OnePlus has finally revealed the latest entries to its mid-range Nord lineup: the Nord 3 and the Nord CE 3 Lite (which arrived first in the UK back in April).
Hints of the former appeared about a month ago, detailing that the Nord 3 will basically be a rebranded version of the China-exclusive OnePlus Ace 2V. Looking at the official specs list, it turns out the leaks were right on the money. The Nord 3 sports a 6.74-inch (17.12cm) 120Hz display outputting a resolution of 1024 x 2772 pixels, and the company is also throwing in Dolby Atmos for better audio performance.
Powering the smartphone is a Dimensity 9000 chipset (as found in the likes of the Oppo Find N2 Flip) alongside a “5,000mAh equivalent battery” that the company humorously calls “an absolute unit”. The power supply is “backed up by 80W SUPERVOOC charging” allowing it to charge up to about 60% in about 15 minutes.
Compared to the Ace 2V, photography on the Nord 3 5G will see a downgrade, as the three-camera system will be headed by a 50MP wide lens instead of a 64MP lens. However, it will still have the 8MP ultra wide-angle and 2MP macro lenses found on the Chinese phone. And don’t worry: the camera will be able to shoot 4K video at 60FPS.
It's currently open for pre-order in the European Union in Misty Green and Tempest Gray. Sales start on Friday, July 14. There are two models available. The €499 device comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (that price tag will go up to €549 after July 31). Or you can elect to have 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage in order to bring the price down to €449. Originally, the Nord 3 5G was not going to be sold in the United Kingdom. However, it looks like OnePlus changed its mind as the phone will be sold in the UK for £499 at some point in the future.
OnePlus Nord CE Lite 3 5G
The second smartphone is the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G which, interestingly enough, appears to have a better camera than its big brother, the Nord 3. It comes equipped with a 108MP main lens for taking “high-detail photos.” Be aware, it does lack an ultra wide-angle option, but makes up for it with a 2MP depth-assist camera to help the main lens judge depth better. The 2MP macros lens is migrating over for close-up photography.
The rest of the Nord CE 3 Lite’s features are basically truncated versions of those found on the Nord 3. For example, it runs on a Snapdragon 695 chipset instead of the Dimensity 9000. The 5,000mAh battery is staying, although its SUPERVOOC fast-charging capability is 67W rather than 80W. This means it’ll take Nord CE 3 Lite roughly half an hour to have enough juice to last a whole day. The screen is a bit smaller at 6.72-inches, yet the device keeps the 120Hz refresh rate, while also introducing 200 Percent Ultra Volume Mode for enhanced audio.
The Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is available for purchase in the EU for €299 right now before increasing to €329 later on. There’s only one model at this time sporting 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Interested users can choose between a vibrant Pastel Lime or dour Chromatic Gray. In the UK, it’ll cost you €299. But like the Nord 3, there is no launch date given.
It’s unknown when the Nord 3 5G or the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G will arrive in the United Kingdom. A company representative told Tech Advisor there are some “logistical challenges around customs” forcing the brand to delay the British launch.
We reached out to OnePlus for more information on a UK rollout. And if there’s a chance for either a US or Australian release – even if it’s a small one – this story will be updated at a later time.
