OnePlus Nord CE4 review: Still not good enough

Last 12 months’s Nord CE3 was a good mid-range choice, providing a good 120Hz AMOLED panel, good digital camera on the again, and 80W charging. OnePlus is not making too many modifications with the Nord CE4; the telephone has the identical 120Hz display, but it surely has a bit extra energy due to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, a bigger battery with 100W charging, and a brand new 50MP digital camera on the again.However, the Nord CE4 has inherent limitations; the telephone will get simply two Android platform updates, there isn’t any alert slider, and the cameras do not do a satisfactory job relating to capturing movies. With Nothing setting the bar excessive on this section due to the Phone 2a, OnePlus needed to ship the very best gadget to have the ability to measure up.But it hasn’t carried out that. The Chinese producer as an alternative centered on iterative upgrades with out addressing key shortcomings of the Nord CE sequence, and in doing so, it made the CE4 a poor total alternative on this section.OnePlus Nord CE4: Pricing and launch date(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)OnePlus unveiled the Nord CE4 in India on April 1, and the telephone is now obtainable on the market within the nation. The telephone is bought in Celadon Marble (the mannequin I’m utilizing) and Dark Chrome colour variants, and it retails for ₹24,999 ($300). That’s for the variant that has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and if you happen to want extra storage, there’s an 8GB/256GB model that is obtainable for ₹26,999 ($324).OnePlus has a number of launch incentives that low cost the telephone by as much as ₹1,500 ($18) with choose playing cards, and you will get a further ₹2,500 ($30) off by exchanging your present telephone.OnePlus Nord CE4: What I like(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)OnePlus likes to change up the design of Nord CE telephones with each era, and that is the case with the CE4 as properly. The telephone would not have many similarities to the Nord CE3, with OnePlus now providing an rectangular digital camera housing that appears lots cleaner.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The alternative of colour is attention-grabbing as properly; the Celadon Marble variant has a particular sample on the again that stands out, and whereas the hue is not as vibrant, it evokes similarities to the OnePlus 11 Marble Odyssey and even the OnePlus 12. The again has a shiny end and is vulnerable to choosing up smudges, and it has a delicate curve the place the again meets the mid-frame.The again and mid-frame are made out of polycarbonate, and I’ve no issues with that. The telephone has flat sides, however you get beveled edges that make holding and utilizing it slightly simpler. There’s additionally an IR blaster and MicroSD slot, so if it’s essential lengthen storage the old style approach, you are able to do that with ease.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I feel the design appears recent and chic — notably with the Celadon Marble model — and the addition of IP54 ingress safety makes the Nord CE4 that rather more resilient to the weather. Another intriguing characteristic that made its approach from the OnePlus 12/12R is the Aqua Touch tech that permits you to use the gadget with moist fingers.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Coming to the panel, the Nord CE4 has the identical 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display as final 12 months, and it’s serviceable. You can set the refresh charge to 60Hz or 120Hz, and there is an auto mode that modifications it on the fly. OnePlus is utilizing a customized Panda Glass answer as an alternative of the usual Gorilla Glass over the display, and whereas the producer says the telephone is ready to face up to a tumble from 1.5 meters, I did not put that to the check.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryNothing Phone 2aOnePlus Nord CE4PCMark Work 3.0 (Overall)1389811879PCMark Work 3.0 (Web Browsing)1600912835PCMark Work 3.0 (Video Editing)52465731PCMark Work 3.0 (Writing)1951913754PCMark Work 3.0 (Photo Editing)2453819769Geekbench 6 (single-core)11251019Geekbench 6 (multi-core)241228913DMark Wild Life Extreme (rating)114414733DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS)6.858.82As for the {hardware}, the Nord CE4 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3; it makes use of the brand new Cortex A715 and A510 cores and is constructed on a 4nm node. You get 8GB of RAM as customary, and the bottom mannequin has 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, with the 256GB variant additionally providing UFS 3.1. The Nord CE3 had 12GB of RAM with the 256GB mannequin, however the CE4 is proscribed to 8GB throughout the board. That stated, extra RAM would not actually make a distinction, and 8GB is satisfactory on this situation.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The telephone would not have noticeable lag in every day use, and it does a good sufficient job relating to gaming — offered you keep on with informal video games. I did not see any points with overheating or whereas making calls and typically every day utilization conditions, and the Nord CE4 proved to be dependable. The gadget has Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and the same old AptX HD codec.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The greatest change with the Nord CE4 is the battery — the telephone now has a 5500mAh battery, and there is 100W charging. It takes simply over 30 minutes to totally cost the battery, and there actually is not one other gadget on this section that comes near the Nord CE4 on this regard. Battery life is excellent as properly, and I simply bought a day and a half between prices.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Cameras proceed to be a giant differentiator on this class, and the Nord CE4 makes use of a brand new 50MP Sony LYT600 sensor with OIS. That’s joined by an 8MP wide-angle lens that options the Sony IMX355, and on the entrance, you get a 16MP module.Image 1 of 5(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The digital camera takes good pictures in most conditions, and I haven’t got any issues on this regard. Daylight pictures have good element rendition and dynamic vary, and the gadget is ready to lock in on a topic with ease, and preserve focus. The digital camera does a good job in low-light situations as properly, and whereas there’s some noise, you get good particulars and colours.