In the ever-evolving landscape of smartphones, finding a device that strikes the perfect balance between features and affordability can be a daunting task. Enter the OnePlus Nord CE 4, a new contender in the sub-25,000 rupee segment that aims to redefine what users can expect from a mid-range device. After spending two intensive weeks with this smartphone, I'm excited to share my comprehensive review and help you determine if it's the right choice for your needs.
Design and Build Quality: Elegance Meets Practicality
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 continues the brand's tradition of sleek design while introducing some fresh elements. Available in two eye-catching colors – Dark Chrome and Celadon Marble – the device immediately catches the eye. The Celadon Marble finish, in particular, draws inspiration from the limited edition OnePlus 11 Marble Odyssey, lending a premium look to this mid-range offering.
While the vertical camera arrangement harks back to the original OnePlus Nord, creating a sense of continuity within the Nord lineup, the overall design feels modern and refined. The device weighs a mere 186 grams despite housing a substantial 5500 mAh battery, a testament to OnePlus' engineering prowess in balancing form and function.
However, it's important to note that the Nord CE 4 employs a plastic back and sides, a common cost-cutting measure in this price segment. While this contributes to the phone's lightweight nature, it may disappoint users expecting a more premium feel. That said, the build quality is solid, and the plastic construction proves durable in day-to-day use.
The Nord CE 4 boasts an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, offering peace of mind against minor spills and dusty environments. This is a welcome addition in a price range where water resistance is often overlooked.
Ergonomically, the Nord CE 4 excels. Its curved edges and balanced weight distribution make it comfortable to hold for extended periods, whether you're browsing social media, gaming, or watching videos. The button layout is intuitive, with the power button on the right side and volume rocker on the left. The under-display fingerprint sensor is both fast and reliable, a feature that's not always guaranteed in this price range.
One notable omission is the iconic OnePlus alert slider, consistent with other Nord CE models. While some users may miss this convenience, it's a reasonable compromise given the device's positioning and price point.
OnePlus continues to impress with its packaging, providing a complete out-of-the-box experience. The Nord CE 4 comes with a pre-applied screen protector, a color-matching protective case, a 100W SUPERVOOC charger, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and the usual documentation along with Nord stickers. This comprehensive package ensures users have everything they need to get started, adding value to the overall proposition.
Display: A Visual Feast
The Nord CE 4's display is undoubtedly one of its standout features, rivaling those found in much pricier devices. Boasting a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2412 x 1080 pixels (Full HD+), the screen delivers crisp visuals and vibrant colors. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations, enhancing the overall user experience.
With a peak brightness of 1100 nits, the Nord CE 4's display remains legible even under direct sunlight, a crucial factor for outdoor use. The inclusion of HDR10 support elevates the visual experience when consuming compatible content, offering improved contrast and color depth.
Color reproduction is excellent, with the default vivid profile offering punchy, eye-catching hues. For those who prefer a more natural look, OnePlus provides color profile options in the settings, allowing users to tailor the display to their preferences. Viewing angles are impressive, with minimal color shift when viewed off-axis, making it ideal for sharing content with friends or colleagues.
Content consumption is a joy on the Nord CE 4, thanks to its Widevine L1 certification. This ensures HD streaming capabilities on popular platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. YouTube HDR playback is also supported, though I did encounter occasional frame drops when playing 4K HDR content. This minor issue may be addressed in future software updates, but it's worth noting for avid video enthusiasts.
A unique feature that sets the Nord CE 4 apart is Aqua Touch. This innovative technology improves screen responsiveness when your fingers are wet, extending to both general touch interactions and the fingerprint sensor. It's a thoughtful addition that enhances usability in real-world scenarios, such as using the phone in the rain or with slightly damp hands.
Performance: Punching Above Its Weight Class
At the heart of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, built on a 4nm process. Paired with the Adreno 720 GPU, this combination delivers impressive performance for a mid-range device. In real-world usage, the Nord CE 4 handles day-to-day tasks with aplomb, offering smooth app launches, seamless multitasking, and minimal stuttering when switching between applications.
For the average user engaging in social media browsing, web surfing, and video streaming, the Nord CE 4 provides a near-flagship level experience. The device's 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM ensures apps remain in memory for quick resumption, while the UFS 3.1 storage (available in 128GB or 256GB configurations) facilitates rapid app installations and file transfers.
Gaming performance on the Nord CE 4 is commendable, especially considering its price point. Popular titles like PUBG Mobile run smoothly on high graphics settings, maintaining consistent frame rates throughout extended gaming sessions. Even more demanding games like Genshin Impact are playable with some graphical adjustments, showcasing the device's versatility.
During intense gaming or prolonged use, the Nord CE 4's thermal management comes into play. In my testing, the device reached a maximum temperature of 41°C during extended gaming sessions, with heat concentrated at the top of the phone. While noticeable, this heat dissipation is well-managed and doesn't significantly impact performance or comfort during use.
For those interested in benchmark results, the Nord CE 4 holds its own:
- AnTuTu: Approximately 550,000 points
- Geekbench 5: Single-core score around 950, multi-core score around 2,800
- 3DMark Wild Life: Score of about 2,700
These numbers place the Nord CE 4 comfortably in the upper echelons of mid-range devices, though it's worth noting that synthetic benchmarks don't always translate directly to real-world performance.
Storage and RAM: Flexibility for the Future
OnePlus offers two configurations for the Nord CE 4:
- 8GB LPDDR4X RAM + 128GB UFS 3.1 storage
- 8GB LPDDR4X RAM + 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
While 8GB of RAM is sufficient for most users' needs in 2024, the real standout feature is the inclusion of a dedicated microSD card slot. This allows for expansion of up to 1TB, a rarity in modern smartphones and a significant advantage for users who require ample storage for photos, videos, and large apps.
