OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Review: Did OnePlus Just Release a Redmi Note?

Check out our comprehensive OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite review and find out if OnePlus has just released a Redmi Note. This in-depth article covers everything you need to know about the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, including features, performance, and how it compares to the Redmi Note series.

“THIS is what the Redmi Note should have been.”

We heard that remark a number of instances when OnePlus took the wraps off the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G just lately. For, this was really the Never Settling model channeling the spirit of the bestselling merchandise of considered one of its rivals, which itself was a present process of a change of types. OnePlus and Xiaomi have had a virtually fixed rivalry since they each entered the Indian smartphone market in 2014, and their newest encounters have been within the mid-segment. This is a zone Xiaomi has dominated for a while, particularly with its bestselling Redmi Note sequence. Still, OnePlus made a vital dent in its dominance with the Nord and Nord CE units over the previous two years. So a lot in order that in 2022, the

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite emerged as one of many highest-selling telephones beneath Rs 20,000 – basic Redmi Note territory.

And now, because the Redmi Note strikes up the value record, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite (which is how we shall be referring to it for the sake of simplicity) appears to be transferred into the zone it’s vacating. The Nord CE 3 Lite comes with OnePlus branding, however, make no mistake about it – it packs within the spirit of the pre-2021 Redmi Note. At that point, the Redmi Note was synonymous with rock-solid efficiency through parameters that mattered to most shoppers and delivered it at a worth that was surprisingly reasonably priced. It didn’t set benchmarks on the fireplace or make jaws drop with each function. It just did the fundamentals fantastically and effectively. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite does just that.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Design: Straight sides, curved again with a squeeze of Pastel Lime

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is offered in two shades with a shiny end – Pastel Lime and Chromatic Gray. The Chromatic Gray one is quietly sensible, however in case you are the kind who desires your cellphone to show heads, the Pastel Lime is the shade to go for. OnePlus says it evokes the spirit of vegetation, and whereas we aren’t too certain about that, it actually may be very completely different from a lot of the color choices we’re seeing on telephones nowadays. The barely curved again additionally options two giant, jet-black circles containing the three cameras on the cellphone, with a flash subsequent to them. Like the Pastel Lime shade, these circles are additionally more likely to divide opinion – they do make the cellphone stand proud of the group, just like they themselves do from its again. The entrance of the cellphone is comparatively routine, with a tall, 6.72-inch show with slim bezels and a punch-hole notch within the high middle.

Between the entrance and the again is a body of identical shade because the again (a neat contact) and with the straight sides that the iPhone has made fashionable. There is not any alert slider, however you do get a 3.5 mm audio jack on the bottom, whereas the correct aspect has the ability/show button, which additionally doubles up as a fingerprint scanner on this case. The quantity rocker is on the left, together with the SIM tray slot, and the bottom of the cellphone additionally has a USB Type C port and a speaker grille.

At 165.5 mm, the Nord CE 3 Lite is a tall cellphone, and whereas moderately slim (8.3 mm), it isn’t precisely featherweight both at 195 grams. The again and the body are each plastics, however the cellphone feels very well-built. The entrance has Corning Gorilla Glass safety, however the system itself has no IP ranking for mud or water safety. It is a noticeable system should you get the Pastel Lime variant however in any other case is comparatively routine.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite hardware: Something previous, one thing new

In phrases of the spec sheet, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is a mix of some new options and a few that appear a little older. OnePlus has opted to go along with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695G chip on the system, which isn’t the latest, brightest spark within the tech world and has been round for a whereas – the truth is, it additionally powered the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite final yr. It is a moderately competent mid-segment chip identified for its energy effectivity however isn’t fairly within the league of the likes of the Dimensity 920 and the Snapdragon 778G that at the moment are being seen on this worth phase. Working with that is 8 GB of RAM and storage choices of 128 GB and 256 GB, with the choice to increase storage by utilizing a microSD card within the hybrid SIM slot. Another blast from the previous appears to be the selection to go along with an LCD show relatively than an AMOLED one which is the craze nowadays.

That stated, the 6.72-inch FHD show has a 120 Hz refresh price, with the flexibility to cycle via 30/48/50/60/90/120 Hz relying on the content material being displayed on it, and is impressively shiny at 680 nits. Similarly, the cellphone comes with stereo audio system, which befits a trendy mid-segmenter however retains the veteran 3.5 mm audio jack. The mix of latest and previous continues within the digicam division. The essential sensor is a powerful 108-megapixel Samsung HM6 one, however accompanying it on the again are a pair of 2-megapixel snappers, one for macro and one other for depth, that are so 2018. Selfie duties are dealt with by a 16-megapixel sensor, which is just about par for the course.

The Nord CE 3 Lite may be very a lot in control within the battery and software program division. It comes with a giant 5000 mAh battery, with help for 67W SuperVOOC charging, in addition to a 67W charger within the field. The cellphone additionally runs on the most recent model not just of Android (13) but additionally OnePlus’ OxygenOS (13.1)

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite’s spec sheet isn’t precisely leading edge, however it’s spectacular for its price ticket, particularly when it comes to the digicam and battery. There shall be some disappointment over the absence of an AMOLED show, given its prevalence in units on this phase nowadays, however that aside, that is a very well-specced cellphone for its worth.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Performance: A Note-worthy performer

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite’s efficiency may be very basic Redmi Note like – rock strong proper via. The show is perhaps an LCD one, however it’s impressively shiny (680 nits is the utmost brightness) and really seen in daylight. The Snapdragon 695 chip isn’t going to set benchmark data, however it’s ok to allow you to play informal titles simply and even high-end video games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty, with a few tweaks to the settings. The stereo audio system are impressively loud, and the sound via the 3.5 mm audio jack is superb as effectively. We would name this a nice possibility for many who love to look at numerous exhibits and movies. The show is shiny and handles colours very effectively (though you don’t get the kind of eye-popping colours that some AMOLED shows ship), the audio system are good, and you’ve got the choice of plugging in your wired earphones.

