OnePlus Nord 3 5G review: Mid-range smartphone punches above its weight

OnePlus Nord 3 5G review: OnePlus has added one more device to its Nord Series - OnePlus Nord 3 5G. The smartphone is available in two colour options - Misty Green and Tempest Gray - and in two RAM and storage variants - 8GB + 128GB and 16GB + 256GB. They are priced at Rs 33,999 and Rs 37,999 respectively. Despite being a mid-range smartphone, it does come with several features available in the premium segment. Do all these features make OnePlus Nord 3 5G the best in the segment? Find out in our detailed review.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G review: Design

Here we are using the Tempest Gray colour variant of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G and this looks premium. The matte textured look makes the smartphone smudge and fingerprint resistant. However, it makes the device a bit slippery as well. But slightly curved edges make for it and you can easily hold the smartphone in your hand. The matte finish is extended to the frame, which is of plastic. On the right side of the device is a power button along with a fan-favourite alert slider and a volume rocker on the left. On the bottom, there is a USB Type-C port, a primary speaker cavity, a primary microphone, and a SIM slot. On the top, you will get an IR blaster, a secondary speaker and a secondary mic.

The smartphone is neither too heavy nor too thick. It weighs 193.5 grams and is 8.15mm thick. Overall, the smartphone feels solid. Also, it gets Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the back and Dragontrail glass protection on the front along with an IP54 rating.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G review: Display

The OnePlus Nord 3 comes with HDR10+ certified 6.74-inch full HD+ AMOLED display and supports 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The display is quite bright and achieves a peak brightness of 1,450 nits, something you generally find in premium devices.

The extremely thin bezels, including at the chin, enhance the viewing experience and give it a premium look and feel. This again is something that only premium devices offer. Content consumption on this device is fun as the screen produces vivid and vibrant colours. It offers excellent viewing angles and supports Widevine L1 for streaming apps.

The viewing experience is enhanced by the dual-stereo speakers with Dirac drivers. They are also Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio certified. Speakers are loud and offer rich audio by retaining details even at higher volumes.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G review: Performance and software

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset which is based on a 4nm fabrication process. This is a flagship-grade chip and is paired with Mali G-710 GPU. The device which we are using as a review unit comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Again, this configuration is usually seen in premium devices.

Games like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty: Mobile were handled well by the device with hardly any heating issues.

In terms of software, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G runs on OxygenOS 13.1 skin based on Android 13 out of the box. While OxygenOS 13.1 offers sufficient customisations, it also feels clean. Also, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G comes with a rating in the TUV Rheinland SUD 48-Month Fluency Certification. This essentially means the device will run smoothly for at least 48 months. Moreover, the company has promised three years of major software updates and four years of security updates - which have been usually restricted to premium devices.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G review: Battery and charging

The OnePlus Nord 3 comes with a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 80W fast charging. It takes around 40 minutes to charge your smartphone from zero to 100 per cent. The battery comfortably lasts for an entire day on a full charge.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G review: Camera

OnePlus Nord 3 has a twin-ring camera layout at the rear. The triple-camera setup comprises a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. The rings have LED flashlights adjacent to them. However, of the two LEDs, only the top one is functional, the second one below is for aesthetic purposes only.

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The smartphone's primary camera clicks good images during the daylight - both in normal and portrait mode. The bokeh effect in portrait mode is also decent. The good thing is that it clicks decent images even in low-light conditions. The ultra-wide camera clicks average images with not so many details and edges are often distorted. The 2MP macro camera is not that useful either.

For selfies, the OnePlus Nord 3 has a 16MP sensor and captures good images with accurate colours. Portrait images too show good edge detection.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G review: Verdict

When compared to its predecessor, OnePlus Nord 3 5G comes with notable upgrades. Also, it has several features that offer a premium-level of experience - be it a vibrant screen with a peak brightness of over 1400 nits, 16GB RAM, a good primary camera, three years of security updates and a clean software experience. However, there was some scope for improvement in ultra-wide and macro sensors. Overall, if you want to have a premium experience without stretching your budget too much, then OnePlus Nord 3 5G can be a perfect choice for you.