OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, Nord Buds 2 launch soonExpected features, launch date and other key details

By India Today TechOnePlus is all set to unveil its latest mid-range smartphone in the Nord line – OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G at the upcoming “Larger Than Life” event on April 4, 2023. Alongside the new smartphone, the company will also be unveiling the successor to the OG Nord Buds, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. The official landing page of the new phone and TWS earbuds is already live on OnePlus India website, and given the information that we can take out from there, we do have a slight idea as to what you can expect from the upcoming OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G and OnePlus Nord Buds 2.

So, let’s talk about the pre-launch expectations from the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G and OnePlus Nord Buds 2. Also, stick around if you’d want to know when and where you can catch and stream the upcoming “Larger Than Life” Nord launch event.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5GWhat to expect?

The CE in the name stands for core edition, and rightfully so. The OnePlus Nord CE line has been specifically designed for all those folks who want the OnePlus smartphone experience but at an affordable price point. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G will be the successor to the already hot-selling OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, and with the launch of the new phone, the company wants to continue basking in the glory.

The landing page of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G suggests that this year around, along with a design refresh, we are also getting a fresh new coat of paint that we have never seen before on a OnePlus phone. OnePlus calls this new shade Pastel Lime, and according to the company, the finish has been inspired by nature and the lime colour resembles the life-like feel of a green plant.

But that’s not all, if a loud and refreshing shade like Lime is not your game, there’s also the classic Chromatic Gray colour option for all those who like to keep things minimal.

Either way, the camera island of the Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is now gone and what we now have are two large circular camera rings that hold three camera lenses. The OnePlus logo can be seen in the dead centre, and overall, not only does the design look fresh, but it simply looks clutter-free and stands out from the sea of options available in the market.

OnePlus is improving the primary camera in the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G in a big way. We will see how it clicks photos when we review the device, but the camera specs look extremely promising. The Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is going to use a 108-megapixel sensor, with 9-1 pixel binning and EIS, for its primary camera. It will enable users to capture more details and get sharper results. This, considering the expected price of the phone, is good news for consumers. The high-resolution sensor of the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G also enables 3X lossless zoom. This is an amazing add-on since it enables the users to take zoomed images to capture far-off objects without compromising with the details or any drop in the image quality. In the segment, this is likely to be a unique feature.

OnePlus also boasts about the “Fast and Smooth Experience” that one can expect from the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. This basically means that just like the predecessor, expect to see a smooth and stutter-free smartphone experience with the Nord CE 3 Lite, courtesy of the Snapdragon 695 SoC under the hood, coupled with OxygenOS 13.1 software, which is specifically optimised for gaming. With features such as GPA Frame Stabilizer, Quick Startup and Game Focus Mode, one can expect a streamlined gaming experience on the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Of course, all this will be made possible on a large 6.72-inch FHD+ 120Hz refresh rate screen, which unlike the last-gen model now features a hole-punch design and up to 680 nits brightness, the kind of brightness that should make the usable even under the strong sun in Delhi.

Moreover, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G also features a large 5,000mAh battery under the hood with 67W SUPERVOOC fast charging, promising a 0 to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes. The primary rear camera will also see a massive upgrade with the inclusion of a new 108MP lens with 9-in-1 pixel binning and EIS, which in turn should help in capturing better photos and videos in a variety of lighting conditions.

As for the pricing, given the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite launched at a sub-Rs 20,000 price-point, and with OnePlus aiming to deliver top-notch features with this phone at an affordable price-point, we won’t be surprised if the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite ends up launching at a price less than Rs 20,000. This may make the CE 2 Lite one of the best value-for-money smartphones.

OnePlus Nord Buds 2What to expect?

As for the OnePlus Nord Buds 2, the latest TWS earbuds are set to arrive in two colour options. This year around, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 are set to feature the largest 12.4mm driver unit for enhanced bass performance. Also, given how OnePlus has managed to capture and penetrate the budget TWS earbuds market with the first-gen Nord Buds, one can only expect to see better audio performance along with longer endurance, faster charging and better noise cancellation for an immersive listening experience with the OnePlus Nord Buds 2.

One key feature of the Buds 2 is going to be BassWave algorithm, a feature that is likely to make these earbuds perfect for listening to pop and Bollywood music. Although we will see how the BassWave in the Buds 2 works in the coming days, OnePlus says it will allow the buds to better express bass in music and deliver and more finely tuned sound by using dynamic bass enhancement.

Larger than life Nord eventLaunch offers and where to watch?

As mentioned above, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G and Nord Buds 2 launch will take place during a virtual event, Larger than life, on April 4, 2023, at 7 PM IST. You will be able to live stream the launch event on OnePlus India’s official website and on OnePlus India’s official YouTube channel. Also, if you decide to pre-order the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G after it’s launched, you will be entitled to get 2 months of YouTube Premium membership for free. Of course, we will get to know about all the other exciting launch offers and benefits after the April 4 launch event.