release date, price, technical sheet, all about the flagship killer


The OnePlus Nord 3 takes over from the OnePlus Nord 2 which was very well received by the press and consumers. For this new smartphone, the manufacturer remains faithful to the line it has set itself: to aim for a very attractive price-quality ratio by offering good services for an affordable price, as the manufacturer used to do when it started.

In the mobile market, OnePlus popularized the term flagship killer. The smartphones of its main line were recognized for their high-end technical characteristics, but sold at a lower price than the giants who reigned over the industry at the time: Apple, Samsung, Sony, LG, HTC… Then gradually, faced with fierce competition from other Chinese brands, such as Xiaomi, Huawei or Honor, then OPPO and vivo, OnePlus turned to the premium segment with smartphones becoming much more expensive. In order not to lose customers who are not ready to spend a fortune for a mobile, the manufacturer then decided to launch a new range, Nord, betting everything on the value for money. The first three models (OnePlus Nord, Nord 2 and Nord 2T) reminded us of the good old days of the brand’s flagship killers, and the OnePlus Nord 3 is in that vein.

When is the OnePlus Nord 3 coming out?

OnePlus has not yet confirmed the existence of the OnePlus Nord 3 and therefore we have no official release date or window to look forward to. However, the resurgence of leaks about the smartphone tends to indicate that the development of the device is well advanced and that the start of mass production should not delay any longer. According to the publication MySmartPrice, the OnePlus Nord 3 should be launched in June or July in India, OnePlus’ priority market. It should arrive in Europe soon after.

The first OnePlus Nord of the name was made available in France at the beginning of August, while the OnePlus Nord 2 was marketed from the end of July. We can therefore expect a release in the heart of summer for this new iteration, unless the brand shakes up its schedule. 2023 should be a special year for the manufacturer, which would not release OnePlus 11T or OnePlus 11 Pro in the second half, but its first folding mobile(s).

A OnePlus Ace 2V is expected to launch in China in March, which could be rebranded as the OnePlus Nord 3 for international markets, according to leaker Max Jambor.

How much does the OnePlus Nord 3 cost?

We can only speculate for the moment as to the pricing policy adopted by OnePlus for its Nord 3. The Nords have been successful thanks to their controlled mid-range prices: 399 euros for the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage version and 499 euros for the configuration with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory for the first two generations. But it would not be surprising if the manufacturer increased its prices in this context of inflation, especially since the OnePlus 2T of 2022 was already sold more expensive: 429 euros And 529 euros for the same amount of RAM and storage as its predecessors. And if certain improvements that we detail later in this article are confirmed, the price could still soar.

What is the design of the OnePlus Nord 3?

So far, no rendering has leaked for a smartphone that would be called OnePlus Nord 3. But as mentioned above, the mobile could resume the design of a certain OnePlus Ace 2V, of which we have images. Forget the design of the OnePlus Nord 2, the manufacturer would have revised its copy for this new model. It’s a trend on the latest Android smartphones, designers are getting rid of the imposing photo block, which was an ephemeral fashion, for a more natural integration of sensors. Despite the disappearance of the block, OnePlus takes up the layout of the OnePlus 2T, with two large modules, one housing the main camera and the second the other two sensors. Two Flash LEDs accompany them.

The edges of the OnePlus Nord 3 appear flatter than those of models that preceded it. Again, the brand follows the codes of the moment, Apple and Samsung opting for a design of this type on their latest flagships. The OnePlus Nord 3 still stands out from the competition with its physical Alert Slider button, iconic of OnePlus. We had feared its disappearance on mid-range smartphones, but it should definitely make a comeback. As a reminder, it is used to quickly switch between silent mode, vibrate and ringtone, and also allows you to adjust the focus during photo capture.

The front camera is still housed in a punch, but that has been moved from the top left corner to the centerline of the screen. We expect an optical fingerprint reader under the screen and glass on the front and back of the terminal. To limit costs, however, we should be satisfied with a plastic frame and an absence of IP certification for protection against water and dust.

Is the OnePlus Nord 3 screen 120Hz?

During our test of the OnePlus Nord 2, we regretted that the device was not satisfied with a screen offering a refresh rate of 90 Hz, while several mid-range competitors had already gone to 120 Hz. the anomaly is repaired and we finally have a OnePlus Nord 3 equipped with a 120 Hz AMOLED screen. However, this does not benefit from LTPO technology and the adaptive refresh function.

