Oppo F21 Pro 5G vs OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: The Ultimate Budget Showdown
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster 67W charging and generally competitive features. While the Oppo F21 Pro 5G has a good camera and design, the Nord CE 3 Lite's charging speed and value proposition make it the better choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Oppo F21 Pro 5G | OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 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 | 1, 8, 28, 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 | 2022, April 12 | 2023, April 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 21 | Available. Released 2023, April 11 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 73.2 x 7.5 mm (6.30 x 2.88 x 0.30 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 | 173 g (6.10 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| IPX4, dust and water resistant RGB ring lights around the cameras (notifications, charging progress) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Schott Xensation glass | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, ColorOS 14 | Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.2 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1.0µm | - |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 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 | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1.0µm | 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, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, PD, 31% in 15 min, 100% in 63 min Reverse wired | 67W wired, 80% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Rainbow Spectrum, Cosmic Black, Dawnlight Gold, Starlight Black | Pastel Lime, Chromatic Gray |
| Models | CPH2341, CPH2455 | CPH2467, CPH2465 |
| Price | About 330 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) |
Oppo F21 Pro 5G
- Stylish Design
- Good Camera (especially selfies)
- Reverse Wired Charging
- Slower Charging
- Potentially Less Optimized Software
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
- Blazing Fast 67W Charging
- Competitive Performance
- Generally Smooth Software Experience
- High-Resolution Main Camera
- Design may be less premium
- Camera might not be as strong for selfies
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.72-inch display, likely with an LCD panel and a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. While both offer a large screen for media consumption, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite might have slightly better color accuracy and brightness based on typical OnePlus display tuning. Expect similar viewing experiences overall.
Camera Comparison
The Oppo F21 Pro 5G boasts a 64MP main camera, often with enhanced selfie capabilities. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite typically features a 108MP main camera. While megapixels aren't everything, the Nord CE 3 Lite's higher resolution sensor could potentially capture more detail in well-lit conditions. Low-light performance will likely be comparable.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, both devices offer similar performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. However, OnePlus's OxygenOS (or ColorOS on the Oppo) often provides a slightly smoother and more optimized experience, potentially giving the Nord CE 3 Lite a slight edge in responsiveness.
Battery Life
This is where the Nord CE 3 Lite truly shines. Its 67W charging is significantly faster than the Oppo F21 Pro 5G's 33W charging. Both phones likely have a similar battery capacity (around 5000mAh), but the Nord CE 3 Lite will charge much quicker.
Buying Guide
The Oppo F21 Pro 5G is ideal for users prioritizing camera quality and a stylish design, especially if fast charging isn't a top priority. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is perfect for those who value rapid charging, a smooth user experience, and a well-rounded feature set at a competitive price.