The chipset is the primary difference between the three phones. The OnePlus Nord CE3 is managed with a Snapdragon 782G, which is an improvement over the Snapdragon 695 in the Lite but not nearly as powerful as the Dimensity 9000 in the Nord 3.
The Nord CE3, which is priced roughly in the center of the two previous Nord phones, might be the best option. Let’s observe how it functions.
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OnePlus Nord CE3 technical specifications:
| Body | 162.7×75.5×8.2mm, 184g; plastic frame; plastic back panel. |
| Display | 6.70″ Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080x2412px resolution, 20.1:9 aspect ratio, 394ppi. |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G (6 nm): Octa-core (1×2.7 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55); Adreno 642L. |
| Memory | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot). OS/Software: Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1. |
| OS/Software: | Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1. |
| Rear camera: | Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚, 1/4″, 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4. |
| Front camera: | 16 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide), 1.0µm. |
| Video capture: | Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS. |
| Battery: | 5000mAh; 80W wired, 1-61% in 15 min (advertised). |
| Connectivity | 5G; Hybrid Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.2, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive; NFC; Infrared port. |
| Misc | Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers. |
Unboxing
The Nord CE3 is distinguished from other OnePlus phones by having the black packaging that is common for the brand.
Design
Unsurprisingly, the Nord CE3 resembles the Nord 3 and the Nord CE3 Lite in appearance. Also extremely similar in terms of dimensions is the Nord 3, which is heavier due to its quality glass back but is smaller in overall size.
The phone’s front is made of flat glass and features bezels that are slightly thicker than those on the Nord CE3 Lite but not as small as those on the Nord 3. The matte-finished, smooth-textured plastic frame has curved edges and a matte finish.
The power button and, unusually for a OnePlus phone, the volume buttons are located on the right side of the device. The volume buttons are uncomfortably situated far higher than they should be, as though they were moved there without prior notice.
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Display
The 6.7-inch, 2412 x 1080 resolution AMOLED display on the Nord CE3 offers a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The display provides 10-bit color depth, HDR10+ certification, and complete coverage of the sRGB and Display P3 color schemes.
The default Vivid profile, which appears to target Display P3, and the Natural profile, which appears to be constrained to sRGB, are the two profiles that can be selected on the display. Additionally, you can manually change the color temperature.
Charging test
The 5000mAh dual-cell battery of the Nord CE3 is compatible with the 80W SUPERVOOC rapid charging standard. Along with the required wire, a compatible 80W charger is also included in the box.
The Nord CE3 charges quickly, as we’ve come to expect from OnePlus phones. From 1% to 100%, the phone charges in just 31 minutes, and a quick 15-minute charge will give you more than half your battery capacity. Those figures are quite astounding.
Software
OxygenOS 13.1 and Android 13 are preinstalled on the OnePlus Nord CE3. Although the OxygenOS 14 beta has already been made available by the firm, the final release for this particular gadget will take some time. After debut, the phone should receive updates for three years.
Since all OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme devices use the same fundamental software and UI, there isn’t much new to say about OxygenOS 13.1 on the Nord CE3 compared to what has already been said over the course of the past year for every single one of those devices. Whether for good or ill, that will continue in the future.
Performance
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G chipset powers the Nord CE3. It has an octa-core architecture with an Adreno 642L GPU and 1x 2.7GHz Kryo 670 Prime core, 3x 2.4GHz Kryo 670 Gold cores, and 4x 1.8GHz Kryo 670 Silver cores. You can choose between 128GB and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage and 8GB and 12GB of LPDDR4X memory.
The Nord CE3 performs well in regular situations. Although the screen rarely refreshes at 120Hz, the phone seems quick and responsive, and the scrolling is fluid and easy to do.
The Snapdragon 782G’s overall performance is quite similar to that of the Honor 90’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor. This indicates that while the GPU is subpar, the CPU performance is suitable for everyday use. In terms of gaming performance, the Nord CE3 falls well short of the Nord 3 and is also outmatched by certain less expensive rivals like the Infinix GT10 Pro. The Nord 3 is a significantly better choice if gaming is a key use-case.
Camera
A 50MP f1.8 primary camera, an 8MP f2.2 ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera make up the Nord CE3’s triple camera system on the back. The main camera on the flagship OnePlus 11 uses the same 50MP IMX890 sensor, but without the Hasselblad tweaking. The Nord 3 and all four cameras are connected. Recent Nord phones are also where the camera app comes from. There is no ability to save pictures in a RAW format, despite the fact that it is quite easy and includes features like a Pro mode.
In terms of image quality, the Nord CE3’s primary camera is impressive. Images have good resolution, are detailed, and hardly ever have ringing or oversharpening artifacts. Although reds can appear magenta and greens can have a small yellow tint, colors and white balance are generally realistic. In general, dynamic range is really good.
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Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord CE3 is an excellent mid-range smartphone that stands out for its performance on the display, its snappy and fluid user interface, its stereo speaker sound, and its good main camera quality. Another great selling feature for individuals who frequently charge their phones is the exceptionally quick charging.
The less striking features are the poor graphics performance, the absence of an alert slider, the 4K video that isn’t stabilized, and the poor image quality from all but the main camera.
The Nord CE3 is a decent value at a starting price of INR 26,999 ($325), far superior to the Nord 3, whose higher price (INR 33,999) is just unjustified. The Nord CE3 is the best overall choice among the three new 2023 Nord phones, as provided as you aren’t primarily interested in gaming.