Smartphone review
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: A budget contender with trade-offs
“The aspiration to introduce a slender and budget-friendly variant into the device lineup is certainly commendable. However, it appears as though someone at OnePlus may have taken the concept a tad too far,” writes Itai Smuskowitz, CTech's smartphone critic
Top Line
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite adeptly manages high-quality movies on platforms like YouTube or streaming services, as well as demanding games and various tasks. On the flip side, the phone struggles with certain tasks, exhibiting occasional hitches, and both the camera and image quality are rather basic. The aspiration to introduce a slender and budget-friendly variant into the device lineup is certainly commendable. However, it appears as though someone at OnePlus may have taken the concept a tad too far. The Nord could serve well as a primary or secondary device for purposes like children's use. Nevertheless, within the same price bracket, alternatives that offer more comprehensive features—including device protection, performance capabilities, and photo quality—can be found.
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Details
The OnePlus brand emerged into the market roughly a decade ago, with a mission to deliver cost-effective yet robust devices that could stand against flagship offerings from rival manufacturers. Over the years, the company underwent several transformations—including changes in leadership and a strategic partnership with Oppo—while prices gradually increased. Approximately three years ago, OnePlus introduced the Nord series, aimed at providing affordable mid-range devices.
Design and Build: Camouflaging Plastic's Nature
In terms of design, the new Nord maintains an overall appealing aesthetic—subject to personal preference. Its structural layout adheres to conventional norms. Positioned on the right side, an on/off button doubles as a fingerprint sensor. Meanwhile, the left side houses volume buttons and a SIM tray, which can also accommodate an external memory card. The device's base includes a headphone jack (although not typical of flagship devices), a speaker, and a charging port. Notably absent is the familiar OnePlus button used for muting the ringer.
The front features a type of Gorilla Glass (specifics unspecified by the company), alongside a 6.72-inch screen. While the frame and back of the device are constructed from plastic, the back's texture can be misleading, feeling more durable than standard plastic. However, it exhibits a drawback—accumulation of fingerprints, obscuring the surface rapidly.
The device boasts a camera system with two slightly protruding lenses on the body—though intriguingly, it encompasses three lenses in total. The front camera, positioned discreetly within a small hole atop the screen, minimally interferes with the display.
Despite its screen size and a weight nearing 200 grams, the Nord does not feel unwieldy or cumbersome. The screen stretches from edge to edge in a flat manner, a common trait among budget devices. However, the screen doesn't fully extend to the edges, with a thin black border framing it.
Protection-wise, OnePlus has taken cost-cutting to an extreme—the device lacks adherence to water and dust resistance standards. This Nord offers no partial protection, temporary safeguarding, or defense against minor water contact—officially, at least, suggesting the need for cautious handling.
Hardware: Familiar Processing
As anticipated for a discounted model, the Nord CE 3 Lite doesn't boast the latest and most robust specifications. While this is acceptable, older processors can still adequately support daily tasks for most users. However, a perplexing decision by OnePlus becomes evident: the Nord CE 3 Lite employs the same Snapdragon 695 processor as its predecessor, the Nord CE 2 Lite, released a year ago (even then, the processor wasn't new). In the basic model with 128 gigabytes of storage, memory has been upgraded from 6 gigabytes in the previous generation to 8 gigabytes. Similarly, the model with 256 gigabytes of storage possesses 8 gigabytes of memory—mirroring last year's device.
While utilizing a weaker and older specification isn't inherently problematic, performance disparities are evident this time. The device occasionally exhibits delayed responses, giving the impression that tasks take longer to process, even for relatively simple functions.
Economical measures extend to the screen as well, with the company opting for an LCD display instead of the more common AMOLED displays found in competitors' products. Despite this, the screen offers sufficient brightness for use under daylight conditions, rendering vibrant colors—though not achieving the pinnacle of vibrancy. One implication of choosing an LCD screen is the absence of an Always On display feature, which allows for date, time, and notifications to be displayed without fully activating the screen.
The integrated fingerprint reader, situated within the phone's on/off button, operates swiftly and seamlessly. Similarly, the facial recognition mechanism functions efficiently, even at unexpected angles when the user doesn't have direct eye contact with the camera.
The speakers deliver satisfactory sound quality, though they are neither exceptionally powerful nor of top-notch quality. Sound output weakens slightly when connecting headphones, possibly implemented to safeguard users' hearing.
Powering the device is a 5,000 mAh battery, providing ample juice for a day's use. If the battery depletes, rapid recharging is possible—a notable improvement over the previous model. The new Nord supports fast charging, with a 67-watt fast charger included. Company data suggests an 80% battery charge within 30 minutes. During testing, the battery reached 75% charge in half an hour and achieved full charge in approximately 45 minutes—a commendable performance. Notably, the device lacks wireless charging capabilities and an eSIM option.
Software and User Interface: Customization and Gesture Navigation
The Nord ships with Android 13 and OnePlus' Oxygen 13.1 interface, providing an array of customization options. An early choice presented to users involves navigation preferences—opting for standard Android navigation with back and home buttons or embracing gesture-based navigation. This choice remains adjustable in the device settings at any time.
Gesture-based navigation requires acclimation, particularly for users unfamiliar with this interface. Mastering gestures for app navigation, returning to the home screen, or accessing the previous screen takes time. The system occasionally offers explanations and recommendations for specific finger movements. As previously mentioned, this selection is not final, allowing users to experiment and adjust based on personal preference.
Apps can be arranged by installation date, name, or frequency of use, prioritizing frequently used apps for easier access. Users can also minimize open apps or pin them atop the screen as shortcuts. Alternatively, these options can be accessed from a menu above the open app.
A staple of OnePlus, the Zen mode application blocks external distractions for a chosen duration, customizable according to the user's preferences—ranging from zero interference to selective updates from specific apps.
Despite subtle differences, those accustomed to other Android versions will find adapting to OnePlus' interface effortless, and may even discover additional perks.
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Camera: Limited Diversity, Modest Outcomes
OnePlus boasts a 108-megapixel camera within the new Nord, accompanied by two less impressive lenses—each with a mere 2-megapixel capacity, serving as a depth sensor and a macro sensor. The 16-megapixel sensor in the front-facing camera captures satisfactory selfies. In terms of results, the photos are suitable for sharing with friends and family on WhatsApp or social media platforms. While vibrant, they don't evoke a sense of awe.
Several shooting modes are available, though the variety is relatively constrained compared to competitors. Video recording offers a choice between 720-pixel and 1080-pixel quality—both provide HD footage, sufficient for many scenarios. However, other devices can achieve 4K resolution, four times the quality of full HD.
