which is the better sub-Rs 25,000 shooter?

We’ve already conducted a performance and battery comparison between the new Motorola Edge 50 Fusion (review) and the OnePlus Nord CE4 (review) to find out which smartphone offers a better deal under Rs 25,000. Let’s now do a camera comparison between both to find out which phone is a better camera phone in this segment. Check out the results below:

Here are the camera specifications of both devices: 

Daylight 

For basic daylight photography, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion features a 50MP Sony Lytia 700C primary lens with an f/1.8 aperture, while the OnePlus Nord CE4 uses a 50MP Sony LYT600 primary camera with the same aperture size. Both deliver nearly identical results, with the main difference being their colour reproduction. The OnePlus Nord CE4 has a slightly warmer colour profile, whereas the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion produces a slightly cooler colour profile, as seen in the image. The level of detail and sharpness are also very similar on both devices.

The Motorola smartphone delivers more readable text when you zoom in on the “Zupee” signboard and the “no smoking” board next to it. The dynamic range is comparable between the two, but the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion provides slightly better illumination in the darkest parts of the image. In addition, the Motorola smartphone offers a wider field of view (FOV), capturing more of the scene compared to the OnePlus Nord CE. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion comes out on top by a slim margin in this round.

Winner: Motorola Edge 50 Fusion 

Ultrawide

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion features a 13MP wide-angle lens, while the OnePlus Nord CE4 has an 8MP wide-angle lens. In ultrawide shots, both phones switch their colour profiles: the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion takes on a warmer hue, while the OnePlus Nord CE4 presents a cooler hue. Thanks to its higher resolution lens, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion captures more details in the images compared to the OnePlus Nord CE4.

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion’s images also have more contrast, making the shots look more dramatic compared to the OnePlus Nord CE4. I prefer the more dramatic images from the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion.

Winner: Motorola Edge 50 Fusion

Portrait

Both phones capture portrait images with their respective 50MP primary cameras. For this test, we set the aperture size to f/2.0 and took portrait images with both devices. As you can observe below, each smartphone represents the subject’s skin colour differently. The OnePlus Nord CE4 presents the skin with a slightly orange hue, while the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion offers a more natural skin colour representation.

That aside, the OnePlus Nord CE4 is substantially more detailed, and it does not smooth out the details. You can clearly perceive the texture of the subject’s skin and the knitting on the T-shirt. In comparison, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion significantly smooths out the skin, and the T-shirt details are muddled in a few spots. In terms of edge detection, the OnePlus Nord CE4 is superior to the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion.

Winner: OnePlus Nord CE4

Selfie

The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion comes with a 32MP front camera, while the OnePlus Nord CE4 has a 16MP. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion takes sharper, more detailed selfies thanks to its higher-resolution lens. The selfies on the OnePlus Nord CE4 are comparatively brighter than those on the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion. The colours also appear to be slightly boosted on the OnePlus Nord CE4, while the colours are closer to reality on the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion. 

Winner: Motorola Edge 50 Fusion 

Low-light (Night mode off)

Both the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion and the OnePlus Nord CE4 do a decent job in low-light environments, even with night mode disabled. Both phones face some common challenges, particularly when it comes to the lens flare and bloom around the light sources, which is apparent when you glance at either picture. Both devices deliver a similar level of detail and sharpness. 

The lens flare is more pronounced in the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion’s images, as you can notice the pale semicircle along the right side of the image. The OnePlus Nord CE4 tends to overexpose the image, whereas the Motorola handles exposure quite well. Overall, the comparison ends in a tie, as both images are quite comparable, and each device has its own strengths. 

Winner: Tied

Low-light (Night mode on)

With night mode enabled, both phones churn out much better low-light images. The OnePlus Nord CE4’s image is more balanced while maintaining its level of detail. On the other hand, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion still retains the lens flare even with night mode enabled. In the central “Akash Healthcare” logo, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion does a better job of minimising colour bloom compared to the OnePlus Nord CE4.

The OnePlus Nord CE4’s exposure level is more restrained, yet it’s still present, which is noticeable around the borders of the building and towards the top. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion offers marginally better dynamic range. The differences are minimal and come down to personal preference; I personally prefer the image taken from Motorola Edge 50 Fusion. 

Winner: Motorola Edge 50 Fusion 

Verdict

Both the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion and the OnePlus Nord CE4 feature capable rear camera systems that perform well in various lighting conditions. In our comparison, however, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion emerges as the winner. It delivers better daylight results, with ample details, good dynamic range, and a wider field of view compared to the OnePlus Nord CE4. In addition, it offers better colour reproduction in selfies and captures more appealing ultra-wide-angle shots. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion also outperforms the OnePlus Nord CE4 in low-light shots taken with night mode enabled. 

The OnePlus Nord CE4 excels in portrait shots, with excellent edge detection and detail levels. While slightly less capable than the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion in terms of camera capabilities, it offers a more rounded option for those for whom the camera isn’t an absolute priority. The OnePlus Nord CE4 boasts better performance, charging speed, and battery life compared to the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion.