The OnePlus Nord CE 3 has made its mark in the mid-range smartphone market by offering a balanced mix of style, performance, and affordability. Following the success of its predecessors, OnePlus continues to target users who want a premium experience without burning a hole in their pockets. In this review, we’ll cover its design, display, performance, camera, battery life, software, and more, to help you decide if the Nord CE 3 is the right choice for you.
Sleek and Stylish Design
OnePlus has always focused on aesthetics, and the Nord CE 3 is no exception. The phone features a slim, lightweight design that fits comfortably in hand. Its matte finish back panel gives a premium feel while minimizing fingerprints. The device is available in multiple color options, including Blue Tide and Black Dusk, giving users choices that suit their style.
The placement of the power button, volume rockers, and alert slider is ergonomic, making it convenient for one-handed usage. Although it lacks an official IP rating for water resistance, the build quality feels sturdy and durable for everyday use.
Display – Crisp and Vibrant
The Nord CE 3 sports a 6.72-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and a responsive touch experience. The FHD+ resolution provides sharp visuals for watching videos, browsing, and gaming.
One of the highlights of the display is its Vibrant Color Calibration, which produces vivid colors and deep contrasts. The HDR10+ support enhances streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube, offering an immersive viewing experience. For outdoor use, the screen maintains decent brightness, making it readable under sunlight.
Performance – Speed That Impresses
Under the hood, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9010+ chipset, paired with up to 12GB RAM. This combination ensures smooth multitasking, fast app launches, and seamless navigation. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or handling productivity apps, the phone performs admirably without noticeable lag.
For gamers, the Mali-G68 GPU provides a smooth graphical performance, allowing you to enjoy titles like PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, and Call of Duty Mobile at high settings with minimal frame drops. The 120Hz display further enhances the gaming experience, offering fluid animations and responsive controls.
Camera – Capture Life’s Moments
The Nord CE 3 comes with a triple-camera setup:
- Main Camera: 108MP (wide)
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 8MP
- Macro Camera: 2MP
The main 108MP sensor captures highly detailed and vibrant photos in daylight. The ultra-wide lens allows for creative compositions, though it struggles slightly in low-light conditions. Night mode improves low-light shots but doesn’t match the performance of flagship phones.
On the front, the 16MP selfie camera captures clear and sharp images with natural skin tones. AI beauty mode and portrait features work well for social media content, making it a strong contender in the mid-range segment for photography enthusiasts.
Battery Life – All-Day Power
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day with moderate to heavy usage. With a combination of social media, video streaming, gaming, and browsing, users can expect up to 1.5 days of battery life.
One of the standout features is SuperVOOC fast charging (up to 67W), which can charge the device from 0% to 50% in about 15 minutes. This is a huge advantage for users who are always on the go and don’t want to spend hours tethered to a charging cable.
Software – Smooth and User-Friendly
Running OxygenOS based on Android 13, the Nord CE 3 delivers a clean, fast, and bloat-free user interface. OnePlus’s OxygenOS has long been praised for its minimalist approach and smooth animations, and this device continues that legacy.
Features like Dark Mode, Gaming Mode, and customizable gestures enhance user experience, while regular security updates ensure the device remains secure over time. Users switching from stock Android will feel right at home with OxygenOS.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Nord CE 3 supports 5G connectivity, allowing users to experience faster internet speeds where available. Other features include dual SIM support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and USB Type-C charging.
The in-display fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable, while face unlock offers a convenient alternative for device security. Although it lacks wireless charging, the fast charging capabilities compensate for it in daily usage.
Pros of OnePlus Nord CE 3
- Stylish and lightweight design
- Smooth 120Hz AMOLED display
- Powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9010+ chipset
- Excellent 108MP main camera for mid-range segment
- Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with fast charging
- Clean and responsive OxygenOS interface
- Affordable price for the features offered
Cons of OnePlus Nord CE 3
- Low-light camera performance could be better
- No official IP water-resistance rating
- Lacks wireless charging
- Ultra-wide camera quality is average
Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 successfully balances style, speed, and solid performance in the mid-range smartphone segment. Its sleek design, 120Hz AMOLED display, capable chipset, and fast-charging battery make it a compelling choice for users seeking a premium experience without paying flagship prices.
While the camera struggles slightly in low-light and ultra-wide shots, its main 108MP sensor, reliable performance, and smooth OxygenOS interface more than make up for these shortcomings. If you are looking for a mid-range phone that delivers speed, style, and reliability, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 is definitely worth considering.
