The highly anticipated OnePlus Nord CE4 has finally launched in India. Packed with a faster SoC, bigger battery, and faster charging capabilities, it even comes at a cheaper price than its predecessor, the Nord CE3.
Let's dive into the details to see if it's worth the price.
Box Contents
- OnePlus Nord CE4 5G (8GB+256GB) in Celadon Marble color
- 100W SUPERVOOC charger
- USB Type-C Cable
- Protective case
- SIM ejector
- Quick Start Guide and Warranty Information
Display, Hardware, and Design
The OnePlus Nord CE4 5G features a 6.7-inch Full HD+ curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and 394 PPI. The display is exceptionally bright, reaching up to 1110 nits peak brightness, and offers vivid colors with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. It also supports HDR10 for YouTube and Netflix.
The phone utilizes Dragontrail glass for protection and features 2160Hz high-frequency dimming technology for comfortable viewing in dark environments. The Aqua Touch feature enhances the touch experience even with wet hands. The always-on display feature shows contextual information and notifications throughout the day.
Design-wise, the phone sports a tiny punch-hole for the 16-megapixel front camera and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The power button and volume rockers are on the right, while the Dual SIM slot, USB Type-C port, and loudspeaker grill are at the bottom. The plastic frame and Celadon Marble back, inspired by the OnePlus 11 Marble Odyssey, make it both lightweight (186 grams) and resistant to fingerprints.
Camera
Rear Cameras:
- 50MP with 1/1.95″ Sony LYT-600 sensor, f/1.95 aperture, OIS
- 8MP 120° ultra-wide with Sony IMX355 sensor, f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera:
- 16MP with f/2.4 aperture
The camera UI includes Pro mode, Panorama, Slo-mo, Time-Lapse, Dual-View video, and a text scanner. Daylight shots are impressive with good dynamic range and natural colors. Portrait mode offers excellent edge detection. Low-light performance is decent, although the older IMX890 sensor performed slightly better. The night mode is effective but slow to process.
Video recording capabilities include 4K at 30 fps and slow motion at 1080p at 120 fps. The ultra-wide camera and portrait video modes are limited to 1080p at 30 fps. OIS and EIS ensure stable videos, and the ultra-steady mode is available at 1080p 60fps.
Also Read: OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite Launches in India
Software, UI, and Apps
Running on Android 14 with OxygenOS 14, the phone promises two Android updates and three years of security updates. OxygenOS 14 introduces the Trinity Engine with HyperTouch, HyperBoost, and HyperRender. New features include the GO Green feature, File Dock, Notes 2.0, and Smart Cutout for enhanced editing and information sharing.
Pre-installed apps include Instagram, Netflix, and some games, which can be uninstalled but reappear after a reset. The IR remote app is handy for controlling appliances.
Performance and Benchmarks
Powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, the Nord CE4 uses a 1+3+4 architecture with 1 x 2.63 GHz Cortex-A715 prime core, 3 x A715 performance cores at up to 2.4 GHz, and 4 x Cortex-A510 efficiency cores at up to 1.8 GHz. Fabricated with TSMC 4nm Process Technology, it promises a 15% improvement in CPU performance over the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1.
The Adreno 720 GPU ensures smooth performance in graphic-intensive games. In benchmarks, the phone scores 99.6% in the 3D Mark Wild Life stress test, with temperatures rising from 28 to 35 degrees.
Battery Life
The Nord CE4 packs a 5500mAh battery, slightly larger than the CE3's 5000mAh battery. It easily lasts a day with heavy use and up to two days with typical use. The 100W SuperVOOC fast charging can fully charge the phone in less than 30 minutes. Smart charging features help prolong battery life.
Conclusion
At a starting price of Rs. 24,999, the OnePlus Nord CE4 5G is a worthy successor to the CE3. It offers improved performance, a capable camera, and a significant battery upgrade with 100W fast charging. However, the removal of NFC support and the lack of a larger camera sensor for better low-light photography are notable drawbacks.