OnePlus Nord vs Realme X3: Comparison

Design: Glass vs Plastic Back

Starting with the design, the OnePlus Nord comes with a glass back having a new gradient finish. The frame is made of polycarbonate, while the back is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. It is available in Blue and Grey color options.

Similar to Nord, the Realme X3 gets a plastic frame. However, the back, too, is made of polycarbonate. The gradient design at the rear is quite similar to that of the cheaper Realme 6. You can buy it in Blue and Green color schemes. Out of the two, Nord is lighter at 184-grams compared to the latter’s 202-gram weight. Furthermore, it’s thinner and has a smaller form factor. That said, both phones have dual punch-hole displays upfront. Winner: OnePlus Nord

Display: 90Hz AMOLED vs 120Hz LCD

The OnePlus Nord gets a 6.4-inch Fluid AMOLED display with full-HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The panel is HDR10+ certified and reaches 1,000 nits of maximum brightness. Besides, it promises a screen-to-body ratio of 91.4%. In comparison, the Realme X3 packs a slightly larger 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with full-HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It also supports HDR10+ while the brightness peaks out at 480 nits. The screen-to-body ratio stays comparable at 91.5%.

Nord has a brighter display with punchy colors and a better contrast ratio, thanks to AMOLED. While the X3 gets the advantage of the higher 120Hz refresh rate, the dim LCD panel fails to impress. Keeping the differences aside, both the displays are using Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Winner: OnePlus Nord

Processor: Snapdragon 765G vs Snapdragon 855+

OnePlus Nord gets powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor. The 7nm-based chipset employs Kryo 475 cores that are clocked at up to 2.4GHz. Further, it uses Adreno 620 GPU and supports 5G connectivity. Realme X3, on the other hand, gets flagship-grade Snapdragon 855+, which, too, is a 7nm-based chipset but uses Kryo 485 cores clocked at up to 2.8GHz. The Adreno 640 GPU handles graphics duties. While Nord is good enough for day to day use, the Realme X3 is much powerful and will perform better, especially in heavy games and multitasking. It’s also important to note that Realme has used faster UFS 3.0 storage compared to UFS 2.1 standard on Nord. Winner: Realme X3

Software: Oxygen OS vs Realme UI

OnePlus Nord runs the fan-favorite Oxygen OS, which offers close to stock Android experience with added customization options. Realme, too, has refined its interface with the new Realme UI. While the Oxygen OS offers a much cleaner experience, the final choice boils down to one’s personal preference. Winner: Personal Preference

Cameras: 48MP vs 64MP Quad Array

As for the cameras, OnePlus is using the same 48MP Sony IMX 586 sensor from the OnePlus 8 on Nord. Though, there’s a difference in image processing due to chipset. Other shooters comprise of an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera. In contrast, the Realme X3 packs in a 64MP Samsung GW1 sensor, coupled with a 12MP telephoto shooter for 2x optical zoom. There’s also an 8MP 119° ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro sensor. As on paper, Realme X3 not only bags a higher megapixel count but also features a more versatile set of cameras. Anyway, we’ll soon be doing a brief real-world comparison of both. Winner: Realme X3

Selfie Camera: 32MP + 8MP vs 16MP + 8MP

For selfies, OnePlus Nord has a 32-megapixel Sony IMX 616 primary sensor and a 105° 8MP ultra-wide camera. Likewise, Realme X3 uses a 16-megapixel Sony IMX 471 primary sensor alongside a 105° 8-megapixel shooter for wide-angle selfies. The selfie camera setup on Nord is better since it comes with a higher resolution Sony IMX 616 sensor. For those unaware, Realme is using the same sensor on the costlier X3 SuperZoom variant. Winner: OnePlus Nord

Battery & Charging: Similar

Both phones are very similar in the battery and charging department. Notably, the OnePlus Nord packs in a 4,110mAh cell with support for 30W Warp Charging. Realme X3 flaunts a marginally higher 4,200mAh cell alongside 30W Dart Charging, which is more or less similar to Warp Charge 30. Winner: Tie

Price, Variants

OnePlus Nord price in India starts at Rs. 24,999 for the base model with 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage. Whereas, the 8/128GB and 8/256GB variants cost Rs. 27,999, and Rs. 29,999, respectively. Realme X3, on the other hand, starts at Rs. 24,999 for 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The 8GB RAM model costs Rs. 25,999. Realme also sells X3 SuperZoom with a periscope camera for a starting price of Rs. 27,999 for 8/128GB.

OnePlus Nord vs Realme X3: Final Words

The OnePlus Nord has an edge with its better design, display, 5G support, and Oxygen OS experience. At the same time, the Realme X3 scores with its powerful Snapdragon 855+ processor, higher refresh rate, and better rear cameras. Both phones have precisely the same price for the base variant with Realme offering double the storage. In the end, it all comes down to your priorities. You can go for either of them based on your requirements. Also, read- OnePlus Nord Vs Realme X2: Which One Should You Buy?