I'm confused about OnePlus's camera approach – the Nord CE 3 Lite isn't helping

TechPhonesAndroid PhonesI’m confused about OnePlus’s camera approach – the Nord CE 3 Lite isn’t helpingThe Nord CE 3 Lite 5G has no wide-angle camera and I just don’t get itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

The Nord CE 3 Lite 5G has no wide-angle camera and I just don’t get it

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: OnePlus / Mike Lowe)

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G edited into lady�s hands

(Image credit: OnePlus / Mike Lowe)

OnePlus' approach to cameras has its highs, don’t get me wrong: some of the Hasselblad implementation over the years has been great, such as in theOnePlus 10 Proreleased in 2022. But that’s the high-end of the market, whereas the Nord CE 3 Lite looks to fill the more affordable section, acting as the polar opposite really – and priced at a very reasonable £299 in the UK.

(Image credit: OnePlus)

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite

(Image credit: OnePlus)

And that’s fine. Thebest cheap phonesearn their place and satisfy many millions of users around the globe. But even when parting with less cash to own a phone (and I’m not suggesting that three-hundred quid is in any way insignificant), I don’t think that means an immediate acceptance of getting less when it comes to the cameras department. A bit of a compromise, I get that, sure.

But here’s the problem I have with the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: it doesn’t have a wide-angle camera. Neither did the Nord CE 2 Lite. But theNord CE 2(not Lite!) does – and that’s the same price or less than the Nord CE 3 Lite (at the time of writing, as the shopping widget below shows, it’s actually cheaper than either!). The words ‘too many phones’ seem to be circling around my brain.

Today’s best OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G, OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, OnePlus Nord CE 2 and OnePlus Nord 2 dealsOnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G$274.95ViewSee all pricesOnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite$439ViewSee all pricesOnePlus Nord CE 2$199.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

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OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G$274.95ViewSee all pricesOnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite$439ViewSee all pricesOnePlus Nord CE 2$199.99ViewSee all prices

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G$274.95ViewSee all prices

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite…

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G

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OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite$439ViewSee all prices

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G…

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$439

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OnePlus Nord CE 2$199.99ViewSee all prices

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I think that’s a shame, especially as the Nord CE 3 Lite does purport to have a triple camera system. It’s just that one of them is a macro camera (meh), the other a depth sensor (double meh) and just as I’ve said for years to any manufacturer putting these extra lenses into phones to up the number count: I’m not bothered; I don’t think anybody is bothered.

The same goes for monochrome cameras, such as the one found in theOnePlus Nord 2(yes, yet another Nord model). It’s just eating up space and something to muck around with for a few minutes, not something critical for purchase.

OnePlus is clearly very proud it’s put a 108-megapixel main camera into the Nord CE 3 Lite though. Fair play, I say, as I’m certainly not against the 9-in-1 processing and most likely decent results (I’m yet to receive the phone at the time of writing, it’s currently in the post). But, actually, here’s where I’d prefer to compromise: give me a 50-megapixel main, plus a wide-angle, keep the depth sensor if you have to, and that’s a sensible compromise.

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(Image credit: OnePlus)

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite promotion image

(Image credit: OnePlus)

The bigger picture of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is that it’s otherwise got a really competitive specification. The screen is 6.72-inches and Full HD+ resolution with 120Hz refresh. Boom! The battery is a 5,000mAh cell with 67W fast-charging. Ker-pow! The Pastel Lime finish actually looks awesome. Pow! I don’t know why I’ve got all Batman here, but the point is that this affordable OnePlus largely looks to knock it out of the park.

Except, of course, in those pared-down cameras. Do we really need a Nord, a Nord CE, and a CE Lite in the range? And a different one in the USA? Just give me an affordable OnePlus with a decent main and wide-angle camera and I’ll be happy. The mass of phones and the confusing choices when it comes to cameras aren’t helping. But, hey,I’m still glad OnePlus is here to stay. It just needs to tidy up its range.

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ONEPLUS Nord CE 3 Lite 5G…