If you’re on the hunt for a smartphone that delivers flagship features at economical prices, then we have some good news for you. OnePlus has recently announced the shipping of its Nord CE4 in India, that too at the starting price of INR 24,999. If we talk about the Nord series, the device is known for providing balanced performance, design, and affordability. The latest OnePlus Nord CE 4 is no different. It provides promising features that continue this trend with a blend of robust specifications. This review will explore everything from its sleek design and vibrant display to its camera capabilities and battery life. Let’s directly delve into it without any further delay.
Specification & Features Of OnePlus Nord CE4
Let’s look at the specifications and features that Nord Ce4 has to offer you;
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm (6.40 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| Display Type | Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 900 nits (HBM), 1100 nits (peak) |
| Display size | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Operating system | Android 14, ColorOS 14 |
| GPU | Adreno 720 |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×2.63 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A715 & 3×1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7550-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| Memory Card Slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal Memory | 128GB+8GB RAM, 256GB+8GB RAM and UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera Pixels | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.95″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS |
| Video Quality Of Main Camera | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie Camera Pixels | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0″, 1.0µm |
| Selfie camera Video | 1080p@30fps |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Battery Type | 5500 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 100W wired, 1-100% in 29 min (advertised) |
Our Verdict On Nord CE4
We have already written about the release of Nord CE4 in our previous blog; let’s now see if it is really worth the price.
This device is the successor to Nord CE3, and within three months of its release, it received an average rating of 4.3/5 from more than 2000 customers. In our opinion, based on its camera performance and gaming capabilities, it is a good rating for devices in this price range.
Design And Build
If we look at the device’s design, we can find three cutouts on the back, though the third one only occupies the LED flash. The pill-shaped camera module will remind you of the original OnePlus Nord CE from 2021. The Nord CE4 has two colour variants. For those who prefer something more traditional, there’s the Dark Chrome model. Also, for those who want a more youthful and lighter vibe, they have a marble-inspired edition. However, what we noticed is that the build and size of the model are more like that of its predecessor.
The Nord CE4 includes an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, which is quite common for mobile devices in this range. To add some extra durability, OnePlus has included a teal case in the box that perfectly complements the green marble colour scheme. Moreover, the model feels solid in your hand.
Camera
We have already mentioned that the Nord CE4 includes dual back cameras on the back as it ditches the 2MP macro lens. Compared to CE3, the primary camera now utilises a new 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS (optical image stabilisation) support. If you like clicking still pictures, then this offers reliable performance in both bright and dim lights.
What we liked about its camera is that it mostly prioritizes natural colours with a balanced white balance. Even under harsh sunlight, the phone maintains neutral colours with decent photograph details. However, during our test, the primary camera struggled to detect the right tone of dark blue.
Regarding video, the OnePlus Nord CE4 supports a maximum of 4K recording at 30fps. According to us, the company could have considered adding 4K60fps support, a feature that is gradually becoming mainstream on smartphones within this range. Moreover, after comparing it with the Nothing Phone 2(a), the OnePlus Nord CE4 performed much better in bright and dim light.
Performance & Software
This OnePlus Nord device is powered by a powerful snapdragon processor. It is equipped with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC. Nord CE4 utilises LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The base variant of the device offers 8GB RAM with 128GB storage, priced at Rs 24,999. The top model (Rs 26,999) offers 256GB of storage.
The device offers a software experience like no other; the OnePlus Nord CE4 offers a highly clean OxygenOS based on Android 14. The company will offer software updates for the next two years, which, according to us, is low compared to Samsung and mobile devices. Moreover, OxygenOS also feels light and responsive.
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC provides notable performance improvements over its predecessor. In AnTuTu’s overall CPU test, the Nord CE4 outperformed its immediate competitors. Similarly, in Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core tests, the device led the pack. Although we haven’t yet experienced the native AI features promised by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC, these are expected to roll out with future software updates.
If you like mobile gaming, Nord CE4 is the device you are looking for. Even when playing games like BGMI and COD in high graphics settings with 60 fps, there are very low chances of overheating or game lag issues. The device’s heat management is quite efficient compared to its competitors.
Pros & Cons Of Nord CE4
Let’s now look at the benefits and drawbacks of buying OnePlus Nord CE4:
Pros Of Buying Nord CE4
- The OnePlus Nord CE4 boasts excellent battery life and includes a super-fast charger in the box.
- It delivers a clean and responsive software experience, although it lacks some cutting-edge AI features.
- The camera performs impressively in both daylight and dim conditions, and the user interface is user-friendly.
Cons Of Buying Nord CE4:
- The two-year software update promise falls short compared to industry standards.
- The OnePlus Nord CE4 provides only average video stabilization and does not offer 4K60fps recording.
Should You Buy The Device?
We will say the OnePlus Nord CE4 is a total buy. It is one of the best phones in this price range and completely justifies OnePlus’s ethos of “Never Settle.” For more informative blogs, follow us on social media platforms and stay tuned to Smartphone Crunch.