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)On the software program aspect of issues, you get the identical ColorOS 14 interface based mostly on Android 14 as different OnePlus telephones, and there is not a lot to speak about. The UI is fashionable and has a number of Material You-based choices that help you customise accent colours to your preferences, and there’s no scarcity of customizability.OnePlus Nord CE4: What I do not like(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)While the design is nice, the Nord CE4 would not fairly have the identical in-hand really feel as different units on this section; the perimeters are likely to dig into the palm, and that makes utilizing the telephone with no case mildly annoying. Then there’s the truth that you miss out on the alert slider — even OPPO telephones now have the slider, so I do not perceive why OnePlus cannot be bothered so as to add the characteristic to its units.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)There are points with the display as properly; colours have a definite cooler tone that’s evident when streaming movies on the gadget. Switching to the Natural mode makes a distinction, however even then the colour stability is not dialed in, and I needed to regulate the slider all the best way to the nice and cozy finish of the dimensions to get real looking colours. I did not see points with brightness, however the telephone would not get as brilliant as its rivals — the Phone 2a was a lot better in outside use.All video games are locked to 60fps, and it is a limitation inside ColorOS, so no matter what OnePlus gadget you are utilizing, you will not be capable to play excessive refresh charge titles. So regardless that you get playable framerates in informal titles, the Adreno 720 is not capable of deal with demanding video games, and there’s noticeable jitter.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The Phone 2a does a a lot better job on this space, and regardless that it would not have {hardware} that is considerably extra highly effective than what you are getting right here, Nothing’s optimization makes all of the distinction. And with reference to {hardware}, you do not get NFC; I nonetheless do not get why telephone producers omit the characteristic on their units, however if you happen to want the radio, you may must get the Nord 3.It’s good to see OnePlus not bothering with ineffective sensors just like the 2MP macro lens that was a mainstay on its units, however the draw back is that it would not supply a technique to shoot macro pictures in any respect. Most manufacturers allow you to use the primary digital camera or the wide-angle lens to shoot macro pictures, however OnePlus hasn’t bothered to take action right here.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)On that observe, the wide-angle lens is not wherever nearly as good as the primary digital camera, and it barely delivers satisfactory pictures in low-light conditions. Video recording is equally hobbled, and movies taken in daylight are grainy and do not have a lot in the best way of element.But the largest limitation with the Nord CE4 is the software program. OnePlus ensures simply two platform updates with the telephone, and that’s not sufficient in 2024. The finest OnePlus telephones get 4 updates as customary, and different units on this section now supply three Android OS updates, and that places the Nord CE4 on the backfoot.OnePlus Nord CE4: The competitors (Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)If you need the most effective telephone that this section has to supply, it’s essential get the Nothing Phone 2a. The gadget has a way more attention-grabbing design with LED lights on the again, the software program is clear, uncluttered, fluid, and would not have any bloatware. You additionally get extra software program updates, the {hardware} is optimized like no different finances telephone, and there are two usable cameras on the again.The POCO X6 Pro is a good alternative if you would like the most effective {hardware}. I just like the design of the X6 Pro — notably in yellow — the panel will get brighter, you get UFS 4.0 storage, NFC, and the Dimensity 8300 Ultra is nice at enjoying demanding video games. The software program is not uncluttered, however it’s fluid, and also you get three platform updates.OnePlus Nord CE4: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You should purchase this if:You desire a telephone with 100W chargingYou want a MicroSD card slotYou desire a good digital camera on the againYou should not purchase this if:You desire a finances telephone with the most effective {hardware}You want clear software programYou need long-term software program updatesYou want usable auxiliary camerasThe Nord CE4 has a number of issues going for it; the telephone has the most effective battery lifetime of any finances telephone I examined this 12 months, and the digital camera holds its personal in opposition to its rivals. But the remainder of the package deal is lackluster to say the least. OnePlus ought to have put in additional effort to distinguish the telephone, as a result of because it stands, I do not see any cause to suggest it.The {hardware} is not the most effective on this section, the shortage of NFC is irksome, the wide-angle digital camera would not measure as much as the primary lens, and there isn’t any alert slider. But it is the replace coverage that finally hinders the Nord CE4 — two platform updates are simply not adequate anymore, notably when speedy rivals just like the Phone 2a and X6 Pro assure three updates as customary.OnePlus says the Nord CE sequence is all about delivering the core necessities that customers want, and if that’s certainly the case, the corporate ought to have considered including options that its clients really care about, like long-term updates and optimized {hardware}.