Following the release of the flagship OnePlus 12, the company is now shifting its focus to the opposite spectrum of its product lineup with the introduction of the latest Oneplus Nord CE 4. While not the most budget-friendly offering (that title potentially reserved for the Nord CE4 Lite, should it come to fruition), the CE4 positions itself one tier above and typically serves as the optimal choice within the three-device Nord series.
Introduction to The Oneplus Nord CE 4
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 brings notable enhancements over its predecessors. It introduces the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, replacing the 782G, while the main camera duties are now handled by the new Sony LYT600. Additionally, the CE4 boasts a larger 5500mAh battery with support for 100W charging.
However, amidst increasing competition, particularly with the recent launch of the Nothing Phone (2a), the OnePlus Nord CE 4 faces a challenge to maintain its position. Nevertheless, the Nord CE4 adheres to the typical OnePlus offering, providing the phone alongside a 100W charger and a red charging cable featuring USB-A and USB-C ends. The package also includes a protective silicone case, SIM tray ejector, and some stickers.
Design & Build Quality
The design of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 pays homage to the original Nord CE, featuring a vertically stacked camera layout. Similar to its predecessor, the device presents three circular elements arranged atop each other, though in this iteration, only two serve as actual cameras while the third functions solely as the flash.
The cameras are housed within a pill-shaped camera island, which, curiously, extends longer than the three stacked elements. It gives the impression that there was meant to be something else at the bottom, akin to a car with inactive dashboard features.
The Oneplus Nord CE 4 is available in two color options. The first is Dark Chrome, a sleek gray hue with a glossy finish and a gradient effect. The second variant, which we have here, is Celadon Marble. It showcases a glossy back adorned with a marbled pattern blending shades of green and white.
Display
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 is a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2412 x 1080 pixels and supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It offers full coverage of sRGB and P3 color spaces and a 10-bit color depth, and is compatible with HDR10 and HDR10+ standards. However, the display’s color performance falls short due to calibration issues.
The default Vivid profile exhibits oversaturated colors and cool-blue white tones, while the Natural profile restricts the color gamut to sRGB while the white balance remains too cool. Adjustments to the color temperature slider fail to warm the display adequately, preventing it from achieving the desired D65 white point. The display’s peak brightness is subpar, making it difficult to see detail in images and affects HDR performance.
OnePlus has improved its ability to set a custom refresh rate for apps, but this works well for most cases but not for games. Some apps may not work at the chosen refresh rate after installation, requiring manual toggles. The OnePlus Nord CE 4 is generally satisfactory for most use cases, but its lack of good color calibration, limited peak brightness, poor HDR performance, and no high refresh rate gaming make it a drawback.
Camera
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Camera Review
• Dual camera system: 50MP Sony LYT600 wide and 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide.
• Camera app: Simplified version of expensive models, lacks Hasselblad branding and features like RAW and 10-bit capture.
• Main camera: Impressive with pleasing colors, good detail, dynamic range, and white balancing.
• 50MP Hi-Res mode: 12.5MP images upscaled, no additional detail.
• Digital zoom: 2x usable but poor quality.
• Ultra-wide: Worse detail, dynamic range, and color reproduction.
• Video: Captures up to 4K at 30fps on main camera and 1080p at 30fps on ultra-wide.
• 4K 30fps footage: Richly detailed but shaky due to optical stabilization.
• 1080p 30fps footage: More stable but lacks detail.
• Ultra-wide footage: Softer still, lacks optical stabilization, resulting in notable jitter.
• Ultra Steady footage: Fixed 1080p 60fps mode with aggressive crop, offering the best stabilization.
Software and UI
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 is a smartphone running on OxygenOS 14 and Android 14. It comes with some bloatware, which is politely asked to be installed during setup. If declined, users will still have OnePlus and Google apps. The phone also constantly asks users to optimize battery usage for each app, which is an issue with all OxygenOS/ColorOS devices.
OnePlus has promised only two years of major updates and a third year of security updates for the Nord CE4, which is worse than the five years for the flagship devices. This is particularly concerning for users in the price range who typically use their devices for longer periods.
Performance and Processor
The Oneplus Nord CE 4 is a smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset and 8GB LPDDR4X memory, offering a choice of 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The device is smooth and efficient for most tasks, with the exception of playing high-resolution videos on YouTube, especially HDR videos.
The phone can handle intensive gaming and scrolling, but struggles with high-resolution videos beyond 1080p. The Nord CE4 is also capable of smooth and responsive app launches, making it a good choice for those looking for a high-performance device.
Charging and Audio
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 is a high-end phone with a 5500mAh battery and 100W fast charging, boasting impressive results. It can charge up to 69% in just 15 minutes, making it an excellent choice for its price. The phone features stereo speakers, with clear and natural sound at lower volumes. However, at 70% volume, the sound becomes cluttered and muddy.
The phone lacks Dolby Atmos or Dirac processing and uses Oppo’s OReality Audio, which has presets for Movie, Gaming, and Music with varying spatialization levels. The music preset also allows a 10-band equalizer. The headphone audio works well in both wired and wireless modes, with modern codecs like LDAC, LHDC, and aptX Adaptive supported.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 is a OnePlus launch with a 100W charging feature and an impressive main camera. However, it lacks significant features such as a plasticky back, a brighter display, and better calibration. The phone’s design could be more interesting if the back wasn’t plasticky, and the display could be brighter or better calibrated.
The software experience could have been improved if it wasn’t stifled by a two-major update policy. Starting at INR 24,999, the CE4 doesn’t establish dominance compared to competitors like the Nothing Phone (2a). If charging speed is the main criterion, the CE4 might be the better choice, but if design, display, and software are important, the Phone (2a) is a superior choice.
Pricing and Availability
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 is available for purchase at Rs. 24,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model and Rs. 26,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model, starting April 4th. It will be available from oneplus.in, OnePlus Store App, Amazon.in, Reliance Digital, Croma, and other offline partner brands.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
1. 120Hz AMOLED Display: Offers smooth and vibrant visuals.
2. Smooth Performance: Ensures seamless operation and multitasking.
3. Capable Cameras: Provides reliable and versatile photography options.
4. Eye-catching Design, IP54 Ratings: Combines aesthetics with durability, offering protection against dust and splashes.
5. Good Battery Life, 100W Fast Charging: Long-lasting battery with rapid charging capabilities ensures extended usage without extended downtime.
Cons:
1. Low-light Camera Performance Could Be Better: Struggles to deliver optimal results in low-light conditions.
2. NFC Support from CE3 Removed: Removal of NFC may inconvenience users who rely on contactless payments and other NFC functionalities.
