OnePlus began to have a less attractive reputation because the selling price was getting higher and various compromises were taken while the company's motto was "Never Settle". Because of this, the company's sales were affected, forcing OnePlus to return under the Oppo umbrella a few years ago.
With the OnePlus Nord 3 5G, we feel that the company has now managed to clean up the charcoal smeared on its own face and now offers a device with almost no compromises. Why do we say this and what "compromise" still exists? Read the full review below.
SPECIFICATIONS
OnePlus Nord 3 5G
6.74″ Fluid AMOLED screen
FHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+
Dimensity 9000 processor (4nm)
1 X 3.05 GHz Cortex X2 chip
3 X 2.85 GHz Cortex A710
4 X 1.8 GHz Cortex A510
Mali G710 MC10 Graphics Chip
RAM 16GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 256GB UFS 3.1
Main Camera 50MP f/1.9 OIS (Wide Angle)
8MP f/2.3 (Ultra Wide Angle)
2MP f/2.4 (Depth)
4K 60p
Selfie Camera 16 Megapixel f/2.0
5000 mAh battery
80W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP54
Scan System Under-screen fingerprint scanner
Selling Price RM 2199 (16/256GB)
SCREEN
The 6.74″ screen is of Fluid AMOLED type with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz support. It is not of the LTPO type but the refresh rate can change dynamically between 40-120Hz depending on the need. In terms of durability, the screen is of the Dragontrail type which is scratch and shock resistant. It can display HDR10+ content and during the review period it was officially supported on the Netflix and Prime Video apps.
The description and viewing angle of the screen is satisfactory. Under bright sunlight the text on the screen is still clearly visible. Screen scrolling also looks smooth especially in 120Hz mode. The light sensor is also good as it quickly changes the description according to the ambient lighting level. This is important because we are aware that there are some devices in this category that have sensors that are not responsive enough.
The panel used is of the flat type with all four sides equally thin. For fans of symmetrical devices, the Nord 3's screen is very satisfying. All touches are detected precisely and more importantly the device feels fast because the content does not appear to be stuck when scrolling is done.
FINGERPRINT SCANNER
The fingerprint scanner is built under the screen in a position that we feel is a little low. This is an issue we've noticed on devices released by Chinese manufacturers. If only it were half an inch taller, the on-screen fingerprint scan process would be easier. The sensor is of the optical type so it does not scan well if the user's finger is wet or dirty.
Finger scan performance is fast as long as the finger is not dirty. There is a face scan option if needed but it doesn't operate consistently in dark environments.
DESIGN
The body design is very similar to the Nord CE 3 Lite. The boxy sides that are comfortable in the hand are matched with a glass back panel made of Gorilla Glass 5. This allows the device to withstand shocks better. There is a drop-down mute button on the right side of the device with a metal power button below it.
Moving to the left side there is an audio adjustment button. Meanwhile underneath there's a nano dual-SIM tray, a USB-C charging port and one of the stereo speakers. Finally on top there is an infrared transmitter and a microphone.
There are not many compromises taken by OnePlus this time except for the absence of the 3.5mm audio jack which is now the norm. The back panel looks like liquid metal on the reviewed Misty Green colored device. It reminds us of the body of the T1000 from the movie Terminator 2. Very beautiful and attractive as can also be seen on the OnePlus 11.
The same rear panel houses two moderately large but not tall camera bumps. Therefore the Nord 3 can be placed on the table without any issues. OnePlus is not giving a free frame this time but we still recommend buying a frame to avoid damage to the back panel. More importantly the frame will ensure that the device does not become slippery due to collecting oil easily.
The body of the device also passes IP54 waterproof and dustproof standards. This means that it is splash resistant but cannot be taken diving. However, having the IP54 standard is better than nothing at all. With this, the Nord 3 5G has no problem competing with the Poco F5 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A54, which also have waterproof capabilities.
USAGE AND SOFTWARE – OxygenOS 13.1
OxygenOS 13.1 is used with it based on Android 13. This is the same version used on the OnePlus 11 so it is not surprising that the user experience is very similar. Smooth, fast, responsive and no problems occurred during more than a week of using the device. In fact, we can say that the experience of using the Nord 3 is the same as the premium flagship devices S23 Ultra, OnePlus 11 and Magic5 Pro that we have used this year.
The screen may not be of the LTPO type but we can't detect any flaws in use. Everything looks smooth and doesn't even get stuck even though many applications are open in the background. Clearly the use of 16GB LPDDR5X memory is effective here.
If you feel that 16GB is still not enough, the RAM Expansion feature can add up to 12GB more RAM virtually. This phone can have up to 28GB of RAM! It's extreme because it's higher than 99% of smartphones and laptops reviewed in our Labs.
We don't have anything negative about OxygenOS 13.1 as it is one of the best launchers in terms of additional features, smooth operation and interface design. Some say it imitates Samsung One UI but if it imitates from a good launcher with perfect implementation we feel what's wrong?
The Nord 3 will also receive Android updates for up to three versions and security patches for four years. In this respect alone it loses to the Samsung Galaxy A54 which receives support for four versions of Android and five years of security patches.
