Review – OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: A well-made mid-range smartphone

Although OnePlus has huge ambitions, the Chinese manufacturer doesn’t forget one of the first things it likes: the mid-range. And this proves it with a new smartphone that embodies the original DNA of the brand: unbeatable value for money.

At the beginning of April, OnePlus will unveil two new affordable products; OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite and OnePlus Nord Buds 2.

Is OnePlus embarking on a new strategy with affordable smartphones? It seems so: CE 3 Lite stands alone, unlike last year, when Nord CE 2 Lite joined Nord CE 2 Lite. Is there a clearer strategy on the way? It is possible, only the future will tell. In the meantime, let’s focus on what we know concretely.

big eyes

Although it is a mid-range model, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite looks very good. The Chinese manufacturer has already managed to give the smartphone a more luxurious look, thanks to its choices of materials and finishes.

The casing is plastic, but it has a disguised glassy look — though it’s very sensitive to fingerprints. The edges are jagged and it looks like aluminum, but it’s actually plastic.

As for the design itself, OnePlus appears to be experiencing the same wave of innovation as Samsung: no more camera block, but cameras coming straight out of the phone’s housing. This again gives the device a more elegant and luxurious look.

In short, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is a great product that can avoid the pitfalls that make the device unattractive. However, we regret that the manufacturer has omitted the alert slider, which allowed you to adjust the phone’s sound mode. Most likely option to reduce costs.

All in one device

Although the device seems to belong to a higher range, the latest flagship from OnePlus mainly focuses on affordability. This translates into a soft price of 329 euros, but also in connectivity and accessories. The most noticeable thing is, without a doubt, the presence of… a headphone jack.

In fact, you can actually connect wired headphones to the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. A feature that would have been a good point for people who haven’t made the transition to wireless headphones yet.

In the same vein, the device has space for a micro SD card (up to 1TB), but it also comes with a case — unlike the OnePlus 11 — and a 67W SuperVooc charger. Aspects that are becoming increasingly rare with many other manufacturers.

Another argument for accessibility – which the brand emphasizes – is battery life. Equipped with a 5000mAh battery, the Nord CE 3 Lite will easily last you all day with normal use. Furthermore, at bedtime the battery shows a good reserve (more than 40%, depending on use). So those who are not addicted to their phone can even use it for two days without recharging.

Finally, and in the same vein, we note that the fingerprint reader is located on the power button. A choice that suits a simpler use, where the action is more natural.

Overall acceptable performance

Equipped with a Snapdragon 695 processor – the same as in the previous model, which is quite surprising – and 8GB of RAM – an improvement here – the Nord CE 3 Lite perfectly manages the basic functions of a smartphone, without major flaws, and apart Apart from some delays when opening multiple apps.

The device is designed for simple use and performs this role perfectly.

To keep costs down, OnePlus opted for a 6.72-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, which offers a perfectly acceptable screen in terms of color, contrast, and brightness.

However, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has a feature usually reserved for more expensive smartphones, which is a 120Hz refresh rate. This ensures that the smartphone can be used more easily, which is of course very pleasant.

The photo section is disappointing

While OnePlus uses the smartphone’s camera as its selling point, with a 108MP main sensor paired with a 2MP macro sensor (f/3.3) and a 2MP depth camera (f/2.4), the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite will soon let specs see.

For basic use, the camera performs perfectly, although images are often overexposed and sometimes washed out. Color and contrast management is also somewhat haphazard.

Conclusion

As the only new representative of OnePlus’ mid-range devices, Nord CE 3 Lite is a very good option for those looking for an affordable smartphone without too many restrictions. While the camera isn’t particularly impressive, the device makes up for it with its design, connectivity (headphone jack, micro SD card slot), general performance and usability (120Hz refresh rate). OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is fairly balanced, with some nice surprises, at a still interesting price (329 euros), despite the price increase compared to its predecessor. (fd/kg)