Hightlights

• The OnePlus Nord 3 5G impresses with its excellent AMOLED display, robust performance with MediaTek Dimensity 9000, and efficient 80W fast charging
• It features a capable 50MP primary camera with OIS support that delivers nuanced and vibrant shots
• The Nord 3’s 5000mAh battery promises reliable performance with a full day’s power backup on a single charge
• The device also has a stereo speaker setup, an IR blaster and 5G support

The OnePlus Nord 3 has been available in the Indian market for a few weeks now and it comes with a starting price of Rs 33,999.
This marks a notable shift from the earlier Nord series, which primarily targeted the lower mid-range segment.

However, that is not say that the Nord 3 doesn’t pack a punch. A quick look at the specifications reaffirms the impression that this device is a strong competitor in the Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 price range.

Even so, the handset does have to contend with several competitive offerings from the likes of Moto, iQOO and more.
Does the OnePlus Nord 3 have what it takes? We got to test out the OnePlus Nord 3 for a while and here is what we thought of it.

OnePlus Nord 3: Pricing and Availability

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G, launched on July 5, 2023, is priced currently Rs. 33,999 for the base variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

A second variant offers 16GB RAM and 256GB storage which costs Rs 37,999. Sales have already started as of July 15, 2023, through select online retailers, including the OnePlus official website.

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is available in two colours – Misty Green and Tempest Gray.

OnePlus Nord 3: Key Features

• Display: 6.74″ AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR 10+, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9000 
• RAM: 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1
• Camera: Triple Rear (50MP, 8MP, 2MP), Front 16MP
• Battery: 5000mAh, 80W Super VOOC fast charging
• Colors: Misty Green, Tempest Gray
• Software: OxygenOS 13.1

OnePlus Nord 3 Pros and Cons

OnePlus Nord 3: Unboxing

Opening the commercially available box for the OnePlus Nord 3 you find the usual accessories packed inside.

A separate compartment inside the box houses a black silicone case which adds a measure of durability to the Nord 3’s exterior.

Apart from that you also get a standard silver SIM ejector tool and the regular paperwork which includes warranty and operating manual.

However, there are also some Nord branded stickers that look quite funky.

The phone itself sits below this compartment, wrapped in a translucent material. Finally, the signature OnePlus red charging capable is present at the extreme bottom along with the 80W white charger.

OnePlus Nord 3: Design

The OnePlus Nord 3 largely retains its familiar modern design, evolved from the second-generation lineup. While the Sandstone finish seen on last year’s Nord 2T would have been a welcome touch, the matte-glass finish of the Nord 3 is by no means lacklustre.

In fact, the Tempest Grey variant, which we have in hand, feels more refined than the glossy Misty Green variant, thanks to its ability to resist fingerprints and smudges. Other standout features on the device include two prominent camera rings, enclosing the triple-camera setup of the Nord 3.

There are two LED flash modules for reasons not entirely clear, as only one appears functional during testing. We were told this was more for design than function.

However, the addition of an IR blaster on top of the device, enabling it to act as a universal remote, certainly adds functional value.

Apart from that the phone imbibes most of what the Nord series is known for, in terms of in-hand feel. The Nord 3 is quite light in our hand and has moderate thickness levels that will trouble very few people, if any.

We are also happy to see that the signature OnePlus alert slider has been retained on the side and is as useful as it was 10 years ago, when it debuted on the OnePlus 1.
The rest of the phone is quite standard in appearance with a stereo speaker flanking the phone’s top and bottom.

There’s also the USB Type-C slot, again pretty standard and a volume rocker bar and power button on the left and right respectively.

OnePlus Nord 3: Display

The Nord 3’s display notably impressed us with its nearly edge-to-edge screen, with bezels minimized to the utmost, presenting a symmetric appeal all around. The display resolution stands at FHD+ (2772×1240), albeit OnePlus brands it as 1.5K.

