OnePlus Nord 3 review

The OnePlus Nord 3 is a significant upgrade over its predecessors, packing more upmarket specs like a flagship-grade display, powerful chipset, and fast charging. The phone's design is similar to previous OnePlus models, with a flat glass back and tapered plastic frame. OnePlus has made a noticeable improvement in the display department, offering a 6.74-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 450 PPI, and support for 10-bit color and HDR10+ video. The display is sharp, with good contrast, and excellent brightness levels (over 500 nits). Unfortunately, high-frame-rate gaming is not supported. The phone's performance is impressive, thanks to the high-end MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset. It delivers scores that are closer to flagship territory in benchmarks and runs smoothly with heavy gaming and multitasking. The battery life is also good, with an endurance rating of 103 hours, and fast charging capabilities (up to 80W). The camera setup is decent, featuring a 50-megapixel main cam, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and 2-megapixel macro cameras. The main cam's photos are great, with plenty of detail, no noise, high contrast, and balance dynamic range. Portrait mode works well, but the ultra-wide camera's performance is average, with low light conditions being a bit challenging. Overall, the OnePlus Nord 3 feels like a return to its flagship-killing roots, offering premium performance without breaking the bank. The phone has some minor drawbacks, such as the lack of video stabilization in 4K and underwhelming macro camera performance. However, it is still a solid high-performance mid-ranger that's worth recommending.

Build Quality and Design

The OnePlus Nord 3 boasts a design that is both familiar and premium. The flat glass back is glossy and mirror-like, with edges that taper into the flat plastic frame, a trait typical of OnePlus phones. The phone's build quality is excellent, with a sturdy construction that feels substantial in the hand. OnePlus has cut down on the size of the bezels, lending the phone a more premium look. The 6.74-inch OLED display is larger than previous models and features a high refresh rate of 120Hz. The screen itself is sharp and vibrant, with good contrast and color accuracy. The inclusion of Dragon Trail glass protection adds to the overall feel of quality. The camera bumps on the back are now separate, a design trend that has become fashionable in recent years. However, the overall design language remains familiar and reassuringly OnePlus-like. The phone's weight is evenly distributed, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. The inclusion of an IP54 rating provides added protection against dust and water ingress, giving users peace of mind when using their device in less-than-ideal conditions. Overall, the build quality and design of the OnePlus Nord 3 are a significant improvement over its predecessors, making it a compelling option for those seeking a premium mid-range phone. While some may find the design to be unoriginal, the execution is top-notch, resulting in a phone that feels like a flagship, without the hefty price tag.

Battery Life

The OnePlus Nord 3 boasts an impressive battery life, making it a standout feature in its mid-range category. With a massive 5,000mAh power pack, this phone is designed to last all day and then some. In our testing, the Nord 3 easily lasted over 24 hours on a single charge with moderate usage, which included a mix of social media scrolling, gaming, and camera usage. Even with heavy usage, such as continuous video playback or gaming sessions, the battery life still managed to impress. Topping up the battery is also a breeze thanks to the bundled 80W SuperVOOC charger. With this fast charger, you can juice up your Nord 3 from 0 to 98% in just half an hour and 15 minutes. This level of charging speed is unprecedented in its class, making it perfect for users who need to get back to their busy lives quickly. The battery life endurance rating, as per our tests, stands at a respectable 103 hours, which is testament to the Nord 3's power-efficient hardware and optimized software. Whether you're a heavy user or just someone who likes to keep their phone charged throughout the day, the OnePlus Nord 3's battery life has got you covered. Overall, the battery life of the OnePlus Nord 3 is a significant strength that sets it apart from other mid-range smartphones on the market today. Its long-lasting power and rapid charging capabilities make it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a hassle-free mobile experience.

Display

OnePlus Nord 3 Review: A Display to Rival Flagships The OnePlus Nord 3 boasts an impressive display that sets the tone for this high-performance mid-ranger. Measuring 6.74 inches, the OLED screen is larger than its predecessors and features a higher resolution, making it a true showstopper. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth swiping and scrolling, while the Dragon Trail glass protection adds an extra layer of durability. One notable improvement over previous models is the significant reduction in bezels, lending the phone a more premium look. With a pixel density of 450 PPI, the display is sharp and vibrant, offering excellent contrast and good color accuracy. Support for 10-bit color and HDR10+ video further enhances the viewing experience. The Nord 3's display is also capable of producing impressive brightness levels, with a maximum output of over 500 nits in manual mode. In auto mode, this can boost to an astonishing 1100 nits, making it more than suitable for use in bright sunlight. The only minor quibble is the lack of support for high frame rate gaming, which may be a disappointment for some users. However, overall, the display on the OnePlus Nord 3 is truly exceptional and rivals those found on flagship devices. Its large size, high resolution, and impressive brightness make it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a premium viewing experience without breaking the bank. The display's sharpness, contrast, and color accuracy all contribute to an immersive visual experience that's hard to match in this price range.

