OnePlus Nord 3 Offers 120Hz Display and 80W Superfast Charging
OnePlus has introduced the Nord 3, which offers a substantial improvement compared to the 2T, to the extent that it may be favored over similar competitors. The latest mid-range device features a larger 6.7-inch, 120Hz display with a resolution of 2,772 x 1,240, providing a significant upgrade from its predecessor’s 6.4-inch, 90Hz 1080p screen. Additionally, the company boasts 80W wired fast charging, capable of delivering a 60 percent charge in just 15 minutes.
The OnePlus Nord 3 also takes a leap to a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chip (compared to the 2T’s Dimensity 1300), and now packs up to 16GB of RAM, up from last year’s 12GB. The battery is also bigger at 5,000 mAh compared to 4,500 mAh. The device’s 50-megapixel main camera is the same as the higher-end OnePlus 11. It doesn’t beat the absolute best cameras on the market, but it’s more convincing in this price range. You can also expect an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2-megapixel macro sensor and a 16-megapixel front camera.
Software support is stronger this time. OnePlus now promises three years of major OS updates for the Nord 3 compared to just two for the 2T. You also get four years of security fixes. It’s not as extensive as the OnePlus 11 or rivals like Samsung, but it still means your phone will likely stay up-to-date until you’re ready to trade it in.
OnePlus is taking pre-orders today for the Nord 3 starting at €449 ($488) with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Pay €549 ($597) and you’ll get 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. However, it is currently ready to reach only 16 European Union countries and key markets such as India. Unsurprisingly, OnePlus isn’t releasing the phone in the US (the company only offers its Nord N series stateside), but it’s also not coming to the UK at the time of writing. A spokesperson told Tech Advisor last week that customs’ “logistical challenges” prevented it from offering the Nord 3 and other phones online. You may still see a UK debut, but not in the near future.
Whether it’s a good buy over the Google Pixel 7a or the Samsung Galaxy A54 depends on your priorities. OnePlus offers some of the best screens, camera hardware and memory in this class, but Google generally produces better real-life photos and offers a “clean” Android interface with timely updates. Samsung, on the other hand, offers better secondary cameras than OnePlus, more updates and tight integration into its ecosystem.