The combination of fast UFS 3.1 storage and expandability offers the best of both worlds – speedy performance for installed apps and the flexibility to add more storage as needed. This feature alone may sway potential buyers who prioritize storage capacity in their smartphone choice.
Camera System: Versatility in Your Pocket
The OnePlus Nord CE 4's camera system aims to provide a versatile photography experience without breaking the bank. The primary camera features a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This is complemented by an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. For selfies, there's a 16MP front-facing camera with an f/2.4 aperture.
In good lighting conditions, the main camera produces impressive results. Images exhibit natural colors, good dynamic range, and sharp details, even when zooming in on subjects. The inclusion of OIS helps in capturing clearer shots, especially in slightly challenging lighting scenarios.
Low-light performance is decent, particularly in moderately lit environments. The night mode does a commendable job of brightening scenes and reducing noise, though in very dark conditions, some loss of detail is inevitable. It's worth noting that the Nord CE 4's low-light capabilities exceed expectations for its price range, though it naturally falls short of flagship-level performance.
The ultra-wide camera, while not as detailed as the main sensor, provides a useful 120-degree field of view for capturing expansive landscapes or large group shots. Color consistency between the main and ultra-wide cameras is good, though there's a noticeable drop in sharpness towards the edges of ultra-wide shots – a common issue in many smartphones.
Portrait mode on the Nord CE 4 is generally impressive, with good edge detection in most scenarios. The device offers a 2x zoom portrait option, which can produce more flattering facial proportions. However, in complex scenes with intricate edges (like curly hair), some minor inaccuracies in subject separation can occur.
Video capabilities on the Nord CE 4 are solid for a mid-range device. The rear camera can shoot up to 4K at 30fps, while both the ultra-wide and front-facing cameras max out at 1080p at 30fps. There's also a slow-motion option at 1080p 120fps. Video quality is generally good, with natural colors and decent stabilization in 1080p mode thanks to OIS. However, 4K footage can appear slightly less stable and occasionally blurry during movement.
One quirk I noticed during my testing is the delay in image processing. The initial preview often looks underwhelming, but after a few seconds of processing, the final image shows significant improvement. While this ensures better end results, it can lead to some uncertainty when capturing fleeting moments.
Software Experience: Clean, Intuitive, and Feature-Rich
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 runs OxygenOS 14, based on Android 14, offering a clean and intuitive user interface. OxygenOS has long been praised for its near-stock Android feel with thoughtful additions, and the Nord CE 4 continues this tradition.
Animations and transitions are smooth, contributing to the overall sense of snappiness in day-to-day use. Bloatware is minimal, especially if you opt out of suggested apps during the initial setup process. This results in a clutter-free experience out of the box, allowing users to customize their device as they see fit.
OnePlus is gradually introducing AI capabilities to its devices, and the Nord CE 4 benefits from this with features like Object Eraser. Similar to Google's Magic Eraser, this tool allows users to remove unwanted elements from photos, adding a touch of computational photography prowess to the mid-range segment.
The software update policy for the Nord CE 4 is reasonable, with OnePlus promising two major Android version updates and three years of security patches. While not industry-leading, this commitment ensures the device will remain current and secure for a good portion of its lifespan.
Connectivity: Modern Standards with a Minor Omission
In terms of connectivity, the Nord CE 4 covers most bases expected in a 2024 mid-range smartphone. It offers dual SIM functionality and 5G support for major Indian carriers across 6 bands, ensuring users can take advantage of high-speed mobile data where available.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) support is included, providing faster and more efficient wireless connectivity when connected to compatible routers. Bluetooth 5.3 is also on board, offering improved range and stability for wireless accessories.
One notable omission is NFC support, which was present in the previous Nord CE 3 model. This may disappoint users who rely on contactless payments or quick device pairing via NFC. While not a deal-breaker for many, it's a feature that some users in this price range have come to expect.
Battery Life and Charging: A True Endurance Champion
Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 is its battery life and charging capabilities. The device houses a massive 5500 mAh battery, which translates to exceptional real-world endurance.
In my testing, the Nord CE 4 consistently delivered 7-8 hours of screen-on time with heavy use, including a mix of social media browsing, video streaming, gaming, and camera use. For most users, this translates to worry-free all-day battery life with juice to spare.
When it does come time to recharge, the included 100W SUPERVOOC charger is nothing short of impressive. The Nord CE 4 can go from 0 to 100% in under 45 minutes, with a 15-minute charge often providing enough power for several hours of use. This combination of large battery capacity and blazing-fast charging makes the Nord CE 4 a reliable companion for power users and frequent travelers alike.
Conclusion: The Mid-Range All-Rounder
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 doesn't aim to be the best in any single category. Instead, it successfully positions itself as a jack-of-all-trades, offering a well-rounded experience at an attractive price point of 24,999 rupees (approximately $300 USD).
For this price, users get:
- A vibrant, smooth 120Hz AMOLED display
- Dependable performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming
- A versatile camera system capable of impressive shots in most conditions
- Exceptional battery life with incredibly fast charging
- A clean, efficient software experience
- The flexibility of expandable storage, a rarity in modern smartphones
While it may not be the top choice for specific use cases like hardcore gaming or professional photography, the Nord CE 4 excels at being a reliable daily driver that can handle a bit of everything. The compromises made – such as the plastic build and lack of NFC – are reasonable considering the overall package and price point.
For those in the market for a mid-range smartphone that doesn't significantly compromise in any major area, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 should be high on the list of considerations. It successfully carries forward OnePlus' tradition of offering excellent value for money in the increasingly competitive mid-range segment, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious users who don't want to sacrifice features or performance.
