Oneplus managed to win back its core fanbase with the launch of the OnePlus 11 and 11R. The flagship 11 and flagship killer 11R both were value offerings from OnePlus which was struggling to find its footing amid changed leadership. 2023 has already been great for the company and its latest release i.e. OnePlus Nord CE3 5G is another winning attempt by the company. The latest launch is a value offering that ticks all the correct boxes for a device that is smartly placed at the Rs 27K price point for the base variant. Check out the detailed review of the OnePlus Nord CE3 5G below –
Design: Flat Supremacy
We’re living in times where phones are predominantly curved. Nord CE3 5G breaks that norm and brings a flat form factor. The flat edges are sharp as a blade, while not everyone will find this design choice appealing, one cannot deny that it looks sexy. The right side of the device features a volume rocker and a lock button. There is no alert slider on this one, OnePlus has reserved that for the flagship devices. However, you get an IR Blaster on the top which is a great upgrade. The design language of the Nord CE3 5G is simple, yet elegant. The variant I used was called ‘Aqua Surge’ which is not as intense as it sounds. The back of the device is visually pleasing but loses its charm when you put on the in-box cover provided by OnePlus.
Display: The Highlight
An AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ is something one expects from devices past the 30K price point nowadays. However, the OnePlus Nord CE3 5G does not cut any corners when it comes to the display. The 2412 x 1080P display is vibrant to look at. It has a screen-to-body ratio of 93.4% and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. Watching content on this screen is a treat. I watched hours’ worth of content and Nord CE3 5G’s display won over Samsung F54’s display in comparison.
Camera: Flagship but mid performance
Cameras have never been the strong suit for devices placed in the sub-30 K price bracket. However, on paper, The OnePlus Nord CE3 5G features a strong set of sensors. The primary lens here is the flagship 50MP Sony IMX890 which was also used in the OnePlus 11. Along with it is an 8MP ultra-wide lens, coupled with a 2MP macro lens. We get a 16MP selfie camera here which is just alright to get the job done. ‘Just Alright’ were my sentiments during the testing of this camera setup as it does not really overwhelm you with great shots or underwhelm you with a bad performance. The camera setup for the OnePlus Nord CE3 5G is simply mid.
Performance: Smooth Sailing
With a Snapdragon 782G chipset coupled with 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM, There’s nothing really that this device cannot handle. If you’re an average mobile user who switches between a few apps throughout the day with some casual gaming then this is the device for you. It packs a 5000mAh battery which can be juiced up with an 80W SUPERVOOC charger. OnePlus’ commitment to providing a charger in the box is really appreciated at a time when manufacturers do not consider it a priority. It features the X-axis linear motor for haptic feedback which makes using the device fun. The in-display fingerprint sensor is snappy, whereas the dual Dolby stereo speakers are a treat for the audiophile. Overall, the performance of the OnePlus Nord CE3 5G is stable and leaves no room for desire.
Verdict
With solid hardware and aesthetic design packaged under Rs 30K, the OnePlus Nord CE3 5G is easy to recommend. The camera performance could’ve been better, but overall, the device is a winner.
