OnePlus Nord 3 Review: Best Mid-Range Alternatives!
The OnePlus Nord 3 has arrived, continuing the tradition of excellence set by its predecessors in the midrange Nord lineup. Packed with impressive specifications and a notable improvement in software support, the Nord 3 aims to deliver an exceptional user experience without breaking the bank. Let’s delve into the details and discover what makes the OnePlus Nord 3 an enticing option for smartphone enthusiasts.
With its promise of three major Android updates and four years of security updates, OnePlus showcases its dedication to providing a prolonged and reliable software experience. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a budget-conscious consumer, the OnePlus Nord 3 offers an enticing package that is sure to satisfy your smartphone needs without compromising on quality.
OnePlus Nord 3: Video Review
| Specs | OnePlus Nord 3 |
| CPU | Mediatek MT6983 Dimensity 9000 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G710 MC10 |
| OS | Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1 |
| Memory Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM |
| Card slot | No |
| Display | 6.74 inches, Fluid AMOLED, 1240 x 2772 pixels, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Rear camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide)+8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide)+2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide) |
| 3.5mm jack | No |
| NFC | Yes |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 80W wired |
| Dimensions | 162 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| Colors | Misty Green, Tempest Gra |
Unboxing
Upon opening the box, you’ll be greeted with the smartphone resting comfortably in its designated spot, accompanied by a selection of accessories.
OnePlus Nord 3 comes with a well-considered package that includes essential accessories to enhance your user experience. While the cover is no longer included, the Nord 3 package does feature a powerful 80-Watt power supply and the iconic red cable for convenient charging and data exchange. Additionally, the pre-installed plastic film ensures that your device arrives with an added layer of protection for the display. With OnePlus’ commitment to quality and attention to detail, the Nord 3 package is tailored to meet the needs of discerning smartphone users.
Design
The OnePlus Nord 3 showcases a simple and refined design that combines elegance with practicality. With its slim profile, squared edges, and rounded corners, the Nord 3 offers a comfortable grip and a distinct aesthetic appeal.
The OnePlus Nord 3 adopts a sleek and minimalist design language. Its slim form factor, measuring 162 x 75.1 x 8.15 mm, ensures a comfortable hold without compromising on screen size or functionality. The 6.74-inch display is generously sized, providing an immersive visual experience while keeping the overall device compact. Despite its larger display, the Nord 3 weighs less than 200 grams, making it lightweight and easy to carry.
The back cover of the Nord 3 is crafted from Gorilla Glass 5, adding a touch of sophistication to the device. While it lacks an oleophobic treatment to repel fingerprints, the glass cover surprisingly aids in grip, enhancing the overall handling experience. Users who prefer to use the smartphone without a cover may find the matte black variant to be the most resistant to visible fingerprints, albeit potentially more slippery than other color options.
The rear design of the OnePlus Nord 3 exudes simplicity, with two large camera modules neatly integrated into the back panel. These camera modules house the device’s impressive triple camera system, capturing stunning photos and videos. The OnePlus logo is centrally positioned, adding a subtle branding element to the overall aesthetic.
The frame of the Nord 3 is constructed from plastic, but it does not compromise on quality or feel cheap. OnePlus has done an excellent job in ensuring that the edges resemble aluminum, giving the device a premium appearance. Additionally, the inclusion of a physical slider to toggle between silent, vibration, and sound modes is a convenient feature appreciated by users. The presence of an IR port on the upper side further enhances the device’s versatility.
While the OnePlus Nord 3 is not fully water-resistant, it does carry an IP54 rating, offering protection against limited dust ingress and water splashes. This rating provides users with peace of mind during daily usage, even in slightly challenging environments.
Display and audio
Flipping the OnePlus Nord 3 around reveals its true visual splendor—a stunning 6.74″ OLED display with minimal bezels. This immersive screen not only serves its functional purpose for multimedia consumption but also enhances the device’s overall premium character. The front design might remind users of the sleek aesthetics seen on the Galaxy S23 Plus.
The Nord 3’s display boasts impressive specifications. With a 1.5K resolution (2772 x 1240 pixels) and reduced bezels, the visuals are sharp, detailed, and visually striking. The adaptive refresh rate ranges from 40 to 120 Hz, although it should be noted that the display does not feature LTPO technology. Nevertheless, the panel supports 10-bit depth, HDR10+ for enhanced dynamic range, and provides 100% coverage of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spectrums.
With a peak brightness of 1450 nits, the Nord 3’s display ensures excellent visibility even in bright outdoor environments. Whether you’re watching videos, playing games, or browsing through your favorite content, the vibrant and punchy visuals on the screen are sure to captivate your attention.
The OnePlus Nord 3 takes the multimedia experience a step further with its audio capabilities. The device features two stereo speakers that deliver unexpectedly full-bodied and powerful sound, considering the slim profile of the smartphone. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos support enhances the audio experience, providing immersive soundscapes and clear audio output.
