vivo iQOO Z6 Lite vs OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the vivo iQOO Z6 Lite and the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Both promise a solid experience, but which one truly delivers? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster charging (67W vs 18W), a more powerful chipset (Snapdragon 695 5G), and generally better overall performance. While the iQOO Z6 Lite offers a competitive price, the Nord CE 3 Lite's advantages make it the better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo iQOO Z6 Lite	OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 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	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, September 14	2023, April 04
Status	Available. Released 2022, September 14	Available. Released 2023, April 11

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	164 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 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	194 g (6.84 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size	6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz	IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM4375 Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Adreno 619	Adreno 619
OS	Android 12, Funtouch 12	Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Dual	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro)	-
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 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	8 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, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	18W wired	67W wired, 80% in 30 min
Type	5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Mystic Night, Stellar Green	Pastel Lime, Chromatic Gray
Models	I2208	CPH2467, CPH2465
Price	About 180 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)

vivo iQOO Z6 Lite

Very affordable
Decent display
Lightweight design

Slow charging
Less powerful chipset
Potentially lower camera quality

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite

Fast charging (67W)
More powerful chipset
Better camera
Reputable brand

Slightly more expensive
Design might be less appealing to some

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.72-inch display, likely with an LCD panel and a resolution around 1080 x 2400 pixels. The Nord CE 3 Lite might offer slightly better color accuracy and brightness due to OnePlus's display tuning, but the difference will be minimal for most users. Refresh rate is likely 120Hz on both.

Camera Comparison

The Nord CE 3 Lite typically features a 108MP main camera, offering more detail and better low-light performance compared to the iQOO Z6 Lite's likely 50MP sensor. Both phones likely include ultrawide and macro lenses, but image quality will likely favor the Nord CE 3 Lite. Video recording capabilities are likely similar, with both supporting 1080p at 30fps.

Performance

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite's Snapdragon 695 5G chipset is noticeably more powerful than the iQOO Z6 Lite's Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Nord CE 3 Lite. The Kryo 660 cores in the Nord CE 3 Lite offer a significant performance boost.

Battery Life

This is where the Nord CE 3 Lite truly shines. Its 67W fast charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in around 30 minutes. The iQOO Z6 Lite's 18W charging is considerably slower, taking significantly longer to reach a full charge. Both phones likely have a similar battery capacity (around 5000mAh).

Buying Guide

Who should buy the vivo iQOO Z6 Lite? It's ideal for users prioritizing a very budget-friendly option and aren't overly concerned with fast charging or top-tier performance. Who should buy the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite? It's perfect for those seeking a balance of performance, fast charging, and a reputable brand, even within a budget.