Camera

In our previous review, we praised the OnePlus Nord 3 for its impressive specs and performance. However, one aspect that deserves special attention is its camera setup. While it may not be as powerful as some flagships, the Nord 3's cameras hold their own in the mid-range segment. The main camera is a 50-megapixel Sony IMX 890 sensor with 4-to-1 pixel binning applied, resulting in 12.5-megapixel photos that are great with plenty of detail, no noise, high contrast, and balanced dynamic range. The colors are quite lively, but perhaps a bit over the top at times. One minor issue is excessive sharpening when zooming in to pixel level, which can give images an overly processed look. Portrait mode works well on the Nord 3, with proficient subject separation, convincing blur, and detailed subjects. The two-time zoom toggle in the viewfinder produces decent results that are better than a simple crop and upscale. However, the DTL (depth-to-light) level is average, but there's no noise and respectable colors, contrast, and dynamic range. In low light conditions, the Nord 3's camera performs admirably. Night mode photos from the main camera are quick to capture and feature good exposure, plenty of detail, balanced sharpness, and low noise. Colors are well-rendered, and dynamic range is pretty wide too. When it comes to video recording, the main camera can shoot up to 4K at 60fps, producing impressive results with plenty of detail, balance processing, realistic colors, high contrast, and good dynamic range. However, there's no electronic stabilization in 4K mode, which might be a drawback for some users. The ultra-wide-angle camera is adequate, but not particularly impressive. Photos have decent detail levels, low noise, good contrast, and dynamic range, although the colors seem less saturated than those from the main camera. Auto night mode photos from the ultra-wide-angle cam are good, but take slightly longer to process. In conclusion, while the OnePlus Nord 3's cameras may not be the most powerful in their class, they are solid and offer decent performance for a mid-range device. With some minor tweaks, such as improved low-light performance and electronic stabilization in 4K mode, the camera setup could be even more compelling. Nevertheless, the Nord 3 remains an excellent option for those seeking high-performance features without breaking the bank.

Price and Value

The latest addition to the Nord series, the OnePlus Nord 3, has been generating quite some buzz lately. With its impressive specs sheet, sleek design, and powerful performance, it's hard not to think of this phone as a potential flagship killer. Priced around [insert price], the Nord 3 is an absolute steal considering what you get for your money. The phone packs a high-end display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, and fast charging capabilities that can top up the battery from 0 to 98% in just over half an hour. One of the standout features of the Nord 3 is its value proposition. At this price point, you'd expect a phone with similar specs to cost upwards of $600-$700. But OnePlus has managed to keep the price in check, making it an extremely competitive option for those looking for a high-performance mid-ranger. The camera setup on the Nord 3 is decent, with a 50MP main cam that takes great photos and videos. The ultra-wide camera is also capable of producing good results, although it's limited to 1080p resolution. The macro camera, however, is a letdown, but we won't hold that against the phone. Overall, the OnePlus Nord 3 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-performance mid-ranger without breaking the bank. It offers incredible value for its price and is certainly worth considering if you're in the market for a new smartphone.

Performance

The OnePlus Nord 3 is a significant upgrade over its predecessors, packing a high-end MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset that delivers premium performance without breaking the bank. In benchmarks, the Nord 3 scores are closer to flagship territory than its peers, making it one of the best performing phones in its price bracket. The phone runs smoothly with heavy gaming and multitasking, and the CPU stress test shows sustained high-performance capabilities. However, the Nord 3's performance is not without some caveats. During our GPU stress test, we observed significant throttling, which may be a concern for users who engage heavily in graphically demanding activities. The phone's thermals are also a mixed bag. While it can maintain high sustained performance during CPU tests, the GPU test shows significant heat buildup, leading to throttling. Despite these limitations, the Nord 3's overall performance is impressive, making it a solid mid-ranger that offers premium features at an affordable price. The Dimensity 9000 chipset provides a noticeable boost over previous models, and the phone's ability to handle demanding tasks with ease is commendable. While not perfect, the Nord 3's performance makes it a great option for users who want a high-end experience without the hefty price tag of flagship devices.

Pros

1. Powerful Performance

2. Excellent Display

3. Good Camera Performance

4. Fast Charging

5. Smooth Gaming Experience

Cons

1. Lack of Video Stabilization in 4K

2. Inconsistent Macro Camera Performance

3. No Expandable Storage

4. Some Excessive Sharpening in Photos

FAQ