OnePlus Nord CE4 5G Review

A lot can change in a year, and the OnePlus Nord CE4 shows just how true that is. But, some things stay the same.

Compared to last year’s OnePlus Nord CE3 5G, the Nord CE4 has many changes both inside and out. The rear now has two cameras instead of three, and there’s a focus on better battery life and faster charging. The new Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip brings strong AI features.

However, some things haven’t changed. The selfie camera remains the same, which is important for modern users. The two-year Android OS update is okay but not great compared to others. Plus, the Nord CE4, like the Nord CE3(Review), lacks the alert slider for volume, which is a key feature of OnePlus design.

The Nord CE4 faces tough competition in the under Rs 30,000 market in India, with brands like POCO, iQOO, Redmi, and Samsung. How does it hold up? Let’s see.

Design and Display

The Nord CE4 shows clear differences from the Nord CE3, like the color and camera placement on the back. The back has three cutouts, but one is for the LED flash. The pill-shaped camera module is similar to the original Nord CE from 2021. I have the marble-inspired version of the Nord CE4, which has a fun, light look. There’s also a black version called Dark Chrome.

In terms of build and size, it’s similar to the Nord CE3. It feels solid, with a smooth glass-like plastic rear that resists fingerprints well. It’s rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, common for this price range. OnePlus includes a nice teal case that matches the green marble color.

The 6.7-inch AMOLED display is much like last year’s model, with full HD+ resolution (2412 x 1080 pixels), 120Hz refresh rate, and 20:1:9 aspect ratio. It supports HDR playback on Netflix and Amazon Prime(Click to claim your FREE 30 days trial), offering a great viewing experience.

Watching Spider-Man: No Way Home on Netflix and Blackberry on Amazon Prime was enjoyable. The AMOLED screen shows deep blacks and vibrant colors, though sometimes too punchy. The stereo speakers enhance the experience. Without a headphone jack, you’ll need Bluetooth for earbuds.

OnePlus Nord CE4 5G Review – Cameras

The Nord CE4 has two rear cameras now, dropping the 2MP macro lens from last year. It features a new 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. The front has the same 16MP selfie camera.

For photos, the Nord CE4 performs well in bright and dim light, with natural colors and balanced white balance. In harsh sunlight, it kept colors neutral, but struggled with dark blue tones. Portrait mode gives a nice bokeh effect with good edge detection, though “Hi-Res” mode can be inconsistent with colors.

The 8MP ultra-wide camera gives similar colors but with a softer dynamic range. Video recording supports up to 4K at 30fps, but lacks 4K60fps, which is becoming standard in this range.

Compared to the Nothing Phone 2(a), the Nord CE4 does better in bright and dim conditions for photos, though the 16MP front camera needs better facial detail. The Phone 2(a) has better video stabilization, making it better for content creators.

The Nord CE4’s camera app is user-friendly, but the native remover tool could be improved.

Performance and Software

Powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, the Nord CE4 has LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage costs Rs 24,999, while the top model with 256GB storage costs Rs 26,999. It has a hybrid SIM slot for either two SIM cards or one SIM and a microSD card (up to 1TB).

The OnePlus Nord CE4 runs on a clean version of OxygenOS based on Android 14. It promises two years of Android updates, though three years would be better. OxygenOS feels light and responsive, with no heating issues.

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 gives a noticeable performance boost. In AnTuTu and Geekbench tests, it performed well against competitors. The promised AI features are yet to arrive, likely with future updates.

For gaming, the Nord CE4 performs well. It handled BGMI and COD at high graphics and 60fps without issues. Heat management is good, though the POCO X6 Pro still leads in numbers.

Battery

The Nord CE4’s 5,500mAh battery offers excellent backup. Despite the bigger battery, it weighs just 2 grams more than the Nord CE3, at 186 grams.

In PCMark’s battery test, it lasted over 16 hours with flight mode and 50% brightness. In real life, it lasts all day with high refresh rate and AOD on.

The 100W SuperVOOC charger included in the box can charge from 0 to 100% in under 35 minutes.

Final Verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE4 stays true to OnePlus’s “never settle” philosophy. It excels in battery life, display quality, camera performance, and overall speed.

The build quality is solid, but the marble design might not appeal to everyone. If design matters to you, consider the Nothing Phone 2(a) or Samsung Galaxy A35. The video quality and two-year Android update promise could be better. Maybe next year.

But if these points aren’t deal-breakers, the Nord CE4 is a great choice for daily use.