It’s remarkable how things change in just one year. Then, some things don’t. And that’s the OnePlus Nord CE4 in a nutshell.
Compared to last year’s OnePlus Nord CE3 5G (review), the OnePlus Nord CE4 features heaps of changes both on the outside and the inside. For example, the rear panel now features only two cameras instead of three in a different avatar. There’s a big focus on longer battery backup and faster charging. The new Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC powering the phone even promises potent AI capabilities.
However, things that haven’t changed include the selfie camera, which I feel is a crucial element of modern-day smartphones. The two years of Android OS update promise is decent but not up to the mark of industry standards. Moreover, the Nord CE4 lacks the alert slider for volume control (similar to the Nord CE3 5G), which if you ask me is crucial to OnePlus ethos when it comes to product design.
But, the Nord CE4’s greatest challenge lies within the segment it occupies. India’s sub-Rs 30,000 smartphone market is fiercely competitive, fueled by aggressive launches from brands, including POCO and iQOO, alongside dominant players like Redmi and Samsung. How does it perform? Let’s find out.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE4 features many thoughtful upgrades, making it a much more compelling option than last year’s Nord CE3. The phone also checks many boxes for everyday users, whether it is the display, battery, or performance. Its cameras are also good, if not the best. While the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC promises cutting-edge AI features, we are still awaiting the availability of those features from OnePlus..
Design and display
If you compare the Nord CE3 and Nord CE4 side by side, evident changes include the colour and placement of the rear cameras.
There are three cutouts of the back, though the third one only occupies the LED flash. The pill-shaped camera module is a throwback to the original OnePlus Nord CE from 2021. I’ve got the marble-inspired edition of the Nord CE4, which rocks a youthful and lighter vibe if that’s your jam. For those who prefer something more traditional, there’s the standard black model, called Dark Chrome.
There’s not much to distinguish in build and size compared to the Nord CE3. The Nord CE4 feels solid in hand, and the rear panel offers a smooth glass-like finish, even if the body is technically plastic. The rear panel also does a reliable job of repelling fingerprint smudges. The smartphone includes an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance – a standard on most devices in this range. To add some extra durability, OnePlus has included a beautiful teal case in the box that complements the green marble colour scheme perfectly.
Otherwise, its 6.7-inch AMOLED display features are mostly identical to that of last year’s model. It does not mean you won’t be pleased by the viewing experience. The Nord CE4 continues to offer full HD+ resolution (2,412 x 1,080 pixels) with 120Hz refresh rate and 20:1:9 aspect ratio. Netflix and Amazon Prime support HDR playback to make the overall viewing experience punchy.
I watched Spider-Man: No Way Home on Netflix and Blackberry on Amazon Prime, and the experience was pretty good. The AMOLED display delivered deep blacks and vibrant colours, though sometimes a tad too punchy for my liking. The Nord CE4’s stereo speakers also complement the overall viewing experience. If you prefer using earbuds, you will have to rely on Bluetooth connectivity since there’s no headphone jack.
Cameras
As mentioned, the Nord CE4 includes two cameras on the back as it ditches the 2MP macro lens. This also means one less camera feature compared to last year. The primary camera now utilises a new 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS (optical image stabilisation) support. There still remains an 8MP ultra-wide camera. The front retains a 16MP selfie camera.
For still photographs, the OnePlus Nord CE4 offers reliable performance both in bright and dim conditions. The phone mostly prioritises natural colours with a balanced white balance. Under harsh sunlight, the phone maintained neutral colours and the details were also decent. However, the primary camera struggled to detect the right tone of dark blue during my test.
The same colour science applies to images with a human subject. Skin tone detection is also natural, though the software tends to soften facial details. The portrait mode offers a rich bokeh effect, and the edge detection is equally good. Photos under “Hi-Res” mode capture crisp details, but this time, colour consistency can be a hit-and-miss.
The OnePlus Nord CE4’s 8MP ultra-wide camera also offers similar colours but with a soft dynamic range.
When it comes to video, the OnePlus Nord CE4 supports a maximum of 4K recording at 30fps. The company could have considered adding 4K60fps support, a feature gradually becoming mainstream on smartphones within this range.
In our comparison with the Nothing Phone 2(a) (review), the OnePlus Nord CE4 showed superior performance in bright and dim conditions, at least in terms of still photos. The 16MP front camera also detected skin fairly well, but there’s scope for improvement with facial details. We also noticed the same on last year’s Nord CE3.
However, the Phone 2(a) offers better stabilisation and can be considered over Nord CE4 for videos, especially if you are an upcoming content creator. On that note, do follow our YouTube channel for a detailed camera comparison against the Nothing Phone 2(a).
I also appreciate that the OnePlus Nord CE4 offers a clean camera UI with easy-to-access modes and filters. However, the native remover tool fails to detect the subject and background. Perhaps an OTA update can fix this issue.
Performance and software
The OnePlus Nord CE4 draws power from Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC. The phone utilises LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The base variant now offers 8GB RAM with 128GB storage, priced at Rs 24,999. The top model (Rs 26,999), which I am also using, offers 256GB storage. The phone offers a hybrid SIM slot, meaning you can simultaneously use two SIM cards or have one SIM and a microSD card for additional storage (up to 1TB).
For those who prefer a clean software experience, the OnePlus Nord CE4 offers a highly clean OxygenOS based on Android 14 and won’t disappoint. The company promises two years of Android OS updates, while three would’ve been ideal to take on the likes of Samsung and Nothing. This iteration of OxygenOS also feels light and responsive. In my time with the smartphone, I did not notice any abrupt heating issues.
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC onboard offers decent performance gains over the last-gen model. In AnTuTu’s overall CPU-CPU test, the Nord CE4 was ahead in numbers against its immediate peers (images above). Even in Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core tests, the Nord CE4 was ahead of its rivals. We are yet to see the native AI features that the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC promises, and will likely see those down the line with software updates.
In our gaming test, the Nord CE4 exhibited solid performance. I played BGMI and COD in high graphics at 60fps and did not face any issues with mistouches or heating. The heat management was also better than its peers, if not the best. However, in terms of numbers, the POCO X6 Pro remains relatively ahead.
Battery
There’s also not much to complain about the battery backup, thanks to a new and chunkier 5,500mAh unit. Despite carrying a bigger battery, the Nord CE4’s weight has only increased by 2 grams to 186 grams, which is truly impressive.
In the PCMark’s battery test, the Nord CE4 lasted for over 16 hours with flight mode enabled and 50 percent screen brightness – an impressive feat. Even the real-life performance is equally good, and you can expect an all-day backup with a high refresh rate enabled and AOD on.
The charging speed is also nothing short of impressive. The 100W SuperVOOC charger (included in the box) is capable of charging the device from 0 to 100 percent in under 35 minutes.
Final verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE4 perfectly embodies OnePlus’s “never settle” ethos. Whether it’s battery life, display quality, camera performance, or overall speed, this phone delivers without fail.
While the build quality is undeniably robust, I personally find the marble design language less appealing. If design ranks high on your list of priorities, you might consider exploring alternatives like the Nothing Phone 2(a) or even the Samsung Galaxy A35. A few areas also need improvements. For instance, videos on the Nord CE4 weren’t at the optimum level, and two years of Android OS updates may not seem significant considering the competition. Perhaps these areas may see improvements next year.
But if those things don’t matter too much, the Nord CE4 is a great choice for everyday users.
Editor’s rating: 8 / 10
Reasons to buy:
- The OnePlus Nord CE4 offers excellent battery backup. It also supports super-fast charging with the charger included in the box.
- The software experience is also clean and responsive. However, the phone is yet to receive some cutting-edge AI features.
- The camera performance in daylight and dim conditions is impressive. The camera UI is equally user-friendly.
Reasons not to buy:
- The two-year software update promise is behind the industry standards.
- The OnePlus Nord CE4 also offers average video stabilisation. It could’ve offered 4K60fps recording as well.
