Realme GT Explorer Master vs OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: A Detailed Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Realme GT Explorer Master and the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Both offer compelling features, but cater to different needs and budgets. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme GT Explorer Master takes the crown thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset, brighter display, and exceptional battery life. While the Nord CE 3 Lite boasts faster charging and a slightly more modern design, the Explorer Master offers a superior overall experience for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme GT Explorer Master OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2021, July 212023, April 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 27Available. Released 2023, April 11
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions159.9 mm x 72.5 mm x 8.0/8.8 mm (depending on color)165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight183.5/185 g (depending on color) (6.49 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, Realme UI 2.0Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm-
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro)108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging65W wired, 50% in 13 min, 100% in 33 min67W wired, 80% in 30 min
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, White, Aurora, ApricotPastel Lime, Chromatic Gray
ModelsRMX3366CPH2467, CPH2465
PriceAbout 380 EUR£ 169.98 / € 209.99
SAR-1.17 W/kg (head)     0.70 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 117h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -25.6 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 717879 (v9) GeekBench: 3050 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 412006 (v9) GeekBench: 2052 (v5) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme GT Explorer Master

  • Superior Performance (Snapdragon 870)
  • Brighter Display (805 nits)
  • Exceptional Battery Life (117h Endurance)
  • Fast Charging (65W)

  • Potentially older design
  • Camera details are limited

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite

  • Faster Charging (67W)
  • Likely more modern design
  • Clean OnePlus Software Experience

  • Weaker Performance (Snapdragon 695)
  • Lower Brightness Display
  • Shorter Battery Life

Display Comparison

The Realme GT Explorer Master boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 805 nits compared to the Nord CE 3 Lite's likely lower brightness (estimated around 600-700 nits based on similar Snapdragon 695 devices). While both offer decent color accuracy, the Explorer Master's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The contrast ratio is likely infinite on the Realme, indicating excellent blacks.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a bit more nuanced. While specific camera specs are missing for both, the Snapdragon 870 generally supports more advanced camera features and image processing capabilities. The Nord CE 3 Lite likely focuses on computational photography and ease of use. We'd need detailed camera samples to make a definitive judgment.

Performance

This is where the Realme GT Explorer Master truly shines. Its Snapdragon 870 chipset is a powerhouse, offering significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking compared to the Nord CE 3 Lite's Snapdragon 695. Expect noticeably better gaming performance and quicker app loading times on the Realme.

Battery Life

The Realme GT Explorer Master absolutely dominates in battery life, boasting an incredible endurance rating of 117 hours. This translates to multiple days of usage on a single charge. The Nord CE 3 Lite, while offering 67W fast charging, has a smaller battery and will likely require daily charging.

Buying Guide

The Realme GT Explorer Master is ideal for users who prioritize performance, a vibrant display, and long-lasting battery life. It's a great choice for gamers and power users. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is better suited for budget-conscious buyers who value fast charging and a clean software experience, and don't require top-tier performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Realme GT Explorer Master, thanks to its Snapdragon 870 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 fast charging is a major advantage. However, consider that you'll likely need to charge it more frequently than the Realme GT Explorer Master.