OnePlus Nord 3: Performance
The OnePlus Nord 3 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, built on a 4 nm architecture by TSMC. This advanced octa-core processor, considered a flagship offering from MediaTek in 2022, boasts impressive performance capabilities. Despite its relatively limited presence in smartphones, the Dimensity 9000 surpasses even the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in benchmark numbers. The Nord 3 leverages the full potential of this powerful SoC, resulting in a highly responsive user experience.
With the Dimensity 9000 at its core, the OnePlus Nord 3 seamlessly handles multitasking and demanding tasks. Switching between apps is swift, ensuring a fluid user experience. The device also excels in gaming performance, allowing users to engage in extended gaming sessions without experiencing excessive overheating issues. The powerful processor and efficient thermal management ensure a consistently smooth and enjoyable gaming experience.
The Nord 3 boasts excellent memory and storage capabilities. The tested variant features a generous 16 GB LPDDR5X RAM and ample 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage. This combination enables smooth multitasking and quick app launches, while providing sufficient space to store apps, media files, and documents. Additionally, a more affordable variant with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage is available, catering to different budget considerations.
The device supports Dual SIM 5G (dual nanoSIM), offering compatibility with the latest cellular networks. With WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 support, users can enjoy fast and stable wireless connections. The connectivity performance is solid, with excellent signal reception and reliable dual SIM management. WiFi range and stability are also notable, surpassing average expectations.
Functionality
The OnePlus Nord 3 runs on OxygenOS 13.1, which is based on the latest Android 13 operating system. This ensures users have access to the latest Android features and improvements. OnePlus provides software support for three years, offering operating system updates during this period. Furthermore, the Nord 3 enjoys an extended four-year support for security updates, ensuring a secure and reliable experience.
With the latest updates, OxygenOS 13.1 has received a visual overhaul. The graphics have been refreshed, and the animations have been refined, enhancing the overall aesthetics and fluidity of the user interface.
OxygenOS carries over popular features from previous iterations, including Zen Mode and Shelf. Zen Mode allows users to take a break from their digital distractions, encouraging a healthier screen-time balance. Shelf, a well-crafted page of widgets, offers practical shortcuts and quick access to various features and information.
Users have access to various customization possibilities, allowing them to personalize their device according to their preferences. Additionally, the Nord 3 comes with a selection of pre-installed apps, such as Notes, Browser, File Management, IR Control, and Gallery. These apps are thoughtfully included and not categorized as bloatware, ensuring a clean and clutter-free experience.
Camera
The Nord 3’s main camera, featuring a 50 MP Sony IMX890 sensor, produces commendable results. In both daylight and low-light conditions, the camera captures beautiful photos with rich detail and well-managed colors, sharpness, and contrast. The sensor proves to be a worthy replacement for the IMX766, previously seen on more expensive OnePlus and OPPO devices, inheriting most of its appealing characteristics. The main camera elevates the overall photographic experience of the Nord 3.
The performance of the 8 MP ultrawide camera on the Nord 3 leaves room for improvement. Cost limitations are evident in this area, resulting in subpar image quality and the absence of autofocus. Similarly, the 2 MP macro lens fails to add any meaningful contribution to the shooting experience. While the main camera shines, the Nord 3’s additional camera options may not meet the expectations of photography enthusiasts.
The 16 MP front camera on the Nord 3 delivers impressive selfies. The image quality is generally good, capturing details and rendering colors well. However, the simulated bokeh effect can appear too strong, potentially detracting from a more natural aesthetic. Despite this minor drawback, the front camera ensures satisfying selfie results.
The Nord 3 supports video recording up to 4K at 60 fps, but stabilization at this frame rate leaves room for improvement. However, when recording at 4K 30 fps, the stabilization performance improves. Overall video quality and focus are good, but refining the stabilization capabilities would enhance the video recording experience.
Autonomy
The OnePlus Nord 3 boasts a robust battery module to support its daily usage demands. With a 5000 mAh capacity divided into two 2500 mAh units, the Nord 3 offers satisfactory battery life.
The device is capable of rapid charging with an input power of 80 Watts, enabling swift recharging times. However, it’s worth noting that wireless charging is not supported.
With an input power of 80 Watts, the device can charge rapidly. In just 15 minutes, the battery can reach a 60% charge, while a complete recharge can be achieved in approximately 32 minutes. This rapid charging feature ensures that users can quickly replenish the battery when needed, minimizing downtime.
OnePlus Nord 3: Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord 3 emerges as a commendable midrange smartphone that offers a compelling package with its powerful performance, immersive display, and refined software experience. While some camera aspects and battery predictability could be improved, the Nord 3 delivers on its promise of a premium midrange smartphone. For those seeking an impressive combination of features and a reliable user experience without breaking the bank, the OnePlus Nord 3 proves to be a worthy contender.
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