10 Mins Read |Technology | Gadgets
In this article, I write a complete review of my OnePlus Mobile, OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, which I bought in July 2023. In this article, I discuss how the battery/charger performs before and after, how smoothly my smartphone works how the camera gives results, and I discuss its special features.
OnePlus production was officially announced on April 4, 2023, and it became available for purchase from April 20, 2023, for ₹21,999 in India and $350 in the United States. This smartphone is part of the Nord series, which began in 2020. OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is the 10th device in the Nord series lineup. After its release, it became very popular in India because of its affordable price. In the year 2023, it became Amazon’s No.1 selling smartphone.
When I completed my 12th studies and passed the medical entrance exam (NEET) with an All India Rank of 619 and got admission into a medical college, I needed to buy a smartphone for my personal use. Then my cousin suggested it to me, and I bought this smartphone for ₹21,999 at that time. Here are my complete reviews about my smartphone.
OnePlus Mobile Surprises: Features That’ll Impress You!
Here are some iconic features of my OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite :
- Display: 6.72″ FHD+ LCD, 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: Snapdragon 695 5G
- RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage (expandable)
- Rear Camera: 108MP + 2MP (depth) + 2MP (macro)
- Front Camera: 16MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh with 67W Super-VOOC fast charging
- OS: Android 13 with Oxygen-OS 13.1
- Audio: Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Security: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
- Extras: 5G support, microSD slot, NFC
A Quick Look at Storage & Performance
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has two categories of mobile: 8 GB RAM with 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM with 256 GB storage. The 128 GB storage model is priced at about $299.88 in the USA or ₹15,735 in India, with some offers available between $284–$310. Meanwhile, the 256 GB storage model is priced around $280–$330 in the USA or ₹20,000 in India.
Let’s take a look at the mobile’s performance. Before buying this phone, I had the Redmi 8, which lagged while playing Free Fire because of its 4 GB RAM. But this mobile has no lag in my gaming and works smoothly because of the good Snapdragon 695 processor.it can handles Multitasking games like call of duty , PUBG and Asphalt 9 without leg. ( Note : meanwhile some users have complaints about it lags during gaming )It also has an additional 8 GB of virtual RAM, which you can enable by going into the settings. )
Big Display & Big Enjoy !
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite features a 17.07 cm (6.72 inches) LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution. Very few smartphones in this price range offer such a large display, making it perfect for watching movies on Netflix or attending college lectures — it almost feels like watching on a TV. Since I bought this phone, the display has remained impressive, delivering smooth visuals thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate.
No More Battery Anxiety – Just 30 Minutes to Full
Does your phone spend more time on the charging point than in your hand? Then this phone is perfect for you! The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has a 5000 mAh battery, which is quite common, but the main highlight is its 67W Super -VOOC charger along with Battery Health Engine technology that helps improve battery life and prevent damage. It can fully charge the battery in just 30 minutes.
So, before I leave for college in the morning, I simply charge my phone for 30 minutes, and then I don’t need to charge it for the rest of the day. The charger is so good that I never needed to buy a new one( it is still work vary well ). However, after 2 years, the battery and charger have started to age, and slow charging has become an issue.
Durability of One plus Nord CE 3 Lite
Still Doubting the Strength of Your Mobile? Let Me Clear That Doubt!
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite comes with no Gorilla Glass , but believe me it still give . Let me share my personal experience—on 30th March 2025, a fire broke out in our hostel, and the electricity was cut off. The lifts weren’t working, and the warden instructed us to use the stairs to reach the ground floor.
While I was going down, my phone accidentally slipped from my hand and fell from the 2nd floor all the way to the ground floor. Surprisingly, nothing happened to it!
Not just once—my phone has also fallen a few times while bike riding, and it still remains completely fine. That’s the real strength of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite!
But one of the disadvantages of this mobile is that it lacks certified water and dust resistance (IP67 or IP68 ratings). It may survive minor splashes or light rain, but it’s not safe for heavy water exposure—so it’s better to keep it away from water to avoid damage.
Camera & Screen Resolution
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite comes with a triple-camera setup: a 108 MP main sensor, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The main camera supports video recording at 1080p resolution with 30fps. However, it lacks OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), which is a major drawback for smooth video recording and low-light photography. Mobile is limited to 1080p video recording , no 4K video recording.
Honestly, in terms of camera performance, this smartphone falls a bit short. Even Chat-GPT would rate its camera features around 6.8 out of 10.
Volume & Brightness
The volume is very loud and clear, better than any other mobile at this price. It’s loud enough for hearing and watching web series even in crowded places or on the balcony of your home near a noisy traffic road. The brightness is also good ! you can read my articles even in sunlight. The peak brightness is about 680 nits, which is considered higher than average at this price.
Notable Features :
- 🌈 Attractive Color Options – Unique shades like Pastel Lime and Chromatic Gray give it a trendy look
- 🎮 RAM Expansion (Virtual RAM) – Up to 8GB extra RAM using internal storage for better multitasking
- 🎥 AI Camera Features – Includes Night Mode, Portrait Mode, HDR, and AI scene enhancement
- 🎧 Dirac Audio Tuning – Improves sound quality for music and movies
- 📦 OxygenOS 13.1 (Based on Android 13) – Clean, bloat-free UI with useful customization features
- 💡 680 nits Brightness – Good outdoor visibility under sunlight
- 🔄 Software Update Support – Regular security and feature updates from OnePlus
- 🔌 Battery Health Engine – Helps maintain long-term battery health and safety
- 🛡️ Face Unlock – Along with fingerprint sensor for dual unlocking options
- 🌐 Dual SIM + microSD Slot (Triple Slot) – Use 2 SIMs and a memory card at the same time
Things I Didn’t Like :
- Lag during gaming – Many users experience performance drops and stutters while gaming.
- Heats up quickly – The device tends to get warm during charging or extended gameplay.
- Battery drains fast – Especially noticeable when using the camera or mobile data.
- Camera performance is underwhelming – The results may not match your expectations, particularly in low light or while recording videos.
My Overall Ratings About My Phone
My overall rating for this mobile is 4 out of 5, as I have used it for 2 years and truly understand how the phone performs. Features like performance, storage, and display are really good and reliable. However, it does have some issues, such as camera quality, heating problems, and occasional lag during use.
Now that OnePlus Nord CE 4 and CE 5 have also been released, you may consider trying those models for a better experience.