The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the vivo Z1x and the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Both promise a solid experience, but which one truly comes out on top?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster charging (67W vs 22.5W), more modern chipset (Snapdragon 695 5G), and generally improved performance. While the Z1x offers a decent experience, the Nord CE 3 Lite provides a more compelling package overall.
| 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, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2023, April 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, April 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.5 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.96 x 0.32 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 | 189.6 g (6.70 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~404 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.38 inches, 99.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.72 inches, 109.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (typ), 680 nits (peak) |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM712 Snapdragon 712 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 616 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Funtouch 10 | Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | 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 | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired
5W reverse wired | 67W wired, 80% in 30 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Fusion Blue, Phantom Purple | Pastel Lime, Chromatic Gray |
| Models | 1917, PD1921F_EX | CPH2467, CPH2465 |
| Price | About 220 EUR | £ 169.98 / € 209.99 |
| SAR | 1.03 W/kg (head) 0.55 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 Z1x
- Potentially more affordable
- Larger display (typically)
- Decent battery life
- Older chipset
- Slower charging
- Less impressive camera
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
- Faster charging (67W)
- More modern chipset (Snapdragon 695 5G)
- Better performance
- Improved camera
- Potentially slightly more expensive
- Smaller display (typically)
Display Comparison
The vivo Z1x typically features a larger display, often around 6.5 inches, while the Nord CE 3 Lite usually has a slightly smaller screen, around 6.3 inches. Both likely utilize AMOLED panels, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks, but the Z1x's larger size might be preferable for media consumption. Resolution is likely FHD+ on both.
Camera Comparison
Camera specs vary, but the Nord CE 3 Lite generally boasts a more versatile camera system, often including a higher resolution main sensor and improved image processing. The Z1x's camera is adequate, but the Nord CE 3 Lite typically delivers better image quality, especially in low light. Both likely have a front-facing camera suitable for selfies.
Performance
Here's where the Nord CE 3 Lite shines. The Snapdragon 695 5G is a more modern and efficient chipset than the Snapdragon 712 in the Z1x. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better overall responsiveness. Gaming performance will also be noticeably better on the Nord CE 3 Lite.
Battery Life
The Nord CE 3 Lite's 67W fast charging is a game-changer. It can charge the battery from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes, a significant advantage over the Z1x's 22.5W charging. Battery capacity is likely similar between the two, around 5000mAh, so the Nord CE 3 Lite's charging speed makes a huge difference in usability.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the vivo Z1x? Users prioritizing a larger display and potentially a slightly more affordable price point might find the Z1x appealing. Who should buy the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite? Those seeking faster charging, a more modern processor, and a smoother overall experience will benefit from the Nord CE 3 Lite.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 712 still a good chipset?
The Snapdragon 712 is a capable chipset for everyday tasks, but it's showing its age compared to newer processors like the Snapdragon 695 5G. It's fine for basic use, but don't expect stellar performance.
❓ Which phone has better 5G connectivity?
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite has 5G connectivity thanks to the Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. The vivo Z1x may not support 5G, depending on the specific variant.
