This is the Nord CE 4, and OnePlus is shaking things up in the ₹25,000 smartphone segment with its launch.
Living up to their reputation for great value, it’s the most budget-friendly option out there rocking the latest Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset.
Plus, it’s got an impressive 100W fast charging feature that powers up your phone in no time!
So, let’s dive into a detailed review of this smartphone.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Design & Utility
Aesthetically, the new CE 4 is a departure from its predecessor. It debuts a new design language which the other Nord smartphones are also expected to adopt this year.
The cylindrical camera island is a modern twist on the prominent designs from a few years ago.
This green colour with its marble like texture is also quite interesting and should be liked by many.
However, if this pattern is too garish for you, you can always put on the high-quality bundled cover on the phone which gives it a subtler look. The cover would also hide smudges from the glossy back.
The smartphone is completely constructed out of plastic, which helps curb its weight despite the large 5,500mAh battery under the hood.
The CE4 scores high on practicality as well. It features expandable storage thanks to its hybrid SIM slot, and also comes with an IP54 rating for basic protection against water splashes.
OnePlus has used Panda glass at the front to provide scratch resistance to this phone’s display.
Then, there’s also an IR blaster to effortlessly control your air conditioner in this summer heat.
To make gaming and content watching better, the smartphone also comes with a loud stereo speaker setup with a dedicated grille for the upper unit.
Another thing to note is that the haptics motor on this smartphone is pretty high-quality for the price. So you get strong and satisfying feedback when you type.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Display
The Nord CE 4 comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of FHD+ and a refresh rate of 120Hz.
The display can achieve 1100 nits of peak brightness and 900 nits in high brightness mode. These are not groundbreaking numbers, but practically, you’d never have anything to complain about.
The colours and viewing angles of this display are good, and it does have Widevine L1 support, which makes it great for content watching on OTT platforms. Netflix supports HDR as well.
The display also features AquaTouch tech for better touch response when the display is wet, and in my experience it worked well most of the time.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Performance & Software
Like I mentioned at the start of my review, the CE 4 is currently the most affordable smartphone with the new Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset.
It achieves an Antutu score of around 8.3 lakh, which puts it at an advantage over the Dimensity 7200 which you find for around the same price.
That makes it a good option for gaming. Call of Duty Mobile, for instance, runs at High + Max graphic settings, and the phone does not get very hot even after prolonged gaming.
But, if you are into gaming on a regular basis then I should point that you can get the more powerful Poco X6 Pro for almost the same price.
Anyway, day to day performance on this phone was pretty nice. I did notice some micro stutters here and there, but it was nothing major.
The Oxygen OS 14 that powers this smartphone on the software side, is a pleasant affair. So, no ads, or bloatware, or glance lock screen here – quite an achievement on a mid-range smartphone.
OnePlus is also promising 2 major Android updates and 3 years of security updates with this smartphone.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Cameras
Please watch the video to see camera samples.
Mid-range phones are finally getting rid of 2MP macro cameras this year, and the Nord CE 4 follows this trend.
So, at the back of this phone, you’ll see two sensors, a 50MP main and an 8MP ultrawide.
The primary sensor here is the Sony Lytia LYT-600 and it is a good performer for the price with decent dynamic range and fairly accurate colours.
That being said, the videos from this sensor are not very impressive, both in terms of detail and stability.
The secondary 8MP camera will get the job done as long as you are giving it enough natural light. But the shots remain soft around the corners.
The 16MP selfie camera takes colour accurate photos without any skin smoothening, so that’s good.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Battery Life
A 5,500mAh cell is big by any standard and the Nord CE 4’s endurance is a testament to that.
WIth my mixed usage I could easily get around 8.5 to 9 hours of screen time with this smartphone.
So, yes you can easily extract 2 days of battery life from this smartphone if you are a light user.
And charging is no slouch either. This smartphone supports 100W wired fast charging and comes with a bundled adapter as well.
A full charge takes a mere half an hour, which sweetens the deal even further.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Review
The Nord CE 4 is a great everyday smartphone. While the battery life and fast charging are its major selling points, it also comes with clean software and a good display.
So, if you’re looking for a well-rounded smartphone in the ₹25,000 segment, this is definitely worth a shot.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Software: Clean Oxygen OS 14 provides a smooth and frustration-free user experience.
- Battery & charging: Long-lasting 5,500mAh battery with super-fast 100W fast charging keeps you powered up all day.
Cons
- Video recording: Videos disappoint in terms of details and stabilisation.
Also watch: OnePlus Watch 2 review