The cellphone additionally helps you to deal with a number of duties with none bother (the 8 GB RAM helps, we predict) and is a usually clean performer. 5G connectivity labored high quality with our Airtel SIM in Delhi, and effectively, we predict that having the fingerprint scanner on the aspect is a much-better possibility than having a sluggish one beneath the show.

The cellphone runs on OxygenOS 13.1 on high of Android 13. Notwithstanding all of the clamor over its changing into extra like ColorOS, we discovered the UI to be comparatively clear and uncluttered with not an excessive amount of bloatware. However, there may be a hyperlink to web-based Hot Games that’s relatively uncommon. The cellphone comes with an assurance of two years of Android OS upgrades and three years of safety updates from the date of launch, which is cheap sufficient. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is a usually clean performer and can sail via a lot of the routine days with none stutters.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Camera and the Battery: Stars of the Show

Two departments the place the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite excels are within the digicam and battery. This is the primary OnePlus Nord system to sport a 108-megapixel sensor, and the Samsung HM6 sensor does ship some very spectacular outcomes. We obtained a lot of elements and surprisingly real-looking colors in a worth phase the place most cellphone cameras are likely to oversaturate colours. Even low-light images was superb for the value phase, particularly when you think about that the digicam has no OIS.

The addition of 3x lossless zoom is a very useful function because it not solely helps you to get a nearer have a look at topics which are a few ft away (particularly within the case of animals and birds) however may also double up as a macro snapper of types. This versatility does make a distinction, as the 2 2-megapixel cameras accompanying that 108-megapixel sensor do little or no. They are purported to be there for depth and macro, for the report. The 16-megapixel selfie Digicam takes social media-worthy selfies with a good bit of pores and skin smoothing, however, we don’t see too many complaints. Videos are moderately good, though there isn’t any help for 4K, which is changing into fashionable on this phase.

The battery lifetime of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is outstanding. We comfortably obtained via greater than a day of utilization on a single cost, and extra cautious utilization obtained us shut to 2 days. That’s very spectacular for a system with such a giant, shiny show. What’s additionally spectacular is the 67W SuperVOOC charger within the field, which expenses the cellphone from 0 to one hundred pc in about an hour and will get it to a very useful 80 p.c in barely over half an hour. Given how good the battery efficiency is, you’ll be able to simply get via a day on even 80 p.c.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Review Verdict: One of one of the best choices beneath Rs 20,000!

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite begins at Rs 19,999 for its 8GB/ 128 GB variant, with an 8 GB / 256 GB variant priced at Rs 21,999. This is identical as that of the Nord CE 2 Lite launched in 2022, though that was with 6 GB RAM. What is, nevertheless, extra notably (pun supposed) completely different is the truth that the Redmi Note Pro sequence, which was the best challenger of the Nord CE 2 Lite, now has moved as much as a significantly greater worth zone and begins at Rs 24,999. Interestingly, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite’s spec sheet does have some similarities with the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ – the 108 MP essential sensor, the Snapdragon 695 processor and the 5000 mAh battery with 67W quick charging.

In truth, the primary challenger to the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite comes not from Redmi and even Realme however from iQOO, whose iQOO Z7 is maybe the most effective units beneath Rs 20,000, due to a 64-megapixel digicam with OIS and a very highly effective MediaTek Dimensity 920 chip, and on the time of writing really begins at a cheaper price of Rs 18,999. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, nevertheless, scores over it when it comes to design, battery, charging, and naturally, that comparatively uncluttered UI as in comparison with the extra crowded FunTouchOS on the iQOO Z7.

There is a new contender for the title of ‘Best smartphone below Rs 20,000’ and surprise of wonders, it isn’t a Redmi Note, but a OnePlus cellphone. Those saying it may need a level – this, certainly, may effectively have been a Redmi Note. And that’s saying one thing!

FAQs about OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Review: Did OnePlus Just Release a Redmi Note?

Question: Is the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite waterproof?

Answer: The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite does not have an official IP rating for water and dust resistance, so it is not waterproof.

Question: Does the Nord CE 3 Lite support 5G connectivity?

Answer: Yes, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite comes with 5G support, enabling faster data speeds and improved network performance.

Question: Can I expand the storage on the Nord CE 3 Lite?

Answer: Unfortunately, the Nord CE 3 Lite does not have a microSD card slot for expandable storage, so you’ll have to rely on the built-in storage.

Question: Does the Nord CE 3 Lite have a headphone jack?

Answer: Yes, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite retains the classic 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing you to use your wired earphones.

Question: Is the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite compatible with wireless charging?

Answer: No, the Nord CE 3 Lite does not support wireless charging, but it does feature OnePlus’ Warp Charge technology for fast wired charging.

Question: Can the Nord CE 3 Lite handle heavy gaming?

Answer: Yes, thanks to its capable hardware, the Nord CE 3 Lite can handle most mobile games smoothly.

Conclusion:

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite proves to be a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone segment, offering an excellent blend of performance, camera capabilities, and a smooth display experience. While it competes admirably with the Redmi Note series in various aspects, it carves its niche with the well-optimized OxygenOS and OnePlus’ commitment to delivering a premium user experience at an affordable price point. If you’re looking for a feature-packed smartphone that won’t break the bank, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is undoubtedly worth considering.

Buy OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite