OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro. Both offer compelling features at attractive price points, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro edges out the Nord CE 3 Lite thanks to its superior display, more powerful chipset, and impressive battery life. While the Nord CE 3 Lite boasts faster charging, the Redmi Note 12 Pro provides a more well-rounded and premium experience for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - InternationalHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2023, April 042022, October 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 11Available. Released 2022, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 in)163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight195 g (6.88 oz)187 g (6.60 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Mali-G68 MC4
OSAndroid 13, OxygenOS 13.1Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging67W wired, 80% in 30 min67W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 46 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsPastel Lime, Chromatic GrayFrosted Blue (Sky Blue), Onyx Black (Midnight Black), Polar White, Stardust Purple
ModelsCPH2467, CPH246522101316C, 22101316I, 23013RK75C, 22101316G
Price£ 169.98 / € 209.99€ 148.54 / $ 142.17 / £ 149.99 / ₹ 19,999
SAR1.17 W/kg (head)     0.70 W/kg (body)1.09 W/kg (head)     1.06 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 97h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 412006 (v9) GeekBench: 2052 (v5) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 490526 (v9) GeekBench: 2209 (v5.1), 2372 (v6) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite

  • Faster Charging (67W)
  • OnePlus Software Experience
  • Sleek Design

  • Less Powerful Chipset
  • Dimmer Display
  • Average Camera Performance

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro

  • Brighter & Better Display
  • More Powerful Chipset (Dimensity 1080)
  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Improved Camera

  • Slower Charging Compared to Nord CE 3 Lite
  • Xiaomi's MIUI Software (can be polarizing)

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 12 Pro takes a clear lead with its 890 nits peak brightness and impressive contrast ratio, offering a significantly more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience compared to the Nord CE 3 Lite's display. While the Nord CE 3 Lite's display is adequate, it lacks the punch and clarity of the Redmi Note 12 Pro.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Redmi Note 12 Pro generally produces better image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Redmi Note 12 Pro's image processing tends to be more refined, resulting in more natural-looking photos. Both offer video recording capabilities, but the Redmi Note 12 Pro likely has a slight edge in video quality.

Performance

The Mediatek Dimensity 1080 in the Redmi Note 12 Pro provides noticeably better performance than the Snapdragon 695 5G in the Nord CE 3 Lite. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience on the Redmi Note 12 Pro. Gaming performance will also be superior.

Battery Life

The Redmi Note 12 Pro shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 97 hours and active use lasting 12:08. The Nord CE 3 Lite's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the Redmi Note 12 Pro's longevity. However, the Nord CE 3 Lite's 67W charging is faster, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a streamlined OnePlus experience. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is a better choice for those seeking a vibrant display, smoother performance, and longer battery life, especially if photography is a key consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro, with its Dimensity 1080 chipset, offers significantly better gaming performance than the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite.
❓ Is the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite worth buying if fast charging is a priority?
Yes, the Nord CE 3 Lite's 67W charging is a major advantage if you need to quickly top up your phone's battery. However, consider if the trade-offs in other areas are acceptable.