OnePlus Nord 3 5G Specs, Initial Review, Unboxing, and Actual Unit Photos

Since Day 1, OnePlus has consistently delivered powerful and stylish smartphones -- and the all-new OnePlus Nord 3 5G, the most powerful Nord handset yet, is no exception.

Packed with impressive features, this all-new device offers a stunning display, a versatile camera system, blazing-fast performance, and super-fast charging capabilities, all housed in a handsome package. Let's delve into this phone's specifications and explore what makes the OnePlus Nord 3 5G a flagship contender that gives you everything you could ask for.

Unboxing and Package Contents

The packaging of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G looks rather minimalistic. The box itself is quite plain, adorned only with a small OnePlus logo and a blue rectangle on the cover that contains the three distinct words "Nord."

The full name of the phone, "OnePlus Nord 3 5G," is prominently displayed on the right side of the box -- and that's it. I believe that this simplistic design choice for the packaging reflects the brand's focus on delivering a clean and elegant user experience.

Inside the official retail package of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G, you will find the phone itself, accompanied by a safety guide and a quick guide to get you started. The package also includes a SUPERVOOC travel charger for fast and efficient charging, along with a red USB Type C charging cable. To assist with SIM card tray ejection, a metal pin is provided. Additionally, a special card containing a message from the OnePlus Nord Team adds a personal touch to the unboxing experience.

You can read the full letter from The Nord Team here:

This is a sincere note expressing The Nord Team's excitement for the release of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G. They apologize for the wait but assure users that the new phone surpasses expectations. They highlight the improved speed, power, battery, display, and camera system. The team is proud of the features packed into the phone at an affordable price and thanks users for their support in making advanced technology accessible to all.

Design and Ergonomics

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G boasts a sleek, premium, and handsome design that effortlessly catches the eye. With dimensions of 162 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm and weighing 193.5 grams, it also feels comfortable in the hand and exudes an aura of elegance.

The device features a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 5 back panel and a polycarbonate mid-frame with an elegant metallic finish, combining durability and a refined look. I believe that the minimal use of real metal on the exterior of this model allowed it to be delightfully light despite having a large screen.

The phone comes in a subdued yet captivating Misty Green colorway, allowing you to make a subtle and stylish statement every time you take out the device.

On the right side of the device, you will find the familiar power button and the Silent Switch, a feature unique to OnePlus phones as well as the Apple iPhone.

The inclusion of a dedicated physical switch allows users to effortlessly toggle their device into silent or vibrate mode without needing to navigate through menus or settings. This simple yet powerful switch provides instant control over notifications and alerts, making it effortless to silence or unmute the phone in various situations. Personally, I find this very handy and useful.

On the left side, you will find the volume rocker and nothing more.

On the top panel, there's a stereo microphone pinhole along with the Infrared Sensor and a hole for what I believe to be the Ambient Light Sensor.

Finally, at the rear, you'll find the tray for the Dual nanoSIM card slots, another stereo microphone pinhole, the USB Type C charging port, and two large holes for the loudspeaker.

Overall, I find the OnePlus Nord 3 5G to be a remarkably stylish and attractive device that one could confidently showcase in any setting, whether it's the office, a date, or a casual hangout in a cafe.

Display

The smartphone flaunts a 6.74-inch Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 1240 x 2772 pixels, making it rather pixel-dense. The screen delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and sharp details, making your content come alive and enabling an greatly enjoyable viewing experience whether you are browsing social media apps, watching videos on Youtube and Netflix, or just reading websites.

With a 120Hz Refresh Rate, the display offers smooth scrolling and fluid animations, enhancing your overall viewing experience and delivering a truly fun, high-frame-rate gaming experience. 

Additionally, scratch-resistant and shatter-proof Dragontrail Glass protects the dsiplay against scratches and ensures its durability against the knocks, drops, and bumps of daily use.

One thing about OnePlus Nord 3 5G's screen that totally impressed me is its very slim bezels on all sides, including the bottom part, which is usually thick on other phones. For me, the even thinness of the bezels, as shown in the image above, is another proof that this is indeed a flagship caliber release.

Imaging Capabilities

You can definitely apture stunning photos and videos with the OnePlus Nord 3 5G's versatile camera system. I believe this phone's imaging prowess is certainly one of its main highlights.

On the rear, you'll find a Triple-Camera module that includes a powerful 50 MegaPixel main shooter with an f/1.8 aperture, a 24mm focal length, a large 1/1.56" sensor size, Multi-Directional PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus), and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This combination of features allows for detailed and crisp photos, even in challenging lighting conditions. There's also an 8 MegaPixel ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a 112˚ field of view provides the perfect perspective for capturing breathtaking landscapes and group shots. Completing the setup is a 2 MegaPixel macro lens with an f/2.4 aperture, enabling you to get up close and capture the finest details.

For Portrait Selfie enthusiasts, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G features a 16 MegaPixel front-facing camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Whether you're taking selfies or engaging in video calls, this camera ensures you look your best. You may also turn on Portrait Mode for both photos and videos, which adds subtle background blur to make you shine even more in your selfies or talking head clips.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G supports high-quality video recording capabilities, which is great for video content creators like Facebook vloggers and Youtubers. The rear camera can record videos in stunning 4K resolution at 30 or 60 frames per second, with additional options for 1080p recording at 30, 60, or 120 frames per second, replete with gyro-electronic image stabilization and HDR support. The front camera offers 1080p video recording at 30 frames per second, also with gyro-electronic image stabilization and HDR, which is great for many TikTokers I know.

