vivo iQOO Z7 vs OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: A Clash of Mid-Range Titans

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two strong contenders against each other: the vivo iQOO Z7 (China) and the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iQOO Z7 takes the lead thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 782G chipset and blazing-fast 120W charging. While the Nord CE 3 Lite offers a more polished OnePlus experience, the iQOO Z7 delivers superior performance and charging speed for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Z7 (China) OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 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, 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 / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2023, March 202023, April 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, March 24Available. Released 2023, April 11
Body
Build-Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions164.6 x 75.8 x 8.8 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight201.5 g (7.13 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution1080 x 2388 pixels (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size6.64 inches, 106.8 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.7 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 782G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 619
OSAndroid 13, OriginOS 3Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 2.2
Main Camera
Dual64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)-
Triple-108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired67W wired, 80% in 30 min
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, OrangePastel Lime, Chromatic Gray
ModelsV2270ACPH2467, CPH2465
PriceAbout 220 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 Z7 (China)

  • Significantly faster performance
  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Potentially higher refresh rate display
  • Competitive price

  • May have a less refined design
  • Software experience might not be as polished as OnePlus
  • Availability limited to China (potentially)

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite

  • Reliable OnePlus software experience
  • 108MP main camera
  • Slightly more refined design (subjective)
  • Good value for money

  • Slower performance compared to iQOO Z7
  • Slower 67W charging
  • Snapdragon 695 5G is less powerful

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.72-inch display, likely with an LCD panel and a 1080 x 2400 resolution. The iQOO Z7 might offer a slightly higher refresh rate (120Hz vs. 120Hz on the Nord CE 3 Lite), resulting in smoother scrolling and animations. Color accuracy and brightness will be key differentiators to look for in hands-on reviews.

Camera Comparison

The Nord CE 3 Lite boasts a 108MP main camera, potentially offering more detailed photos in good lighting conditions. The iQOO Z7 likely has a different camera setup (likely a 64MP main sensor), and image processing will be crucial. Low-light performance and video recording quality will be important factors to consider.

Performance

This is where the iQOO Z7 truly shines. The Snapdragon 782G is a considerably more powerful chipset than the Nord CE 3 Lite's Snapdragon 695 5G. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the iQOO Z7. The iQOO Z7's CPU configuration also gives it an edge.

Battery Life

The iQOO Z7's 120W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. The Nord CE 3 Lite's 67W charging is still respectable, but significantly slower. Both phones likely have a similar battery capacity (around 5000mAh), so the iQOO Z7's charging speed will be the deciding factor for many users.

Buying Guide

The vivo iQOO Z7 is ideal for gamers and power users who prioritize performance and rapid charging. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is a great choice for those seeking a reliable, well-rounded phone with a familiar OnePlus software experience and a slightly more refined design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the iQOO Z7 available outside of China?
Availability outside of China can be limited. Check local retailers and online marketplaces for availability in your region.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
OnePlus generally offers more consistent and timely software updates, so the Nord CE 3 Lite likely has an edge in long-term software support.