BENCHMARK – Dimensity 9000
The Dimensoty 9000 chip is a chip that competes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and is no longer a flagship chip. It is paired with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM memory and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage.
We performed the usual benchmark tests which are Geekbench 6, Antutu 3D and 3D Mark. The test results are as below. We compare it with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip (Poco F5 Pro), Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (OnePlus 11), Dimensity 9000+ (Oppo N2 Flip) and Dimensity 9200 (Vivo X90)
Geekbench 6
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 1092/3337
Poco F5 Pro – 1868/5272
Oppo Find N2 Flip – 1028/3088
OnePlus 11 – 1495/4805
Vivo X90 – 1668/4000
Antutu 3D
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 914,552
Poco F5 Pro – 1,049,997
Oppo Find N2 Flip – 756,646
OnePlus 11 – 1,104,135
Vivo X90 – 1,147,029
Wild Life Extreme
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 2296
Poco F5 Pro – None
Oppo Find N2 Flip – 2617
OnePlus 11 – 3712
Vivo X90 – 3176
The recorded score may not be exciting as it loses to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 but we have to say that the synthetic test does not show the real situation. In terms of smoothness it feels better compared to the Poco F5 Pro and Find N2 Flip which are equipped with a more recent processor.
Majority of titles like COD Mobile, Diablo Immortal and Asphalt 9 can be run at high graphics settings and resolutions. If the start is smooth, common applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram can all be run without any issues. This chip is perfectly adequate for most users.
There is also no heating issue with only the device getting a little warm after a rather long initial session. It is just the same as the device experience with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 which is also warm.
TELEPHONY And GPS
We can enjoy the 5G network with a speed of up to 1.4 GBps in the tests carried out. Cellular calls are also very clear and smooth. If your telecom company supports VoLTE and VoWiFi, both of these features are also supported by the Nord 3. As many as two nano-sized 5G SIMs can be used on the device simultaneously.
WiFi performance is also fast with support up to WiFI 6. GPS connection is also excellent with our location in the Waze app and Google Maps being detected in under two seconds.
CAMERA
The tri-camera system on the back consists of a 50MP wide-angle lens with OIS, 8MP ultra-wide-angle and 2MP depth. On the front, a 16MP sensor is used. The main 50MP sensor on the back is the Sony IMX890 sensor used on the OnePlus 11 earlier this year. The only difference is from a software point of view as the Nord 3 does not have Hasselblad camera system support.
The camera capabilities are very good. The performance of the wide-angle lens, for example, is comparable to what we saw on the OnePlus 11. We like the vivid color reproduction, the sharp images and the fast-working camera. With OIS, images always look sharp especially in night mode.
What we do notice is that there is a color difference between wide angle versus ultra wide angle lenses. Images taken on the 50MP wide-angle lens are brighter. In dark conditions a significant difference can be seen. Even without OIS, images taken with the 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens are still good but look a little soft.
Portrait mode is also very good because it can distinguish the subject from the background. In the image below for example, the feathers on the doll can be distinguished almost one by one. The portrait mode on the selfie camera is also satisfactory.
The Nord 3's night mode is the most impressive because the image still looks bright and the light source doesn't seem to break. The performance is so good that it can put to shame the night mode of some smartphones that are sold at much more expensive prices.
BATTERY
The 5000 mAh battery allows SOT up to 7.5 hours to be enjoyed consistently. On heavy use, Nord 3 operates up to almost 11 hours. In more conservative use it can last up to a day but this requires the device to rely entirely on WiFi so it is not very realistic. The battery life is not that great but this shortcoming is remedied by the fast enough 80W charging.
A full charge can be done in just 35 minutes with the charger provided in the box. Only there is no wireless charging support even though the back panel of the device is made of glass.
AUDIO
Audio from stereo speakers is aided by Dolby Atmos support. The speakers shoot sideways at the bottom and forward at the top so the audio is less balanced. Speaker performance is good with audio being loud but not breaking. There is no problem watching videos and playing first because the audio system works well. We're just a little disappointed that the Dolby Atmos system can only be used when the Nord 3 is connected to an audio accessory like TWS.
IN THE BOX
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x OnePlus Nord 3 5G
1x 80W Charger.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is the best device in the affordable flagship smartphone class so far. The combination of perfect software, high specifications, beautiful design, waterproof, long update support, fast charging and camera performance comparable to premium class makes it worth owning. It easily overtakes the Poco F5 Pro in this category.
At a price of RM2199 it makes it very competitive. Confirming you don't need to pay up to RM6000 for a good device in 2023. The only downsides are the glass body that gets dirty easily, and no wireless charging support. Right now the OnePlus Nord 3 5G is our pick for an affordable flagship device in Malaysia.
Pro
Smooth 120Hz AMOLED screen.
The Dimensity 9000 is a powerful chip.
Excellent camera performance.
The amount of RAM that reaches 28GB.
80W fast charging.
IP54 splash proof.
Support 3 Android versions and 4 years security.
Cons
No Micro SD card slot.
No wireless charging.
Average battery performance for a capacity of 5000 mAh.