Performance and Software

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G runs Android 13 operating system, providing a seamless and intuitive user interface, with OxygenOS 13.1 customization that offers a clean and feature-rich user experience with optimizations for smooth performance.

Under the hood, the device houses a flagship-level 4nm 3.05 GHz Octa-Core Mediatek MT6983 Dimensity 9000 processor, delivering exceptional speed, power, and energy efficiency. The embedded Mali-G710 MC10 GPU ensures smooth graphics rendering and immersive gaming experiences. 

I've played Mobile Legends Bang Bang on OnePlus Nord 3 5G with high graphics as well as high frame rate and I must say that I'm quite impressed with the buttery smooth gameplay that the handset delivered. Frankly, that's the only mobile game that I play currently but I know that millions of other Filipinos also love the title. If you're one of them, rest assured that it runs so well on this phone model.

With a whopping 16GB of RAM, you can effortlessly multitask, switch between apps seamlessly, and enjoy lag-free performance -- and if that's not enough,  you can even get up 12GB of RAM Expansion, which borrows space from the internal storage to further boost multitasking fluidity. 

OnePlus Nord 3 5G comes with 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage, providing ample space for all your photos, videos, apps, and files.

Connectivity and Ports

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G comes with a comprehensive set of connectivity options. It supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, allowing for fast and stable internet connectivity. Bluetooth 5.2 enables seamless wireless connections to other devices, while NFC facilitates convenient mobile payments and data transfers. The device supports both 4G LTE-A and 5G connectivity, ensuring you're future-proofed for faster network speeds.

The phone's USB Type-C 2.0 port supports fast charging and data transfer, while USB OTG (On-The-Go) allows you to connect external storage devices and peripherals.

Privacy Features

The OnePlus Nord 3 5G prioritizes privacy and security with a range of advanced features. In addition to the usual pattern and passcode unlocks, this device offers facial recognition technology for convenient and secure authentication.

On top of all that, there's also an Under-Display Fingerprint Scanner, which adds a veritable layer of security for your data. Placed beneath the screen, this sensor offers a fast and seamless unlocking experience while ensuring that only authorized individuals can access the device. 

Battery and Charging Speed

Powering the OnePlus Nord 3 5G is a non-removable 5,000mAh Li-Po battery pack. With its large capacity, the device provides excellent battery life, allowing you to stay productive and entertained throughout the day.

One of my favorite features of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G is its super-fast charging capabilities. With its unique 80W SUPERVOOC Flash Charging technology, the device's battery can go from 1% to 60% in just 15 minutes and reach a full charge of 100% in a mere 32 minutes! Believe it! This ensures that you spend less time waiting for your phone to charge and more time using it.

Initial Impressions

Like what I said at the beginning of the article, OnePlus Nord 3 5G combines speed, style, and cutting-edge mobile technology to deliver an exceptional smartphone experience. With its attractive design, stunning display, versatile camera system, powerful performance, large battery, and super-fast charge feature, it definitely stands out as a flagship contender and killer.

Whether you're a photography enthusiast, a content creator, a corporate professional, a mobile gamer, a heavy multitasker, or a power user, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G is equipped to meet your needs. In fact, having thoroughly used this phone for more than two weeks now, I am highly inclined to recommend it to anyone who is currently looking for a flagship level phone that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. And yes, I agree with The Nord Team when they said that OnePlus Nord 3 5G is everything you could ask for.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G will be formally announced on July 14, 2023 here in the Philippines so stay tuned for updates. I should be able to disclose the official suggested retail price of this phone later that day.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G Specs

162 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm

193.5 grams

6.74 inches, FullHD+, 1240 x 2772 pixels, Fluid AMOLED Display

HDR10+, 1450 Nits of Brightness

120Hz Refresh Rate

Dragontrail Glass (Scratch Resistant)

Triple Rear Camera Module:

50 MegaPixels, f/1.8 Aperture, 24mm, 1/1.56" Sensor Size, 1.0µm, Multi-Directional PDAF, OIS

8 MegaPixels, f/2.2, 112˚ Ultrawide, 1/4", 1.12µm

2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Macro

Front-Facing Camera:

16 MegaPixels, f/2.4, 24mm, 1.0µm

Video Recorder:

Back - 4K 30/60fps, 1080p 30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, HDR

Front - 1080p 30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR

Android 13 Operating System 

OxygenOS 13.1

4nm 3.05 GHz Octa-Core Mediatek MT6983 Dimensity 9000

Mali-G710 MC10

16GB RAM + 12GB Max RAM Expansion

256GB UFS 3.1 Internal Storage

No microSD Card Slot

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6

Bluetooth 5.2

NFC

4G LTE-A

5G

Under-Display Fingerprint Scanner

USB Type C 2.0

USB OTG

80W SUPERVOOC Flash Charging 

1-60% in 15 Minutes, 1-100% in 32 Minutes

Non-Removable 5,000 mAh Li-Po Battery Pack

Gorilla Glass 5 Back Panel, Polycarbonate Mid-Frame with Metallic Finish

Misty Green Colorway

OnePlus Nord 3 5G Price in the Philippines

To Be Announced on July 14, 2023