Nord CE3 5G Review: The OnePlus we Love!

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.

Rating –

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Review: Jack of All Trades

Every once in a while, you come across a smartphone which is easy to recommend. The newly launched OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is one of those cases. It looks like OnePlus is continuing its winning streak at least in India with the launch of the 11 and 11R series devices and now with this budget winner. So what exactly works with the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite? Pretty much everything, for the prize! Let’s dive in and explore the latest budget offering by OnePlus and why it has the potential to become the next big thing in the Indian market –

Design

The ‘CE’ in the OnePlus lineup stands for ‘Core Edition’ It could be simply written off as a marketing gimmick designed to package a budget device. But the CE aspect in Nord CE 3 Lite shines especially when it comes to the design. As much of the budget devices go, it also comes with a plastic back but the colour scheme here can be called this device’s USP. The variant I am using is the Pastel Lime colour which is aesthetically pleasing to look at. The company says that the vibrancy of nature inspired the new Pastel Lime variant which honestly translates very well in real-time usage of the device. At the front, we have a big 6.72-inch 120Hz FHD+ display which is not AMOLED, making it the only drawback of the Nord CE 3 Lite in my opinion. However, the colour production and overall performance of the LCD screen took me by surprise as it was a treat to look at. Interestingly, the device does not come with a Gorilla Glass at the front but rocks an Asahi Dragontail Star Glass which easily survived a few drops from a nominal height during my testing. The fingerprint sensor here rests on the right side of the device with the left side housing the volume rockers and a hybrid slim slot. The camera design for the new device is also unique in more than just one way. Overall, the design of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is a winner. 

Camera

Now, this is where most budget devices lose their ground. The expectation with cameras in this price category is usually whether the performance is passable. Luckily, the image output for the Nord CE 3 Lite with its 108MP primary lens is beyond just passable. The camera is capable of shooting some crisp images with the exception of a few shots where it misses out on key details of the subject in place. The primary shooter is coupled with a 2MP depth-assist lens and a 2MP macro lens. OnePlus claims that the device is capable of shooting 3x lossless zoom images which is arguable, to say the least. During my testing of the device, a lot of details were missed out while clicking photos on 3x zoom. The selfies here can be clicked with a 16MP shooter which produces average shots. The camera boasts a number of features like AI Scene Enhancement, Slow Motion Video, Dual Video Mode, and much more. Sadly, it cannot shoot videos in 60 frames being restrained to 1080P and 720P video at 30 fps only. Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite brings in a stable camera setup which is reliable. Check out some camera samples below – 

Performance

The greatness of the Snapdragon 695 chipset strikes again! If I had a dollar for every time a smartphone manufacturer relied on this chipset for optimum performance in the budget section then I’d be wealthy. The powerful chipset is backed by a 5000 mAh battery which can be juiced up with a 67W SUPERVOOC charger. During my testing, the device would juice up around 80 to 85% in half an hour. The combination of a big battery with fast charging is a treat for people on the go, thus making this device an ideal choice for many. We also get a 3.5mm headphone jack here which produced decent audio quality during long music sessions. The variant I tested came with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB storage. It runs on OxygenOS 13.1 which promises a smooth gaming experience. However, one does not truly think of gaming graphics extensive games on a budget device like this. Still, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite holds its ground during extensive gaming sessions without heating up noticeably.  Overall, the performance of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is smooth and commendable. 

Verdict

If you’re looking to get into the OnePlus ecosystem without having to shell out the premium midrange pricing of the OnePlus 11 then this is definitely the device for you. It comes with good performance and an above-average camera system making it a complete package.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Little Bit of Everything – OnePlus Nord Watch Review

If you’re in the market to buy a smartwatch in the 5K price range then you’ve got a number of options to choose from. But if that watch comes from the OnePlus brand then it is the cherry on top! The company has now managed to build a strong sub-brand with its Nord line of products and the OnePlus Nord Watch definitely delivers when it comes to functionality and usability. But does this watch stand out from all the others in the saturated budget smartwatch segment? Almost! 

Design 

The OnePlus Nord Watch comes in a rectangular form factor with curved corners as opposed to the OnePlus watch with its circular dial. The watch comes with a vibrant AMOLED display which is the first standout feature of this device. The display produces punchy colors in a 1.78-inch size at a 60Hz refresh rate that makes it a treat to the eyes. As one would expect, the device also comes with a button placed at the side that can be used to navigate through the watch. The button is also capable of rotating but it doesn’t do anything on the functional side. It makes me wonder why OnePlus decided to add a rotating button as opposed to a fixed one. Anyways, the body of the watch is made of a combination of zinc alloy and plastic which surely comes off as premium. I was handed the ‘Deep Blue’ color of the watch which looks pretty, to say the least, and also attracts eyeballs. The strap of this watch is easily detachable which makes it easier for users to swap it out but the one provided by OnePlus is surely good. 

Performance 

If you’re the kinda user who likes to install third-party apps on your smartwatch then this one is not for you. The OnePlus Nord Watch runs on a Real-Time operating system which prevents third-party apps to be installed. The performance aspect is where this smart device takes a back seat as it misses out on a few features that its competitors flaunt. It does not have Bluetooth calling and an always-on display which are some of the most prominent features for people looking for a smartwatch. I am not fond of watches but was wearing this one during my extensive testing and showed it around to my pals. Most of them were surprised about the fact that it does not come with a Bluetooth calling feature.  Additionally, it also does not come with built-in GPS so your outdoor workouts cannot be tracked with this watch. 

Keeping the gripes aside, the Nord watch does have a beautiful interface with 100+ customizable watch faces. While it misses out on an always-on display, the rise-to-wake feature works reasonably fine. There are also over 105 sports modes built-in the device that is surprisingly accurate in tracking. The built=in sensors to track sleep, steps, stress, and Sp02 work seamlessly. The addition of women’s health tracking is also something OnePlus deserves a point for. 

The OnePlus Nord watch deserves applause for its battery prowess. It features a 230mAh battery that can keep the device juiced up for 10 days. In my testing of the device, it was certainly powered up over 10 days on moderate usage. The N-Health app designed to work with the Nord watch also works perfectly with little to no issues. 

Verdict 

While missing out on key features like Bluetooth calling and always-on display, the OnePlus Nord watch makes up for it with its powerful battery backup. It is a good purchase for people with tight budgets as it certainly does not come off as cheap looking. It is heavy on features while light on the pocket making it an overall performer as your next smartwatch.

OnePlus Nord Watch Specifications Revealed

It was just last week that OnePlus teased the budget Nord Watch. Players like RealMe and Noise have already paved their way in the budget smartwatch category and it’s now time for OnePlus to take the market by storm. The company had already launched a number of products in the Indian market this year like the OnePlus 10T and Nord wired earphones, it looks like the Nord lineup will now be extended with the OnePlus Nord Watch. Check out all the details about the upcoming smartwatch below:

OnePlus Nord Watch

Currently, OnePlus has two offerings when it comes to smart wearables. The company offers the premium OnePlus Watch which is priced at Rs 14,999 and the entry-level OnePlus Band which is priced at Rs 1499. It looks like the company is trying to chart the gap between the OnePlus Nord Watch which is expected to be priced in the budget category, likely between Rs 5K to 8K. The device currently has a product page on OnePlus’ official website which has revealed a number of details about the upcoming project.

According to the OnePlus Nord Watch product page, the device will come with a 45.2mm (1.78″) AMOLED display. The display will have a high resolution of 338×448 coupled with 500 nits peak brightness. This will allow the device’s display to be comfortably visible under direct sunlight. While the display is definitely impressive, the refresh rate will be clocked at 60Hz which can be a deal breaker for some. On the software side, users will be able to choose between 100+ watch faces and 105 sports modes. The OnePlus Nord Watch will be revealed on September 28, 2022, according to the company’s official website.

 

According to reports, the smartwatch will offer up to 10 days of battery life. The device will also come equipped with women’s health tracking features. It will have support for both iOS and Android as one would expect. Reports suggest furthermore that it will be available in two color options, Midnight Black and Deep Blue. It looks like the company is prepared to shake the budget smartwatch segment with the OnePlus Nord Watch.

 

OnePlus Nord Oxygen 12 Update to Roll Out In India Soon

OnePlus Nord starts getting the stable version of the Android-12-primarily based on OxygenOS 12. The OxygenOS 12 stable update is rolling out quickly after OnePlus had launched the beta model of the operating system. The new edition can be had to users via over the air (OTA) update. The update is being rolled out to customers in India.

OnePlus has informed that the users of the open beta will be the first ones to acquire the stable update as it releases. The brand has additionally provided a changelog for the customers on Beta 2. The changelog informs that the new firmware version will carry in updates as well as will restore the issues.

The new update will bring new capabilities along with an enhanced dark mode, a OnePlus Shelf, and an overhauled design. The update will be available to the ones on the Android 11 version.

Customers outside of India probably won’t be waiting much longer for the update that weighs in at 4GB also packing the April 2022 protection patch. So, customers should make sure to have the considered necessary space available in order to install the update successfully. The phone must also be at above 30 percent battery to kick off the update.

OnePlus shared the information through its network forum and additionally highlighted a number of the recognized problems that a future update of the software will aim to resolve.

Known problems:

  • The display of a few pages in Settings can be one-of-a-kind from the system.
  • The display screen will glitch in specific scenarios when
  • The camera might also additionally crash while taking pictures in Portrait mode.
  • The abnormal display of thumbnails when taking burst pictures.
  • The abnormal display of the Quick device connects when in the Guest mode.

OnePlus Nord 2T Specifications Leaked, Ahead of Official Launch

OnePlus is bringing together the Nord series and the T series in the new OnePlus Nord 2T. The new OnePlus Nord 2T is ready to launch in the Indian markets and is expected to be the successor of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G with minor changes. A third-party retailer has leaked the phone’s specifications online ahead of the official launch. Expected specifications are mentioned in the article.

Body and Display

OnePlus Nord 2T is anticipated to release with a 6.43-inch display with a Full HD+ resolution which was also available in the preceding version. The smartphone has an AMOLED display and comes with a hole-punch cut out on the top left corner of the display screen housing the selfie camera. The display of the smartphone supports a 90Hz refresh rate.

Processor and Storage

Under the hood, there’s reportedly a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset, which is an upgrade over the Dimensity 1200 that powered the OnePlus Nord 2 5G.This may be followed by 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, even though we may also see another variation with a 12GB/256GB configuration commonly found in the Nord lineup.

Camera

The OnePlus Nord 2T will feature three cameras. The primary camera on the smartphone can be a 50MP lens. The primary lens will be accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP monochrome lens. On the front, the phone has a 32MP lens for selfies and video calls. The OnePlus Nord 2T may pack a 4,500 mAh battery with 80W fast-charging support.

Price and Availability

The OnePlus Nord 2T price is set at EUR 399 (Roughly Rs 32,100) for the only 8GB/128GB model. There is no official confirmation from the brand regarding the phone’s India prices. The handset will be available in Black and Green colour options.

First Impressions – OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G & OnePlus Nord Buds

One should learn marketing and advertising techniques from the guys who work at OnePlus. The company has launched 3-smartphones in a span of 4-weeks, which justifies its slogan “Never Settle”. On 28th April, OnePlus India launched a premium smartphone – OnePlus 10 R 5G, a mid-range smartphone – OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite and budget earbuds – OnePlus Nord Buds.

The Status Quo

The Nord Duo of OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite and OnePlus Nord Buds is budget-friendly and work best when clubbed together. The price of the smartphone starts from ₹19,999, while the earbuds are currently priced at ₹2,799. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite appears classy, but once you dive deep, it shows the real mid-range colours, while the earbuds are pretty adequate for the price point.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is available in two colours – blue tide and black dusk. The blue tide colour looks classy, while the black dusk colour seems somewhat dank and ordinary. The IP55 dust and water resistance earbuds look dapper and offer ultra-fast charging (10 minutes for 5-hours). They are available in two colours: white marble and black slate.

