a multimedia powerhouse. Coupled with robust performance and a polished software experience, the Nord 3 is a strong contender in its price range.
The OnePlus Nord 3 excels in delivering flagship-grade performance and a versatile camera experience at a mid-range price. While the lack of high-frame-rate gaming support and some issues with low-light performance could be improved, these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise impressive package.
Whether you’re a performance enthusiast, a photography lover, or someone who values a sleek design, the Nord 3 stands out as a top contender in its class.
The OnePlus Nord 3 strikes a fine balance between performance, design, and price. Here’s a summary of its key strengths and areas for improvement:
Pros:
Design: IP54-rated dual-glass body with slim bezels and vibrant colors.
Display: Outstanding high-resolution AMOLED with HDR10 support and excellent brightness.
Performance: Flagship-grade Dimensity 9000 chipset and smooth OxygenOS.
Battery: Exceptional battery life and 80W fast charging.
Camera: Reliable photo and video quality in most scenarios.
Cons:
No EIS for 4K video recording.
Limited selfie camera performance and poor macro quality.
GPU throttling in demanding games and lack of high frame rate gaming.
Despite these shortcomings, the Nord 3’s €449 price tag makes it a strong contender.
It is a well-rounded device that caters to users seeking flagship-level features at a mid range price.
For those who value display quality, battery life, and general performance, the OnePlus Nord 3 deserves a spot at the top of your shortlist.
Buy On:
