OnePlus Nord 3 5G review

If there was a mid-range smartphone upgrade worth looking forward to, it is the OnePlus Nord 3. There are several reasons why you’d want to go for the device, and fortunately, we have it figured out for you. We had the chance to use phone for the past few days, and here’s our OnePlus Nord 3 review.

OnePlus Nord 3 look and feel

Surprisingly lightweight to hold, the OnePlus Nord 3 fits in your palm without a lot of trouble. Between Tempest Grey and Misty Green, we had the opportunity to review the latter – and while the colour undoubtedly screams ‘premium’, it’s hard to overlook the reflective and extremely fingerprint-prone back panel.

ALSO READ: OnePlus Nord 3: Top 5 features to look out for

Speaking of the back panel, it hosts the OnePlus logo in the centre and the circular dual camera setup at the top-left corner. Up front is a punch-hole selfie camera and considerably trimmed down bezels.

OnePlus has done away with the headphones jack for its Nord 3 but has added dual speakers for a more immersive experience. It still has an Alert Slider on the right, just above the power button, and volume buttons comfortably resting on the left. The SIM card slot is at the bottom, next to its USB Type-C charging port. Despite being large to hold, we didn’t find it uncomfortable; however, it is best to put on a cover if you want a firmer grip and to avoid accidental drops.

OnePlus Nord 3 camera and performance

We love a good OnePlus camera, and this device gives a déjà vu because of its familiar setup. The OnePlus Nord 3 comes with a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary camera, along with an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro lens. On the front, we have a 16MP setup, and while we can’t entirely call it an upgrade, the device compensates with its overall performance, and its sensors give us the goodness of a OnePlus 11 or an 11R.

Output-wise, its larger sensor allows us to get a more realistic depth-of-field, and you have very little to worry about if you’re shooting a fast-moving subject. We found the results grainy when used under low-light conditions, but the device brought out vibrancy when shooting subjects in a natural or well-lit room. 

OnePlus has opted for a 6.74-inch AMOLED screen, which is striking, responsive and snappy. Its 120Hz ‘super fluid’ display is ideal for streaming and light gaming, although you might find it heating up when you try running heavy-duty games on it. You don’t have to worry about its outdoor performance, as it covers the visuals across all viewing angles.

Owing to its Dolby Atmos support, you even have a crystal clear audio output when watching your favourite shows. Under the hood is the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, which lends comfortable usage for day-to-day tasks and doesn’t give you real trouble, even if you want to try your hand at heavy applications. 

The Nord 3 also runs on the clean and minimalistic Oxygen OS 13.1; however, there are certain bloatware apps you may not be able to get rid of. The tech giant has offered a Zen Mode and a ‘one-handed’ mode for ease of usage, and that certainly makes an excellent addition to the OS.

OnePlus Nord 3 battery life

We didn’t have a lot of complaints about the battery life, and the Nord 3 met our expectations fairly well. You might find the device heating up and using more battery if you plan to use it for gaming or photography. With its 5,000mAh battery and the 80W SuperVOOC charger, the device will effortlessly last you a day with low to moderate usage.

Verdict

There aren’t many reasons why you shouldn’t opt for the OnePlus Nord 3, especially if you’re using its predecessor. Despite the price tag being a tad steep, it checks off all possible boxes with its improved display, flagship-grade camera sensors, excellent speakers and battery life.

If you’re looking for similar features within this range, you should consider the vivo V27 Pro 5G with an 8GB RAM, 256GB ROM storage option or the oppo Reno 10 5G with its 64MP + 32MP + 8MP triple rear camera setup. The OnePlus Nord 3 5G has launched for Rs 33,999, and if you were looking for an opportunity to upgrade, there couldn’t be a better time.