The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the vivo iQOO Z7 and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features at attractive price points, but which one truly comes out on top? This comprehensive comparison will delve into every aspect, from performance and camera to battery life and design.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite takes the lead thanks to its significantly faster 67W charging and generally smoother performance. While the iQOO Z7 offers a decent experience, the Nord CE 3 Lite's charging speed and Snapdragon chipset provide a noticeable edge for most users.
| 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 | 1, 3, 8, 28, 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 | 2023, March 17 | 2023, April 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 21 | Available. Released 2023, April 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 158.9 x 73.5 x 7.8 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.31 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) |
| | IP54, dust and water resistant | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Schott Xensation glass | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~413 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.38 inches, 98.3 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MC4 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch 14 | Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 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 | 5.2, 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 | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 44W wired, 50% in 25 min | 67W wired, 80% in 30 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Norway Blue, Pacific Night | Pastel Lime, Chromatic Gray |
| Models | I2207 | CPH2467, CPH2465 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | £ 169.98 / € 209.99 |
| SAR | 1.15 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) | 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
- 120Hz Display
- Slightly more affordable
- Decent performance for the price
- Slower charging
- Performance can throttle under load
- Camera slightly less impressive than Nord CE 3 Lite
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
- 67W Fast Charging
- Smoother Performance (Snapdragon 695)
- Better Camera Quality
- Polished Software Experience
- Slightly more expensive
- Design might not appeal to everyone
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ display, but the iQOO Z7 boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother scrolling and animations compared to the Nord CE 3 Lite's 120Hz. Color accuracy is generally good on both, but the iQOO Z7 might have slightly more vibrant colors.
Camera Comparison
The iQOO Z7 features a 64MP main camera, while the Nord CE 3 Lite has a 108MP main camera. While megapixels aren't everything, the Nord CE 3 Lite often captures more detailed images in good lighting. Both phones offer decent ultrawide and macro lenses, but image quality is generally better on the Nord CE 3 Lite.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite's Snapdragon 695 5G generally outperforms the iQOO Z7's Dimensity 920 in everyday tasks and gaming. The Snapdragon chipset is known for its efficiency and optimized performance. While the Dimensity 920 is a capable chip, it can sometimes exhibit slightly more thermal throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Nord CE 3 Lite's 67W charging is a game-changer, allowing it to charge from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes. The iQOO Z7's 44W charging is still respectable, but significantly slower. Both phones have a similar battery capacity (around 5000mAh), so battery life is comparable between the two when not factoring in charging speed.
Buying Guide
The vivo iQOO Z7 is a good choice for users prioritizing a vibrant display and a slightly more affordable price. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is ideal for those who value fast charging, a reliable chipset, and a generally more polished software experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite generally offers a smoother gaming experience due to its Snapdragon 695 chipset and optimized performance.
❓ Is the iQOO Z7's display worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize a 120Hz refresh rate and vibrant colors, the iQOO Z7's display is a good choice. However, the Nord CE 3 Lite's display is still very capable.
