Price and Specifications

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 (2023) is the latest entry in OnePlus’ Nord CE series, designed to provide a balanced mix of premium features, powerful performance, and affordability. Continuing the brand’s commitment to offering quality smartphones at a more accessible price point, the Nord CE 3 is a major step up from its predecessor, the Nord CE 2, with notable improvements in design, performance, and camera technology. It has become an appealing option for those seeking a mid-range phone that delivers much of the functionality found in flagship models without the high price tag.

In this article, we will delve into the key specifications, features, and pricing of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 (2023), offering a comprehensive overview of why this phone might be the best choice for budget-conscious users who still want a premium experience.

Price

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 (2023) offers excellent value for money, delivering flagship-like features at an affordable price. The device is available in multiple RAM and storage configurations, allowing users to pick the version that best fits their budget and needs.

• 6GB RAM / 128GB Storage: ₹26,999 (India) / $329 USD (USA)
• 8GB RAM / 128GB Storage: ₹28,999 (India) / $349 USD (USA)
• 12GB RAM / 256GB Storage: ₹32,999 (India) / $379 USD (USA)

This pricing makes the OnePlus Nord CE 3 a highly competitive device in the mid-range segment, rivaling options from brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme, and iQOO, offering flagship-level performance at a fraction of the price.

Key Specifications

1. Display

• Display Size: 6.72 inches
• Display Type: Fluid AMOLED
• Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels)
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz
• Peak Brightness: 950 nits
• Aspect Ratio: 20:9
• Glass Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 is equipped with a 6.72-inch Fluid AMOLED display, offering a Full HD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. The AMOLED technology ensures vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast, which makes media consumption such as watching movies, playing games, and browsing more enjoyable.

The 120Hz refresh rate enhances the overall user experience, making scrolling, browsing, and gaming fluid and smooth. Whether you’re swiping through apps or playing high-speed games, the 120Hz refresh rate ensures there’s no noticeable stutter. Additionally, the display reaches a peak brightness of 950 nits, which makes it highly legible under direct sunlight, making the device versatile in any lighting condition.

With Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection, the display is durable and resistant to scratches and minor impacts, ensuring the phone’s longevity.

2. Performance

• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G (6nm)
• CPU: Octa-core (1x 2.7 GHz Cortex-A78, 3x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x 1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
• GPU: Adreno 642L
• RAM: 6GB / 8GB / 12GB LPDDR4X
• Storage: 128GB / 256GB UFS 2.2 (non-expandable)

At the heart of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G processor, which is based on a 6nm manufacturing process. This chipset strikes a balance between power efficiency and performance, providing solid processing power for daily tasks, media consumption, and gaming. The Snapdragon 782G features an octa-core CPU with a 2.7 GHz Cortex-A78 prime core that handles demanding tasks, while the remaining cores are designed for efficiency, resulting in smooth multitasking and longer battery life.

The Adreno 642L GPU handles graphic-intensive tasks and gaming performance well, delivering good frame rates even in demanding titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile, though it isn’t quite on the level of flagship GPUs.

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 comes in three RAM configurations: 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM. The higher RAM options ensure smooth multitasking and improved performance, especially for users who tend to run multiple apps or play graphically demanding games. With UFS 2.2 storage, data read and write speeds are significantly faster than standard eMMC storage, ensuring a quicker overall experience when loading apps or transferring files. However, there is no support for microSD card expansion, meaning you’ll need to choose the right storage variant upfront.

3. Camera System

• Rear Camera:
• 64 MP (f/1.7) – Main Camera (OmniVision sensor, OIS)
• 8 MP (f/2.2) – Ultra-Wide Camera (120° field of view)
• 2 MP (f/2.4) – Depth Sensor
• Front Camera:
• 16 MP (f/2.5) – Selfie Camera (Sony IMX471 sensor)

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 features a versatile triple-camera setup on the back. The 64 MP main camera uses an OmniVision sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), allowing for sharp and detailed photos in various lighting conditions, from bright daylight to low-light environments. The high-resolution sensor captures rich colors and crisp details, making it great for landscape shots, portraits, and everyday photography.

The 8 MP ultra-wide camera offers a 120° field of view, perfect for capturing expansive landscapes or large group photos. While it isn’t as powerful as some higher-end ultra-wide cameras, it provides a decent level of quality with minimal distortion. The 2 MP depth sensor helps with portrait mode and bokeh effects, adding a layer of depth to your images.

For selfies, the 16 MP front camera with the Sony IMX471 sensor delivers clear, high-quality photos. The front camera also supports HDR and various AI-enhanced features to improve skin tones and lighting conditions, ensuring you look your best even in challenging lighting environments.

For video, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 supports 4K recording at 30fps from the rear camera and 1080p recording at 30/60fps, ensuring good quality for both photos and videos. The Nightscape mode also enhances low-light photography, making the device well-equipped for night-time shots.

4. Battery and Charging

• Battery Capacity: 5000 mAh
• Charging: 67W SUPERVOOC fast charging
• Wireless Charging: No wireless charging support
• Reverse Wireless Charging: No reverse wireless charging

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 features a 5000 mAh battery, providing plenty of juice to get through a full day of usage. Whether you’re browsing social media, streaming videos, or playing games, the device can easily last for more than a day on a single charge, depending on your usage habits.

One of the standout features of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 is its 67W SUPERVOOC fast charging support. This technology can charge the device from 0% to 100% in just around 45 minutes, which is incredibly fast for a phone in this price range. The fast-charging support makes the OnePlus Nord CE 3 ideal for users who are always on the go and need a quick recharge.

However, the phone does not support wireless charging or reverse wireless charging, which are features found in some higher-end phones.

5. Software and User Experience

• Operating System: OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13
• User Interface: OxygenOS, known for its clean, minimalist, and customizable interface.
• Custom Features:
• Game Mode for optimizing gaming performance.
• Zen Mode to promote digital well-being.
• Always-On Display for quick access to notifications.

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 runs on OxygenOS 13, based on Android 13, providing a clean, near-stock Android experience with additional customization options. OnePlus’ custom interface is known for its speed, smoothness, and minimalism, offering a bloat-free experience that focuses on performance and usability.

OnePlus also includes features like Game Mode, which optimizes performance while gaming by reducing distractions and prioritizing system resources. Zen Mode helps users reduce screen time and disconnect from the digital world, promoting better well-being. The Always-On Display provides useful information such as time, notifications, and media controls, without having to unlock the phone.

6. Connectivity and Other Features

• 5G Support: Yes (SA/NSA)
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
• Bluetooth: 5.2