For the rest of the specifications related to the slab, several sources share conflicting information. Gadgetsdata evokes a 6.5-inch screen with Full HD+ definition, so at 1080p. This seems the most logical option, with the OnePlus 2 and 2T sporting a 6.43-inch FHD+ screen. The leaker assures that another leak claiming that the smartphone offers a 1.5K definition (1240p, halfway between FHD + and QHD +) is false. This would be a feature of the OnePlus Ace 2V planned for China. As said before, it is not yet clear if the OnePlus Nord 3 will be the international version of this smartphone. To add to the fuzziness, the reputable OnLeaks predicts a screen size of 6.72 inches, which would be a big increase. Again, this format is also announced for this famous OnePlus Ace V2.

How does the OnePlus Nord 3 perform?

OnePlus equips its best smartphones with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips, but opts for MediaTek SoCs for its less expensive devices. Previously confined to equipping entry-level smartphones, the supplier has long had a bad reputation for the performance of its components, but in recent years has offered much more convincing products with its Dimensity family of chips. A boon for mobile manufacturers, who thus have a better option for their terminals aimed at value for money.

It is still a MediaTek SoC that we will find in the OnePlus Nord 3, but it remains to be seen which one. Gadgetsdata is banking on a Dimensity 8100 Max or Dimensity 8200. OnLeaks is banking on a more powerful SoC, the Dimensity 9000, a premium chip from MediaTek engraved in 4 nm, which is announced in the OnePlus Ace 2V.

OnePlus Nord 3

OnLeaks reports that the smartphone will come in a configuration with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 internal memory, and another with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space. Once again, these are the characteristics planned for this famous OnePlus Ace 2V in China. It seems amazing to see a mid-range smartphone offering 16GB of RAM like the OnePlus 11, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the OnePlus Nord 3 sticks to 12GB LPDDR5.

What is the battery life and charging speed of the OnePlus Nord 3?

Decidedly, this OnePlus Nord 3 is surrounded by mysteries: the leakers do not agree on its technical characteristics relating to the battery either. Gadgetsdata hesitates between a capacity of 4500 mAh (as on the OnePlus Nord 2 and Nord 2T) and an increase to 5000 mAh, while OnLeaks only communicates one figure: 5000mAh. If this is confirmed, we should see a serious boost in autonomy. Digital Chat Station, another well-known leaker with a full CV, is less optimistic and announces a 4500 mAh battery.

OnePlus Nord 3

For charging power, we have a new disagreement. OnLeaks claims that it will remain stable, that is to say at 80W, a speed already seen on the OnePlus 2T. Gadgetsdata estimates that OnePlus will slightly improve its charging technology by increasing it to 100W with the OnePlus Nord 3. Remember that OPPO is a pioneer in charging, and that OnePlus has been taking advantage of it for years.

And that’s not all since Digital Chat Station explains that the OnePlus Nord 3 will be the brand’s first smartphone with a 150W recharge, allowing the battery to be recharged from 0 to 100% in just 15 minutes. This information should be taken with a grain of salt, as it would be unusual to see the introduction of such a feature in a mid-range rather than a premium smartphone. The OnePlus 11 itself is “limited” to 100W. The SuperVOOC 150W was presented a year ago at MWC Barcelona 2022.

Everyone agrees on at least one point: wireless charging will not be included, reserved for the brand’s most expensive smartphones.

Does the OnePlus Nord 3 have a good camera?

It’s often in the photograph that you see the biggest differences between a solid mid-range smartphone and a true premium product. The different sources agree on this point: the optical configuration of the OnePlus Nord 3 should only change slightly. We would witness a return of the 50 MP IMX766 main photo sensor (f/1.9 aperture, 24mm focal length, 1/1.56″ sensor size and 1.0µm pixels), already at work on the OnePlus 2 and 2T. An 8 MP ultra-wide-angle, f/2.3 aperture and 120˚ field of view as well as a not very useful 2 MP monochrome lens dedicated to depth of field complete the device.

OnePlus Nord 3

The same video capabilities are expected as on the older models, namely capture in 4K at 30 frames per second or in 1080p up to 120 frames per second. A doubt remains for the front camera in charge of selfies: will the OnePlus Nord 3 take over the 32 MP sensor of the OnePlus Nord 2 and Nord 2T or switch to a definition of 16 MP, but with a better aperture?

OnePlus Nord 3: Android yes, but with OxygenOS?

The future of OxygenOS has long been up in the air. Following the absorption of OnePlus by OPPO (the two brands already belonged to the same consortium, but the development teams got closer), there was talk of eliminating the very popular OxygenOS, yet symbol of the brand’s smartphones and adored by the community. But the merger with OPPO’s ColorsOS finally fell apart, and the development of OxygenOS resumed with a vengeance.

The OnePlus Nord 3 will therefore benefit from an OxygenOS interface, and more precisely from the version OxygenOS 13.1 based on Android 13. Recently, OnePlus pledged to provide 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security patches to its devices releasing in 2023, but we’re not sure yet if this promise applies to models from the Nord range or only to appliances from the premium range.





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