Importantly, the panel retains the expected sharpness and vibrancy in visuals. Thanks to the 10-bit depth of the panel, the colour reproduction is vivid, with customisability offered in the settings.

As for the refresh rate, the display gets an upgrade to 120Hz, up from 90Hz, with an intelligent capability to reduce to 40Hz for battery preservation when needed.
The device also boasts an HDR10+ certification, ensuring superior dynamic range for compatible content on OTT platforms.

The display can achieve brightness levels of up to approximately 1,450nits, which should suffice for use in even the brightest outdoor conditions.
Lastly, the punch-hole camera has been minimized, further maximizing the expansive screen real estate.

OnePlus Nord 3: Cameras

The OnePlus Nord 3 introduces, what we believe to be the best camera sensor to grace a Nord series phone. Primary image taking responsibilities lie with Sony IMX890 50MP shooter which also has OIS support.

There’s also an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro shooters that act as the supporting cast. Finally you have a 16MP selfie camera which is housed in the punch-hole up top.

Talking first about the star of this camera show, the primary shooter, images snapped from it are very refined, at least for a smartphone that sells under Rs 40,000.

There is a healthy dynamic range on offer that the sensor plays around with in post-processing, giving the final shot a very nuanced feel. Focusing speeds are sharp and with OIS, minor shakes while shooting are negated.

Colour-wise the output feels a bit saturated but that could play in the hands of users who post often on Instagram. Sharpness levels are metered across the frame with the focus lock helping a lot in this respect.

We also like how good the sensor is with close-up shots and how it generates a very natural bokeh in the background.

Camera Samples

When it comes to the ultra-wide camera, there isn’t much novelty as the sensor has been employed in multiple other devices. It manages to do a sub-par job in terms of colour temperature consistency with the primary sensor.

The level of detail it provides could be deemed below acceptable. The macro capability, too, isn’t particularly refined, largely attributed to the lower-resolution sensor. Images captured using macro shooter can be challenging to focus and often exhibit subpar colour output.

In the videography department, the device can record up to 4K video at 60fps, with an additional option for capturing 1080p HDR videos at 30fps. We feel the phone’s video making skills are on par, if not better, with the competition.

The device’s performance in low-light photography tends to vary. Images leveraging some surrounding ambient light generally turn out well, while in darker conditions, the overprocessing to minimise noise results can output blurred details.

The dedicated Night mode does not do much to remedy this situation. Lens flare is also an issue we encountered from time to time.
The 16MP selfie shooter is nothing out of the ordinary and captures skin tones to a high degree of realism without oversharpening facial features.

In terms of the overall camera quality, the photos captured are good enough, but it would seem that low light imagery is one area that OnePlus can devote some more time to.

OnePlus Nord 3: Performance

When it comes to performance, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G makes use of MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000 SoC, a flagship chipset from last year. Despite its age, this chipset excels in handling daily tasks effortlessly.

This includes seamless switching between multiple resource-intensive applications. We also tested the Nord 3 5G’s capabilities with demanding mobile games such as BGMI and Asphalt 9: Legends.

The device managed these games effectively, with BGMI particularly standing out, achieving a consistent 60fps at HDR graphics.

Our review unit features 16GB of snappy LPDDR5X RAM and thanks to it app memory retention was impressive. Apps resumed from the exact spot where they were left off.

However, extremely big apps, like the aforementioned BGMI, need to reload if you return to them after some time. Extended gaming sessions can lead to some amount of heating, but it didn’t raise any concerns.

Apart from this, for memory needs you have up to 256GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. The phone also performs well under load with the CPU Throttle benchmark showing the device operating at 76 percent of its peak capacity for a 15-minute test

In terms of benchmark performance, the Nord 3 5G achieved a score of 931,780 on AnTuTu (v10), which is slightly less than certain more affordable phones equipped with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC.

