The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G is the latest addition to the company’s Nord CE series of mid-range smartphones. Launched in April 2024, it promises to deliver a blend of affordability and flagship-like features, targeting users who want a powerful and feature-rich phone without breaking the bank. In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G’s design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, software, and verdict on whether it lives up to the hype.
Design and Build
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G boasts a sleek and stylish design that feels comfortable to hold in the hand. The phone comes in two color options: Cosmic Black and Glacier Blue. The back panel is constructed with a glossy plastic material that gives the phone a premium look and feel. However, it does attract fingerprints and smudges easily, so a case is recommended.
The phone’s frame is made of plastic, which helps to keep the weight down to a manageable 186 grams. Despite the use of plastic, the Nord CE 4 5G feels well-built and sturdy. The phone’s button placement is standard, with the power button located on the right side and the volume buttons on the left. There’s also a SIM card tray on the bottom edge.
Overall, the design of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G is a mixed bag. While it looks stylish and comfortable to hold, the use of plastic throughout the construction feels less premium compared to some competitors in the mid-range segment.
Display
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G features a 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The AMOLED panel delivers deep blacks, rich colors, and excellent viewing angles. The 120Hz refresh rate makes the display feel smooth and responsive, whether you’re scrolling through social media or gaming.
The display’s resolution is Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), which is plenty sharp for most users. The display also supports HDR10+ content, which means you can enjoy movies and shows with improved contrast and color accuracy.
Overall, the display of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G is one of its strongest assets. It’s large, bright, colorful, and smooth, making it a great choice for watching videos, gaming, and general use.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 5G processor. This is a mid-range chipset that is designed to offer good performance and power efficiency. The phone comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage.
In everyday use, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G performs well. It can handle most tasks without any issues, including multitasking, browsing the web, and using social media apps. However, it’s not the most powerful phone on the market, and you may experience some lag when playing demanding games or running heavy applications.
Here’s a table comparing the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G’s performance against some of its competitors:
| Phone | CPU | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 5G | 8GB | 128GB, 256GB |
| Samsung Galaxy A54 5G | Samsung Exynos 1280 | 6GB, 8GB | 128GB, 256GB |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G | MediaTek Dimensity 8100 | 8GB, 12GB | 128GB, 256GB |
Camera
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G features a triple-camera system on the back, consisting of a 50MP Sony IMX890 main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. The front-facing camera is 16MP.
The main camera takes good photos in well-lit conditions. Photos are sharp, detailed, and have good color reproduction. However, the camera struggles in low-light conditions, and photos can appear grainy and noisy.
The ultrawide camera is useful for capturing wider shots, but the image quality is not as good as the main camera. The depth sensor is used for portrait mode photos, which can blur the background behind the subject.
The front-facing camera is decent for selfies and video calls. However, it doesn’t offer the same level of detail and sharpness as the rear camera.
Overall, the camera system of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G is good, but not great. It can take good photos in good lighting conditions, but it struggles in low light. If you’re a casual photographer who primarily takes photos during the day, you’ll be happy with the camera’s performance. However, if you’re a power user who needs a camera that can take great photos in all lighting conditions, you may want to consider a different phone.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G packs a massive 5,500mAh battery, which is one of the largest batteries you’ll find in a mid-range phone. In our testing, the phone easily lasted a full day on a single charge with moderate use. With heavier use, you may need to top up the battery before the end of the day.
The phone also supports OnePlus’s 100W SUPERVOOC fast charging technology, which can charge the battery from 0 to 100% in just 29 minutes. This is one of the fastest charging speeds on the market, and it’s a major advantage for users who are always on the go.
Software
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G runs OxygenOS 14.0, which is based on Android 14. OxygenOS is known for its clean and user-friendly interface, and it offers several customization options. However, OnePlus has been criticized for its recent software updates, which have introduced some bugs and bloatware.
The phone is guaranteed to receive two major Android OS updates and three years of security updates. This is a decent level of software support for a mid-range phone, but it’s not as good as some competitors who offer three years of major OS updates and four years of security updates.
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers a good balance of features and affordability. It has a large and beautiful display, a powerful processor for everyday tasks, a long-lasting battery, and fast charging. However, the camera system is just average, and the software support is not as good as some competitors.
Here’s a table summarizing the pros and cons of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Large and beautiful AMOLED display | Average camera system |
| Powerful processor for everyday tasks | Plastic build material |
| Long-lasting battery with fast charging | Limited software update guarantee |
| Clean and user-friendly software |
Who Should Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G?
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G is a good option for users who are looking for a mid-range smartphone with a large display, long battery life, and fast charging. However, if you’re a power user who needs a top-of-the-line camera system or the latest software updates, you may want to consider a different phone.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy the Nord CE 4 5G depends on your individual needs and priorities. If you’re looking for a good value for money phone that offers a good balance of features, the Nord CE 4 5G is a solid option to consider.
Price
- The price of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G varies depending on the region and storage configuration. In India, the phone starts at ₹27,999 (around $350 USD) for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant.
- The phone is available for purchase through OnePlus’s official website and select retailers.
I hope this comprehensive review of the Nord CE 4 5G has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Also, Read:
Understanding the Nord CE 4 5G: Your Questions Answered
This section dives deeper into some key questions you might have about the Nord CE 4 5G, presented in a conversational format for better understanding.
Is the display of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G good for gaming?
Absolutely! The phone features a large 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This translates to a visually stunning experience with crisp visuals and fluid motion, perfect for gaming and fast-paced content.
How does the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G stack up against competitors in terms of performance?
The phone utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 5G processor, which delivers capable performance for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and multitasking. While it handles these well, some competitors might offer a slight edge for demanding games or heavy applications. Refer to the table in the previous section for a performance comparison.
Is the camera system suitable for low-light photography?
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G’s camera excels in well-lit conditions, capturing sharp and detailed photos with good color accuracy. However, low-light performance suffers, resulting in grainy and noisy images. If low-light photography is a priority, you might want to explore phones with stronger low-light capabilities.
With a 5,500mAh battery, can I expect the phone to last a full day?
Definitely! The massive battery capacity ensures the phone comfortably lasts a full day on a single charge with moderate use. Even with heavier usage, you’ll likely only need one top-up throughout the day.
How fast is the charging speed of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G?
The phone boasts OnePlus’s impressive 100W SUPERVOOC fast charging technology. This allows you to charge the battery from 0 to 100% in a mere 29 minutes, making it ideal for users on the go who need a quick power boost.
Does the phone come with the latest Android version?
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G runs OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android 14, ensuring you have a modern software experience. While OnePlus guarantees two major Android OS updates and three years of security updates, some competitors offer slightly longer support periods.
Who is the ideal user for the Nord CE 4 5G?
This phone caters to users seeking a feature-rich mid-range option. If you prioritize a large display, outstanding battery life with rapid charging, and smooth performance for everyday use, the Nord CE 4 5G is a compelling choice. However, power users requiring a top-tier camera or extended software support might need to consider alternatives.
