After a period of teasing, OnePlus has finally unveiled the Nord CE 3 Lite as their newest offering in the mid-range smartphone market. The device boasts of impressive hardware specifications, making it a strong contender in its category.
OnePlus’ Core Edition models are known for emphasizing the basics, but the newly launched Nord CE 3 Lite proves that being basic doesn’t necessarily mean lacking in features – the phone boasts an impressive 108MP primary camera.
With a 6.71-inch center-aligned punch-hole AMOLED display, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite delivers an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display also supports DC Dimming, which allows for better brightness control in low-light environments. To protect its display from scratches and cracks, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite comes with Asahi Dragontrail Star Glass, which provides similar protection as Corning Gorilla Glass.
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite also packs a sizable 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W SuperVOOC charging via USB-C, ensuring quick and convenient charging. Additionally, the smartphone retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, providing users with the option to connect wired audio devices when needed.
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite features a triple rear camera setup, led by a 108MP primary camera that is built around the 1/1.67” ISOCELL HM6 sensor. The camera has 0.64µm pixels, which can be binned 9-to-1 to produce 12MP output with an effective pixel size of 1.92µm, resulting in improved image quality compared to the Nord CE 2 Lite’s 64MP/0.7µm sensor. The 108MP camera also supports up to 3x lossless zoom and up to 6x digital zoom. The remaining two modules on the rear camera are a 2MP macro lens and a 2MP depth sensor. Given its CE and Lite labels, it’s worth noting that the 108MP camera is the only significant camera on the back of the device.
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is equipped with the identical Snapdragon 695 processor that also powers the 2022 model. While the 6nm chipset provides satisfactory performance for its category, it falls behind the 7-series Snapdragons and the latest Dimensity chips. One of its most significant shortcomings is the restriction on video recording, which is limited to 1080p at 30fps, and seems inadequate for a phone with a powerful 108MP camera.
A common drawback of mid-range or budget smartphones is the limited frequency of software updates. However, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite comes with OxygenOS 13.1 pre-installed, which is based on the latest Android 13 operating system. OnePlus has promised to deliver two full OS updates for this device, but it remains to be seen how long it will continue to receive security patches.
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite boasts a base RAM of 8GB, and the OxygenOS 13.1 (Android 13) system can further add 8GB of virtual RAM. Users can choose from storage options of 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.2, with the added flexibility of a hybrid microSD slot that can support a second SIM or a memory card of up to 1TB.
In terms of physical attributes, the phone has slimmed down a bit, measuring 8.3mm thick (compared to its predecessor’s 8.5mm thickness). It retains the same weight of 195g, though.
Here’s a recap of the specifications of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite:
- 6.72-inch 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display with DC Dimming support
- Asahi Dragontrail Star Glass protection, 550 nits (typ) and 680 nits (peak) brightness
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor
- Up to 8GB of RAM
- 128GB or 256GB of internal storage (expandable up to 1TB via a hybrid microSD slot)
- Triple rear cameras: 108MP main camera, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor
- 16MP front-facing camera
- 5,000mAh battery with 67W SuperVOOC charging support via USB-C
- OxygenOS 13.1 based on Android 13
- 3.5mm headphone jack, Stereo speakers, Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
- 5G (n1/3/5/8/40/41/77/78/28A bands), Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1 LE, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, USB Type-C
- Available in Pastel Lime and Chromatic Grey colors
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite can be yours in either Pastel Lime or Chromatic Grey color options. The device comes in two storage options: 128GB and 256GB, priced at ₹19,999 and ₹21,999 in India, respectively. You can purchase the smartphone starting April 11th through the OnePlus website, Amazon, and OnePlus Experience stores.
In the UK, the phone is priced at £299 and will be available soon on OnePlus.com and Amazon.co.uk. OnePlus also introduced the Nord Buds 2 alongside the CE 3 Lite.