Although we hope it won’t be the last, the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G isn’t the first smartphone to attempt to attract “entry-level” buyers with high-end specs. The time of the launch is what distinguishes the Nord CE 3 Lite from every other events of this nature.
Before 5G, when everyone had to start taking sides, companies like Redmi and Realme had exhausted this tactic. It was either specifications, 4G or 5G, and a few other conveniences. not both, though. Both are taken care of by the Nord CE 3 Lite.
The starting pricing of the above phone is Rs 19,999. This is for a model that has 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. A device with twice as much storage would cost you Rs 21,999. The Nord CE 3 Lite offers higher specifications while maintaining the same price as its predecessor, the Nord CE 2 Lite, from the previous year.
Now, specs may not mean much if they aren’t put to good use, but they are unquestionably a place to start. The Nord CE 3 Lite is off to a strong start based on that.
High on Features, Low on Price
The smartphone market has been dominated by iterative releases, so it’s refreshing to see a device that stands out from the rest. While the Nord CE 3 takes inspiration from other phones, it does so tastefully and without any blatant copy-pasting. (In fact, it appears to be loosely based on the Realme 10 Pro.)
Build Quality
The Nord CE 3 Lite has a flat-edged body made of glossy plastic. Our review unit, which comes in chromatic gray, is extremely shiny and reflective, almost like a mirror. Unfortunately, this also means that it picks up fingerprints easily. The phone is also available in a pastel lime color, which is the hero color and very eye-catching.
Screen and Display
The Nord CE 3 Lite comes with a larger 6.72-inch display, which is a step up from the previous Nord CE 2 Lite’s 6.59-inch screen. The display features an IPS LCD panel, 1080p resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate, which is identical to last year’s model. While we would have preferred an AMOLED display, given the phone’s affordable price, we can’t really complain. The only drawback we noticed is that the display isn’t particularly bright, maxing out at 680nits. We also don’t know the version of Corning Gorilla Glass used to protect the display, as OnePlus hasn’t mentioned it.
The Nord CE 3 Lite may have a larger 6.72-inch screen, but it doesn’t feel overly bulky or cumbersome to handle. Even though it’s made of plastic, the phone is well-balanced and lightweight, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. The phone’s biometric authentication is done via a side-mounted fingerprint reader, which works quickly and accurately. However, the phone’s lack of any ingress protection is disappointing, leaving it vulnerable to water damage.
Entertainment Experience
The Nord CE 3 Lite has a dual-speaker setup that’s a welcome upgrade from its predecessor’s mono speaker. The speakers do a decent job of playing content, but it’s worth noting that OnePlus doesn’t support HDR. Strangely, we couldn’t access Netflix on the phone for some reason.
Battery Experience
The battery capacity remains the same at 5,000mAh, but the Nord CE 3 Lite charges much faster than the Nord CE 2 Lite, boasting a 67W charging capacity compared to the previous model’s 33W. OnePlus claims the phone can go from 0 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes, and our tests confirm that it takes about 46 minutes to fully charge the phone. That’s impressive considering the affordable price point. OnePlus includes an 80W charger in the box, which is a nice bonus. The battery life is generally good, so you won’t have to worry about running out of juice too quickly.
Camera and Photography
The Nord CE 3 Lite’s camera system is an upgrade over its predecessor, the Nord CE 2 Lite, with a new 108MP sensor from Samsung. Photos taken in good lighting conditions look great, but low-light shots could be improved. There are also two additional cameras, a 2MP macro and a 2MP depth sensor, which are more for filling out the specs rather than adding significant functionality. They can be fun to experiment with on occasion, however. The front-facing camera is 16MP, but its performance is hit or miss.
Processor & Performance
The choice of chipset is the only constant. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 in the Nord CE 3 Lite is the same as in the Nord CE 2 Lite. Whatever you want to say about it, the performance is generally rather decent, with seldom any lag or stuttering during routine daily use, even when several apps are running in the background.
The Snapdragon 695, which powers the Nord CE 3 Lite, struggles to keep up with demanding games, and even some mid-range titles. However, it’s capable of running basic apps without any issues.
Software
The phone runs on OxygenOS 13.1, a software based on Android 13, which offers a mostly clean and minimalist experience, but the haptic feedback could have been better. Overall, compared to other phones in the same price range like the Realme 10 Pro or Redmi Note 12 5G, the Nord CE 3 Lite offers a smoother and more polished user experience.
Is it Worth Buying?
According to data shared by OnePlus, the Nord CE 2 Lite was a major success and established the brand’s presence in the budget segment after already securing a place in the high-end market. The Nord CE 3 Lite is an improvement in several ways and, while it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it injects some excitement into a smartphone market that was starting to feel stale. A OnePlus phone priced below Rs 20,000 is already appealing, and after testing it out, we can confidently say that the Nord CE 3 Lite is a great option. It’s a solid 2 on 2 and has the potential to sell just as well as its predecessor.
