Embark on a journey of technological prowess with our in-depth review of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G. As the successor to the Nord 2T, this flagship device promises substantial upgrades, housing MediaTek’s flagship-series SoC and featuring the impressive primary camera sensor from the OnePlus 11. Join us as we explore the nuances of its SuperVOOC charging, robust battery, and stunning 120Hz display, while delving into the real-world performance that justifies its position in the ever-evolving smartphone landscape.
Design and display of OnePlus Nord 3 5G
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G, distinguished by its slightly curved edges and premium design, emerges as a refined counterpart to the earlier OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G, launched earlier this year. The Misty Green variant, while visually striking, bears a glossy finish prone to fingerprints, contrasting with the preferred Tempest Grey color boasting a matte texture. Both variants tout an IP54 rating, a noteworthy addition absent in the preceding model, ensuring basic water and dust resistance.
Crafted with a flat plastic frame featuring a matte finish, the device integrates fan-favorite elements on its sides, housing the Alert slider and power button on the right, with the volume rocker on the left. The bottom edge accommodates a USB Type-C port, primary speaker grille, microphone, and a dual-SIM slot, while the top features an IR emitter for home appliance control.
Ergonomically designed, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G offers a comfortable in-hand feel, minimizing sharpness during prolonged usage. Weighing 193.5g and measuring 8.15mm in thickness, the device achieves a balanced weight distribution, avoiding a top-heavy sensation. The front showcases a 6.74-inch ‘Super Fluid’ AMOLED display, distinct from competitors like the Realme 12 Pro and Motorola Edge 40 by opting for a flat display over a curved-edge one. Thin bezels, including the chin, contribute to an expansive screen, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
The device’s 10-bit AMOLED panel with a 1.5K resolution (2772×1240 pixels) ensures sharp visuals, vibrant colors, and deep blacks, complemented by HDR10+ support on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Dual speakers, enriched with Dolby Atmos, deliver immersive and loud sound suitable for smaller spaces.
Featuring a touch sampling rate of up to 1,000Hz and a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, the display guarantees smooth scrolling and fluid animations. The in-display fingerprint scanner, though positioned slightly low, proves swift in authentication. Alternatively, users can opt for the AI-based face recognition, compromising on security for added convenience.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G specifications and software
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is equipped with the flagship-grade MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, utilizing a cutting-edge 4nm fabrication process. This SoC boasts a Mali G-710 GPU and is coupled with a maximum of 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. Notably, the device lacks a microSD card slot and a headphone jack. Supporting eight 5G bands, along with Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G houses a robust 5,000mAh battery and boasts 80W fast charging capabilities.
On the software front, the device operates on Oxygen OS 13.1 based on Android 13. Renowned for its extensive personalization options, OnePlus’ custom skin allows users to modify wallpapers, themes, and adjust icon shape, size, and fonts. Oxygen OS 13.1 incorporates support for Android’s Material You theme, enabling users to synchronize system and UI colors with their wallpaper. For further insights into the software features, the OnePlus 11 review delves into the experience with the new Oxygen OS 13 features.
Out of the box, the Nord 3 5G comes preloaded with various OnePlus and Oppo apps, including Zen Space, Community, O Relax, OnePlus Store, Clone Phone, among others. Notably, the number of preinstalled third-party apps is limited, featuring prominent platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Spotify.
Running on the latest Oxygen OS 13 update, OnePlus commits to delivering three major Android updates and four years of security patches for the Nord 3 5G, marking the longest support duration for a Nord smartphone at launch.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G performance and battery life
Benchmarking revealed that the OnePlus Nord 3 5G scored 8,47,115 in AnTuTu (v10), slightly below the lower-priced Poco F5 with its Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC, which scored 10,94,798 points. In Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core tests, the phone achieved 863 and 2,978 points, respectively.
Comparatively, the new iQoo Neo 7 Pro, priced similarly to the Nord 3 5G, features a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. Preliminary testing of the Neo 7 Pro showed an impressive AnTuTu score of 12,63,884 points and Geekbench 6 scores of 1,727 and 4,459 points in single-core and multi-core tests.
Noteworthy is that the OnePlus Nord 3 5G maintained a cool temperature during gaming sessions. In terms of battery life, the device showcased commendable performance, enduring a full day on a single charge. On days with medium usage, the average screen-on time (SoT) reached around eight hours and 30 minutes. However, on more demanding days involving gaming and extensive photo/video capture, the SoT dropped to seven hours and 15 minutes. In the HD video loop test, the Nord 3 5G displayed an impressive endurance of about 21 hours and 12 minutes. Charging the phone from 1-100 percent using the bundled adapter took approximately 40 minutes.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G cameras
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is equipped with a triple-camera setup on the back, featuring a 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.
In terms of daylight performance, the primary camera impresses by delivering detailed and vibrant shots with good dynamic range, even in challenging conditions like cloudy or rainy weather.
Oddly, in Photo mode, the camera app tends to add a pink hue to human skin tones. On a positive note, Portrait mode excels in creating a pleasant background blur while maintaining accurate skin tones. In low-light situations, the primary camera manages a commendable balance between highlights and shadows, presenting a night sky that appears grey rather than dark blue. So far, the primary camera’s performance stands out as one of the best in its segment.
The ultra-wide camera, however, falls into the average category. It exhibits a different color temperature compared to the main camera, with slightly cooler tones, and details are weaker, especially around distorted edges. Meanwhile, the 16-megapixel front camera performs well in daylight, accurately reproducing human skin tones, and the portrait mode blur looks natural.
When it comes to video recording, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G delivers impressive results for its price. The rear camera supports up to 4K 60fps videos with good dynamic range and natural colors. The front camera adheres to the segment-standard video recording limit of 1080p 30fps, providing acceptable dynamic range performance and natural colors.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G emerges as a compelling contender in the smartphone market, boasting a triple-camera setup that excels in daylight photography with impressive details and vibrant colors. Its primary camera performs admirably even in challenging conditions, showcasing a commendable balance between highlights and shadows in low-light scenarios. The ultra-wide camera, although average, contributes to the phone’s versatile photography capabilities. The device’s video recording capabilities, especially with the rear camera supporting up to 4K 60fps, add to its overall appeal. With a sleek design, robust features, and a responsive user experience, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G proves to be a noteworthy addition to the mid-range