OnePlus has made a name for itself by offering flagship-level performance at a more affordable price point. With the release of the OnePlus Nord 3, the company aims to continue this trend by providing a feature-packed mid-ranger that could potentially compete with even the most expensive flagships on the market.
In this review, we will examine the design, display, audio, biometrics, software, performance, battery life, camera capabilities, and overall verdict of the OnePlus Nord 3. Check out the availability and price here.
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Design and Build Quality:
The OnePlus Nord 3 follows the design language we have come to expect from OnePlus. The glass back is sleek and glossy, and the edges taper into a flat plastic frame. One notable change is the inclusion of a separate camera bump, which is in line with current fashion trends.
The phone also features a three-position slider on the side for convenient notification control. Additionally, the Nord 3 has an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, providing added durability.
Screen Specs and Features:
With a 6.74-inch OLED display, the Nord 3 offers a larger and higher-resolution screen compared to its predecessors. The inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate and Dragon Trail glass protection enhances the overall visual experience. OnePlus has significantly reduced the bezel size, giving the phone a premium look.
The display boasts a sharp 450 PPI, excellent contrast, support for 10-bit color, and HDR10+ video. Color accuracy is impressive, particularly when using the appropriate color mode.
The brightness levels are excellent, with a maximum measurement of over 500 nits using the manual slider and an auto mode that can boost brightness to over 1100 nits in bright sunlight. However, it’s important to note that high frame rate gaming support is absent, similar to other OnePlus, Realme, and Oppo phones.
Stereo Speakers for Audio:
The inclusion of stereo speakers in the Nord 3 is a welcome addition. The top speaker features grilles at the front and top, providing loud and immersive audio. The audio quality is well-balanced, with clear vocals, pronounced highs, and even some bass. Those interested in experiencing the audio firsthand can use the provided link to compare it with other phones.
Biometrics and Storage:
The Nord 3 incorporates an under-display fingerprint reader for biometric authentication, which proves to be quick and efficient. In terms of storage options, the phone offers 128GB or 256GB variants. However, it’s important to note that the storage is not expandable through a microSD card.
Android 13 and UI:
The OnePlus Nord 3 runs on Oxygen OS 13.1, which is based on Android 13. Since OnePlus, Realme, and Oppo are owned by the same company, the software experience across their phones is similar.
OnePlus does provide a few exclusive features, such as a global search and additional widget space accessible by swiping down on the home screen. The UI offers clock-style widgets that are specific to OnePlus devices. Users interested in exploring more UI features can refer to dedicated Realme UI videos for additional information.
Chipset and Performance:
The Nord 3 is equipped with the high-end MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, a significant upgrade over the previous models’ Dimensity 1200 and 1300. This places the Nord 3 among the best-performing phones in its price range.
In benchmark tests, the scores edge closer to flagship territory than its competitors. The phone operates smoothly, effortlessly handling heavy gaming and multitasking. However, thermal performance is a mixed bag. While the phone maintains high sustained performance during CPU stress tests, it experiences heavy throttling during GPU tests.
Battery Endurance and Charging Speed:
Boasting amassive 5,000mAh battery, the OnePlus Nord 3 offers excellent battery life. In endurance tests, it achieved a rating of 103 hours, which is commendable. The device also comes with an 80W SuperVOOC charger, enabling super-fast charging.
In just half an hour, the phone can be charged from 0 to 98%, and a 15-minute charge can bring it up to 61%. This rapid charging capability ensures that users can quickly top up their battery whenever needed. Check out the availability and price here.
Camera Specifications and Performance:
The OnePlus Nord 3 features a triple-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. While the camera configuration is similar to its predecessor, the main camera sensor has been upgraded to the higher-end Sony IMX 890.
With 4-to-1 pixel binning, the main camera captures 12.5-megapixel photos that exhibit impressive detail, low noise, high contrast, and balanced dynamic range. The colors appear vibrant, although they may be slightly over the top. However, zooming in at the pixel level reveals some excessive sharpening, resulting in an over-processed look.
The Nord 3 excels in portrait mode, with proficient subject separation, convincing blur, and detailed and sharp subject rendering. Additionally, the two-time zoom toggle in the viewfinder produces decent results, surpassing a simple crop and upscale approach.
In low-light conditions, the phone automatically activates night mode for its main camera. The resulting photos are quick to capture, exhibit excellent exposure, contain ample detail, balanced sharpness, low noise, and well-rendered colors. The dynamic range is also impressive.
When it comes to video recording, the main camera supports up to 4K resolution at 60fps. The video quality is impressive, offering plenty of detail, balanced processing, realistic colors, high contrast, and good dynamic range. However, it’s important to note that there is no electronic stabilization in 4K mode. To utilize electronic image stabilization (EIS), users need to record in 1080p resolution. In low-light conditions, 4K videos from the main camera exhibit good detail, realistic colors, and minimal noise. The only downside is that the exposure could use a slight improvement.
Moving on to the ultra-wide camera, photos exhibit adequate detail, low noise, good contrast, and decent dynamic range. However, the colors appear slightly less saturated compared to the main camera, but the over-processed look is still present.
In low-light conditions, auto night mode photos from the ultra-wide lens are well-exposed, contain sufficient detail, exhibit low noise, wide dynamic range, and vibrant colors. The video capture capabilities of the ultra-wide camera are limited to 1080p resolution.
Nonetheless, the quality remains good, featuring ample detail, contrast, minimal noise, and good dynamic range. However, it’s worth mentioning that the field of view does not differ significantly from the main camera due to the always-on EIS, resulting in a slight crop.
As for the macro camera, which is typically not the main highlight of smartphone cameras, the Nord 3’s 2-megapixel macro lens performs as expected. The resulting photos lack detail due to the low resolution, and visible noise and inconsistent colors are noticeable.
Selfies taken with the 16-megapixel front-facing camera produce decent results. While the sharpness and detail may not be outstanding, the exposure is well-balanced, and the contrast, colors, and dynamic range are good.
OnePlus Nord 3 Review Verdict:
The OnePlus Nord 3 marks a return to OnePlus’s flagship-killing roots, offering premium performance at a more affordable price point. The device excels in multiple areas, including a powerful chipset, high-end display, good battery life with fast charging, and a capable camera setup. While there are a few minor drawbacks, such as the lack of video stabilization in 4K and some over-processed photos, the Nord 3 remains a solid and high-performance mid-range smartphone that is worthy of recommendation.
For those considering alternatives to the OnePlus Nord 3, the Poco F5 and Realme 11 Pro Plus are worth exploring. Each device offers its own set of features and specifications, allowing users to choose the one that best suits their preferences and needs.
In summary, the OnePlus Nord 3 presents an impressive package with flagship-level performance at a more affordable price. With its sleek design, stunning display, solid audio output, reliable biometrics, intuitive software experience, powerful chipset, excellent battery life, and capable camera system, the Nord 3 sets a high bar for mid-range smartphones. OnePlus continues to deliver on its promise of providing a flagship killer, and the Nord 3 is no exception. Check out the availability and price here.
