In 2023, OnePlus stuck to its usual strategy of releasing only a handful of smartphones, rather than flooding the market with devices across every price range. In fact, the brand introduced even fewer phones in India this year compared to the previous one. While five were regular smartphones, one was a foldable – OnePlus’s first-ever foldable. The company’s catalogue of phones in 2023 ranges from affordable to mid-range to flagship. Each device was released to be a standout in its segment. And while some succeeded, others didn’t impress quite as well.
In this article, we’ve ranked every OnePlus phone released in India in 2023 from lowest to highest, based on insights from our in-house reviews.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
Much like the Nord CE 2 Lite, the Nord CE 3 Lite (review) was aimed at the sub-Rs 20,000 segment, a popular and competitive price point in the Indian market. OnePlus has always had its work cut out for it in this segment and the Nord CE 3 Lite couldn’t improve the situation. While the phone did bring faster charging speeds and an upgraded 108MP primary rear camera, it didn’t come with major improvements over its predecessor, which is why it fell short compared to what rival brands were offering under Rs 20,000.
Pros:
- Good design
- Capable stereo speakers
- Clean UI
- Decent battery life
Cons:
- Cameras are not the best
- Uses an LCD display
OnePlus Nord CE 3
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 (review) came out several months after the Nord CE 3 Lite and with fewer compromises. This phone offered “a good combination of hardware and bloat-free software, resulting in a smooth user experience,” said our reviewer. The “combination” includes a 50MP triple camera setup, a 5,000mAh battery, 80W fast charging support, and a 120Hz refresh rate display, among other things. All of these at a price point of under Rs 30,000 made it a solid option for buyers.
Pros:
- Lovely screen
- Acceptable performance
- Day-long battery life
- Decent cameras
Cons:
- Lowlight photography could have been better
- Plastic build
- No alert slider
OnePlus 11
You might be surprised to see the OnePlus 11 (review) at this spot. Despite being a flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 11 was not the best OnePlus phone to come this year. That’s how good the next three smartphones are! Coming back to the OnePlus 11, it is no doubt a flagship phone from the outside and inside. The device features a premium glass design and sleek build. The display is packed to the brim with top-of-the-line hardware, including a QHD+ Fluid AMOLED screen, LTPO 3.0 technology with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, and 1300 nits peak brightness. You also get a capable main camera, a blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, and 100W fast charging to boot.
Pros:
- Premium design
- Splendid display
- Fast charging
- Capable main camera
Cons:
- No IP rating
- Macro shooting can be cumbersome
- Can throttle under load
OnePlus Nord 3
Unsurprisingly, the best OnePlus Nord-series phone in 2023 was the OnePlus Nord 3 (review). This device offered everything one needed from an affordable OnePlus phone in 2023 and then some, surpassing what its predecessor, the OnePlus Nord 2, offered. The OnePlus Nord 3 is not only one of the best camera phones under Rs 35,000 but it also offers smooth performance backed by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, a terrific Super Fluid AMOLED display, and a solid battery life topped with fast charging support. The only real issue with the phone is that it comes with a rather bland design language compared to what the competition offers.
Pros:
- Stellar display
- Good cameras
- Smooth performance
- Impressive battery life
Cons:
- No microSD card slot
- Bland design
OnePlus 11R
Yes, the OnePlus 11R (review) ranks higher than the OnePlus 11 in our books as it delivers an exceptional flagship-grade experience without burning a hole in your pocket. The OnePlus 11R excelled in the performance, battery, and camera departments in particular. Priced under Rs 40,000, the OnePlus 11R gets a flagship-grade Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, a premium design language, a great 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display, a 50MP triple camera system, and 100W fast charging to make for a complete package. This makes the OnePlus 11R a more value-for-money flagship offering compared to the OnePlus 11.
Pros:
- Great performance
- Premium design
- Good battery life
- Decent primary camera
Cons:
- Ultra-wide and macro sensors can be improved
OnePlus Open
OnePlus ended the year (in India) with a bang with the launch of its first-ever foldable phone, the OnePlus Open (review). Expectations were high from OnePlus and the brand managed to deliver above and beyond, with the OnePlus Open not only being the best OnePlus phone to launch this year but also one of the best foldable phones to come out in 2023. The OnePlus Open delivers a beautiful 7.82-inch foldable screen with a very subtle crease thanks to the company’s Flexion hinge design and a premium design language. As great as the foldable looks and feels from the outside, it is equally nice on the inside with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, 16GB of RAM, 67W fast charging, and Hasselblad-backed cameras. The OnePlus Open turned out to be a worthy rival to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and that’s saying something for a first-iteration foldable.
Pros:
- Highly functional cover display
- Near crease-less main display
- Fast charging
- Clean Android OS
Cons:
- No wireless charging
- Okay-ish cameras
