OnePlus is known for making phones with high-end features at reasonable prices.
So bargain hunters probably let out a collective sigh when the company recently said the UK wouldn’t get its latest affordable handset, the OnePlus Nord 3.
Well, the good news is OnePlus appears to have changed its mind. The latest star in its midrange Nord lineup is now available to pre-order in the UK directly from OnePlus, ahead of its arrival on August 17.
The phone is currently available in gray with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage for £499. OnePlus is also giving customers its latest wireless headphones, normally worth £49, at no extra cost.
Now for the bad news: OnePlus told TechAdvisor that it only has limited stock on the first batch of handsets, with more units on the way. At the time of writing, the phone was available to purchase on the company’s website.
The Nord 3 is OnePlus’s equivalent to wallet-pleasing options like the iPhone SE, Google Pixel 7a, and the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G.
In terms of upgrades, you can expect a sharper screen and the same main camera sensor as found in the recent OnePlus 11 flagship. Plus, you can fast charge the phone’s battery to 60 per cent in 15 minutes.
Best of all, the Nord 3 should last longer than last year’s model as OnePlus is promising three major updates to its Android software and four years of security updates. That’s an extra year in both departments compared to its predecessor, but still less than the five years of support touted for the OnePlus 11.
Upon announcing the phone in early July, OnePlus said that it wasn’t scheduled to go on sale in the UK due to “logistical challenges around customs”. Though, it added that “it’s possible that changes in the future”.
It appears that other models are still suffering from issues, with both the OnePlus 10T 5G (£629) and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G (£299) currently shown as out of stock.
In March, the company was forced to deny rumours stating that it and sister company Oppo were pulling out of the UK and other parts of Europe.
Both brands are owned by a Chinese conglomerate called BBK Electronics Corporation, which is also the parent company of budget smartphone maker Realme.
At the time, OnePlus told the Evening Standard: “OnePlus will not exit from Europe and the UK and maintains stable operations in local markets. OnePlus will continue to invest in Europe and provide more innovative products and solutions for its users.”
It’s good to know that OnePlus plans to stick around. In a world full of unnecessary foldables and phones that get pricer by the year, it’s nice to have a reliable alternative that won’t break the bank.