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite

The OnePlus Nord 2 CE 2 Lite boasts a 6.59” IPS LCD display and is loaded with a 120 Hz refresh rate, 5,000 mAh battery, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 64-megapixel primary sensor, and 33W fast charging. The watered-down version of the OnePlus Nord 2 CE runs on the Android 12 Operating System with custom OxygenOS 12.1 skin and is a value-for-money deal. 

The plastic-made OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is the first smartphone from the house of OnePlus, which features a 120Hz IPS screen and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner which also functions as a power button. The display of the Nord CE 2 Lite offers a lot of screen space, thanks to the thin bezels. The display also has superb colour reproduction, one of the top necessary things for gamers and binge-lovers.

The OnePlus Nord 2 CE Lite is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset paired with Adreno 619 graphics unit and is available in two RAM options, 6GB and 8GB. The smartphone is power-packed with a mammoth 5000mAh battery which comes with a 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging. The Nord 2 CE Lite is excellent for gaming and runs well for a long period without any hiccup.

OnePlus Nord Buds

The OnePlus Nord Buds are well-built, value for money and probably one of the best budget earbuds in the current market. They offer about 7-hours of listening once charged fully and have AI Noise reduction, which helps you have better calls. The Nord buds have a gigantic pair of audio drivers and a smooth equalizer to make you dance.

The earbuds feature a big 12.4 mm Titanium Audio Driver and Dolby Atmos support for deeper bass and crisp sound. The lightweight earbuds are pretty suitable for outdoors as they have a tight grip and hold. The serenade composition mode offers one of the best vocals, and the ergonomic design makes sure to offer all the comfort you want.

One Plus Nord CE 2 Lite Specifications Leaked

The Chinese smartphone producer OnePlus has been reportedly working on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite phone, one of the upcoming handsets withinside the company’s Nord collection. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite specifications were leaked. Keep reading further to know more about rumoured specifications. 

Body and Display: 

The specification information for OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite surfaced lately over the web, in line with which the handset will include a 6.59-inch Full HD+ fluid display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The speculations suggest that the handset could function with an LCD, making it the first device within the Nord collection to feature an LCD in India. 

Processor: 

Under the hood, the upcoming OnePlus device will run on Snapdragon 695 5G chipset paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The Geekbench listing confirms Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 with up to clock speeds of 2.21GHz paired with Adreno 619 GPU and 6GB RAM running on Android 11.

Camera: 

As far as the device’s camera module is considered, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is predicted to include a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 64MP Omnivision sensor. The device will even have secondary cameras – a 2MP macro and a 2MP mono sensor. The front of the device is predicted to feature a 16MP Sony IMX471 sensor. 

Battery: 

The TUV Rheinland and FCC certifications verify a 4,500mAh battery with 33W SuperVOOC rapid charging support on OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite.

Price and Availability: 

OnePlus Nord CE 2 was released in India at a beginning price of Rs 23,999, so CE 2 Lite is anticipated at below Rs 20,000. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite price in India may also begin at Rs 19,999, letting OnePlus discover a brand new price class withinside the country. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite India release could happen in the following few weeks, possibly by May.

Review – OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G – Affordable & Admirable

OnePlus is a brand that entered into the world of smartphones with premium smartphones, and until today it is known for its flagship devices only. However, the Chinese brand has manufactured many mid-range smartphones in the last couple of years, including their most popular NORD series. The company recently added another mid-range smartphone on their resume – OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G, an updated version of the OnePlus Nord CE.

First Impressions

The new Nord looks admirable, and one can immediately fall in love with this smartphone, but one thing I would like to glorify here – the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is not altogether a new smartphone, as it makes you think, you are you looking at the identical version of the Oppo Reno7 5G. Sadly, both smartphones are available for sale at the same time in the same marketplaces, and only Oppo will explain why!

Design & Display

Though the smartphone is made for a budget audience, it doesn’t look like one when you hold it for the first time. The subtle looking smartphone has a typical hole punch camera design and looks more premium and separate from the Nord CE. The smartphone has a flat ceramic-like plate on the rear, which is basically a glass made of Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and it houses its camera module. The smartphone is available in 2 colour options only – Bahama Blue and Gray Mirror. 