On Geekbench 6, it managed to rack up 1,029 points in the single-core test and 3,443 points in the multi-core test.

OnePlus Nord 3: Software and Features

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G runs on Oxygen OS 13.1, based on Android 13. The skin offers a variety of customisation and personalisation possibilities.  Not just wallpapers and themes, it lets you modify icon shape, size, and fonts.

Supporting Android’s Material, You theme, Oxygen OS 13.1 harmonises the system and UI colours with your wallpaper. The drop-down menu and the settings interface are also easy to navigate around.

However, the entire interface resembles quite a lot with OPPO’s own and you can say that although, OnePlus is calling its UI as OxygenOS, but, it is very much a replica of OPPO’s ColorOS.

Apart from that the phone has an IR blaster, a novelty not offered on many devices. It worked well via the IR Remote app on the phone but to get it work with any compatible electronic appliance is a laborious task.

The audio quality emanating from the Nord 3’s stereo speaker setup is also more than acceptable. The OnePlus Nord 3’s call quality, 5G capability and microphone did not pose any issues.

The Nord 3 5G also has several OnePlus and Oppo apps preinstalled, including OnePlus Store, O Relax Zen, Clone Phone, Space Community, among others.

The device does come with a minimal number of third-party apps, which include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Spotify, but all of these can be uninstalled. Apart from that the interface remains relatively clean.

OnePlus Nord 3: Battery and Charging

When it comes to battery performance, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G’s 5,000mAh cell is good enough to give a day-long power backup on a single charge.

We managed to have about seven hours of screen-on time during moderate usage days. When used for excessive media consumption and even gaming, this time dropped to about six hours.

We think this is more than acceptable battery life for this price segment. The phone also comes with a 80W Super VOOC charger that can juice up the phone completely in about 40 minutes.

OnePlus Nord 3: Verdict

In conclusion, the OnePlus Nord 3 appears to be a robust offering for its price point. Its design and display quality are exceptional and can even be classified as flagship-tier.

When it comes to optical performance, the Nord 3’s main camera delivers satisfactory shots under various lighting conditions, although the ultra-wide and macro lenses could use some improvements.

Performance-wise, it should suffice for most users, but for heavy gamers, a device with the 8 + Gen 1 might be a better fit.

The battery life is acceptable, as are the charging speeds. OnePlus has clearly put in significant effort to deliver a superior smartphone experience, and it largely succeeds in doing so.

OnePlus Nord 3: MyMobile Rating

Design – 4/5

Display – 4/5

Camera – 3.5/5

Performance – 4/5

Battery – 4/5

Overall – ⅘

OnePlus Nord 3 5G Key Specifications

Performance

Network & Connectivity

Sensors

FAQs

Ques: What is the price of the OnePlus Nord 3 in India?

Ans: The base variant of the OnePlus Nord 3 is priced at Rs. 33,999, while the variant with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage costs Rs. 37,999.

Ques: How is the camera performance of the OnePlus Nord 3?

Ans: The OnePlus Nord 3’s primary camera performs excellently. However, its ultra-wide and macro lenses could use some improvements.

Ques: What is the battery life of the OnePlus Nord 3?

Ans: The OnePlus Nord 3 offers a day-long power backup on a single charge from its 5,000mAh battery. It can also charge rapidly thanks to its 80W charger

Ques: What are the unique features of OnePlus Nord 3?

Ans: Unique features of OnePlus Nord 3 include its display with minimized bezels, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ certification, as well as the IR blaster that enables it to act as a universal remote.

Also Read: Nothing Phone 2 Vs iQOO Neo 7 Pro – Which Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Phone Should You Buy?

Also Read: OnePlus Nord 3 Receives the OxygenOS 13.1.0.543 Update: July 2023 Android Security Patch: Camera Improvements

Also Read: OnePlus Nord 3 5G Features Flagship Camera Tech: OnePlus brings 50 MP Sony IMX890 Flagship Camera