The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Lava Agni 5G and the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Both promise 5G connectivity and a solid experience, but which one truly delivers?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster 67W charging and generally smoother performance. While the Lava Agni 5G offers a decent chipset, the Nord CE 3 Lite's charging speed and optimized software provide a superior user experience for most.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, November 09 | 2023, April 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, November 18 | Available. Released 2023, April 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 168.8 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm (6.65 x 3.02 x 0.36 in) | 165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 0.7µm, AF
5 MP, 115˚, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | - |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 67W wired, 80% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Fiery Blue | Pastel Lime, Chromatic Gray |
| Models | LXX501 | CPH2467, CPH2465 |
| Price | About 210 EUR | £ 169.98 / € 209.99 |
| SAR | - | 1.17 W/kg (head) 0.70 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 412006 (v9)
GeekBench: 2052 (v5)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Lava Agni 5G
- Larger Display
- Competitive Price
- Decent Performance for the Price
- Slower Charging
- Less Optimized Software
- Potentially Lower Performance than Nord CE 3 Lite
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
- Fast 67W Charging
- Smoother Performance
- Optimized Software
- Better Camera Processing
- Smaller Display (potentially)
- Slightly Higher Price
Display Comparison
The Lava Agni 5G typically features a larger display (around 6.5 inches) with a FHD+ resolution, offering a more immersive viewing experience. The Nord CE 3 Lite usually has a slightly smaller display (around 6.3 inches) but may offer a higher refresh rate (90Hz vs. 60Hz on the Agni 5G), resulting in smoother scrolling and animations. Color accuracy and brightness are generally comparable.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera setups, typically including a main sensor, ultrawide lens, and macro lens. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite often has a slightly better main sensor, resulting in slightly better image quality in various lighting conditions. Software processing also tends to be more refined on the Nord CE 3 Lite.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite's Snapdragon 695 5G generally outperforms the Lava Agni 5G's Dimensity 810 in real-world usage. The Snapdragon chipset benefits from better software optimization and a more efficient architecture, leading to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. Gaming performance is also typically better on the Nord CE 3 Lite.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite's standout feature is its 67W fast charging, which can charge the battery from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes. The Lava Agni 5G's 33W charging is considerably slower. Battery capacity is generally similar between the two phones, but the Nord CE 3 Lite's charging speed provides a significant advantage.
Buying Guide
The Lava Agni 5G is a good option for budget-conscious buyers who prioritize a larger display and don't mind slower charging. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is ideal for users who value fast charging, a smoother experience, and a more polished software ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is the difference in performance between the Dimensity 810 and Snapdragon 695?
The Snapdragon 695 generally offers better performance and efficiency due to its architecture and software optimization. It's typically faster in everyday tasks and gaming.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
While both have similar battery capacities, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite's faster charging makes it more convenient, effectively giving it an advantage in overall battery usability.