The new Nord features 6.43 inches Fluid AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, and it houses a 32MP Sony IMX615 camera with an f/2.4 aperture on the extreme left side of the phone. On the rear side, the smartphone has two large camera sensors and one smaller one, placed right above the flash. The right profile of the phone boasts a lock button, while the left one sports a SIM tray with space for a microSD card and volume rockers.

The bottom edge of the smartphone houses a USB-C charging port, 3.5 mm audio jack, and a speaker grille, while the top edge of the smartphone features a microphone. The Nord CE 2 5G features an in-display fingerprint sensor, and it’s pretty quick all the time. Sometimes the contrast of the phone gets a little too heavy due to the dark bezels of the phone, causing trouble to the eyes.

Chipset & Performance

The Nord CE 2 5G gets OxygenOS 11.3 out of the box and features a MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset, but still, you should not expect lightning-fast reaction times and absolutely zero lag from the mid-range smartphones as they’re not built for the same. However, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G offers decent performance and is fast enough, especially compared to the other smartphones in the mid-range category.

The company has advertised the smartphone as having fast-smooth performance, and in most gaming sessions, it works fine without much of an issue. In our short gaming test, the phone seemed powerful enough to offer a pretty good touch response and handling while playing games such as Asphalt 9: Legends and Marvel Future Revolution. Though, sometimes the back of the phone got a little warm during long gaming sessions.

Camera & Battery

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G sports a triple camera setup (64-MP primary camera, an 8-MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2-MP macro camera) on the back, with each camera having a metal rim. While in the front, you get a 16-MP selfie camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The primary camera offers decent and exploited daylight images, but not as good as the Nord 2. In the lower light conditions, it fails to deliver anything good and delivers dark and artificially sharp clicks.

When it comes to the selfie camera, it doesn’t even offer proper skin tones. All you get in the outcomes are over-softened images. The low-light camera performance could be better, but it is a mid-range smartphone and focusing on that, what it offers is pretty enough. The battery of the smartphone is genuinely excellent and lasts long for over 24 hours, even after heavy use. It has a 4,500mAh battery, and to pump up the battery quickly, the phone comes with a 65W fast-charging support.

Verdict

Overall, the Nord CE 2 5G is a decent buy and worth the price, especially when you haven’t experienced the previous model. The mid-range smartphone market is very congested as many companies are trying to fit their smartphones in the range, including Apple. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is a complete package and can be referred to as an everyday phone. However, there are other smartphones in the market too that you can consider, such as Realme 9 Pro+, Mi 11X and Xiaomi 11i.

The Good

Premium Design

Great Battery

The Bad

No Android 12

Low-light Camera Quality

The Ugly

Limited Color Options (Bahama Blue and Gray Mirror)

No Stereo Speakers

OnePlus Nord CE 5G Specs Leaked Ahead Of Its India Launch

Last year, OnePlus added a new lineup of phones by launching the OnePlus Nord in the market, and this year they’re coming with another Nord sibling, the OnePlus Nord CE (Core Edition), which is set to launch in India on 10th June and will be available for sale on Amazon once released. It is expected to be the company’s cheapest 5G phone in the country yet and will have additional features compared to OnePlus Nord.

According to the leaks, the Nord CE will arrive with the Snapdragon 750G chipset and a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel. The phone will feature a 64MP primary camera, a 16MP camera at the front, and a 90Hz refresh rate, twinning to the one already on the OnePlus Nord. The leaked features directly point out the OnePlus’ strategy to compete with the recently launched Mi 10i and Samsung’s Galaxy A52 5G; both of these devices also come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor.

Furthermore, the upcoming OnePlus Nord CE 5G smartphone will fall in a similar pricing category as the Mi 10i and Samsung’s Galaxy A52 5G to give them healthy competition in the market. So, we can expect the phone to be priced between the range of 20k-25k, which will ultimately make the OnePlus experience more accessible than ever.

As the name suggests, the OnePlus Nord Core Edition 5G will go down deep to the core to provide you with a wholesome experience, and the phone will surely deliver all the features you would expect from a OnePlus flagship smartphone. The upcoming Nord CE 5G has already been listed on the Amazon India website with the notify me option; if you’re interested in buying one, you better click the option to get notified once the phone comes in stock.

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