OnePlus Nord CE4 review
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Light is an impressive smartphone that delivers reliable performance across various departments. With its stunning Mega Blue color, slim design, and smooth AMOLED display, this device is perfect for those seeking a trustworthy companion around 20K. The phone boasts good cameras, loud audio, and all-day battery life, making it suitable for casual users. The CE4 Light's performance, powered by the Snapdragon 69 chipset, handles day-to-day tasks with ease, although gaming performance may not be its strongest suit. This review will delve into the device's features, camera capabilities, display quality, and overall user experience.
Build Quality and Design
The OnePlus Nord CE4 is an impressive smartphone that boasts a stunning design. The Mega Blue color variant I had the pleasure to review is particularly striking, with a glossy polycarbonate back that barely attracts fingerprints or smudges. This sleek finish gives the phone a premium feel in the hand. Measuring 8.1 mm in thickness and weighing just 191g, the Nord CE4 is surprisingly ergonomic, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. The phone's top-firing speaker, power volume rockers, secondary down-firing speaker, USB-C port, microphone, and headphone jack are all thoughtfully placed on the device. One of my favorite features of the Nord CE4's design is its use of a hybrid SIM tray that can house two nano SIM cards at once or one nano SIM card and one micro SD card. While I would have preferred a dedicated micro SD card slot, this compromise is still a welcome addition to a phone in this price range. In terms of build quality, the Nord CE4 feels solid and well-made. The phone's IP54 rating ensures protection from dust and mild splashes, making it suitable for everyday use. However, I would advise users to exercise caution around water, as with any device that lacks a higher level of water resistance. The sleek design and sturdy build quality of the OnePlus Nord CE4 make it an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable smartphone in this price range. While there are some minor compromises on the features front, the phone's overall aesthetic and construction more than make up for these omissions.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord CE4's battery life is one of its standout features. I've been using the phone for over two weeks now, and I can confidently say that it delivers solid performance in this department. The 5,500mAh battery provides more than enough juice to last a full day, with some even getting up to two days of moderate use. The phone's power-efficient design and smooth performance mean that you won't be draining the battery quickly. OnePlus has also included an 80W fast charger in the box, which can charge the phone from 0-100% in just 52 minutes. This is a welcome feature for those who need to top up their phone on-the-go. Another handy feature is the reverse charging capability, allowing you to use the phone as a power bank to charge other devices at 5W. This may not be a game-changer, but it's still a useful addition. In my experience, the battery life of the Nord CE4 has been consistent and reliable. I've had no issues with sudden drops in battery or slow charging times. Overall, the phone's battery performance is one of its strongest points, making it an excellent choice for those who want a device that can keep up with their daily needs without any fuss. 8/10 (Battery Life)
Display
The OnePlus Nord CE4 boasts an impressive 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. The screen is super vibrant, showcasing deep blacks and excellent clarity, even in the smallest text. The 120Hz refresh rate provides a seamless user experience, making everything feel silky smooth. The display's peak brightness is rated at 2100 nits by OnePlus, which we put to the test outdoors on a sunny day. We were pleased to find that everything was crystal clear and readable, even in direct sunlight. This makes it perfect for using the phone outside or watching movies/TV shows on the go. Additionally, the display comes with Widevine L1 certification, ensuring that content from apps like Netflix and Prime Video plays at full resolution. YouTube videos also played without any lag or delay. One of the standout features of the CE4's display is its in-display fingerprint scanner. It's fast and responsive, unlocking the phone with ease. While watching movies or TV shows on the CE4 was a treat, the display did have some minor flaws. The colors and brightness were excellent, but we found that there was some slight color shifting when viewing content at an angle. Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE4's display is a significant highlight of the phone. Its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high refresh rate make it perfect for watching videos or browsing the web on the go. While it may not be perfect, it's certainly one of the best displays we've seen in this price range. 9/10 If you're looking for a phone with an excellent display, the OnePlus Nord CE4 is definitely worth considering. Its AMOLED panel and high refresh rate make it perfect for media consumption, and its in-display fingerprint scanner adds to its convenience features.
Camera
The camera on the OnePlus Nord CE4 is a standout feature of this device. The dual rear cameras, consisting of a 50MP Sony IMX 686 primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor for portraits, deliver impressive results. Images taken from the primary camera exhibit natural color tuning and a good amount of detail. The dynamic range is also noteworthy, with well-balanced shadows and highlights. Even in bright sunlight, the camera manages to capture clear images without overexposure or underexposure. The 2x zoom feature is surprisingly effective, maintaining clarity even when cropping into the image. Portrait shots are particularly impressive, with excellent color tuning and good HDR. The edge detection is nearly perfect, making for flattering and well-composed portraits. The front camera, at 16MP, also delivers good results. Images taken in bright conditions exhibit wide angles, perfect for group selfies. Skin tones are decent, although the highlights can get blown out at times. Portrait shots from the front camera show a nice background blur, but occasional issues with overexposure are noticeable. One of the few drawbacks of the camera system is the lack of 4K video recording on both the front and rear cameras. However, this omission is mitigated by the fact that the full HD video recording capabilities are surprisingly good. The footage is stable and clear, even when handheld, making it suitable for casual use. In conclusion, the camera on the OnePlus Nord CE4 is a reliable and capable system, delivering good results in a variety of conditions. While it may not have the most advanced features or highest resolution, its performance is more than adequate for everyday use. The 300% audio boost feature also enhances the overall audio experience while watching videos or listening to music. Overall, the camera on the OnePlus Nord CE4 is a strong point of this device, making it an attractive option for those seeking a reliable and capable camera system in their smartphone.
Price and Value
The OnePlus Nord CE4 is priced around $1,199 for the 8GB + 128GB variant and $1,299 for the 8GB + 256GB variant. Considering its features and performance, I believe it offers excellent value for money. For a phone that's priced under $1,300, the Nord CE4 delivers impressive specs, including a large 6.67-inch AMOLED display, dual rear cameras with a Sony IMX 600 primary sensor, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The phone also boasts a powerful Snapdragon 695 chipset, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and a large 5,500mAh battery that supports fast charging. The camera performance is impressive, with good detail in images taken from the primary camera, excellent dynamic range, and perfect color tuning. While there's no 4K video recording, the full HD video recording is stable and clear. The phone's design is also worth mentioning, with a slim profile, IP54 rating, and a gorgeous Mega Blue color option that looks stunning. The display is vibrant, with deep blacks and excellent clarity, making it perfect for watching movies and browsing content. Considering its price point, the Nord CE4 offers great value for those looking for a reliable smartphone with good performance, cameras, and battery life. It's an excellent option for anyone who wants a phone that can handle day-to-day tasks without breaking the bank. Overall, I believe the OnePlus Nord CE4 is a solid choice for those in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive specs and features. With its affordable price tag and reliable performance, it's definitely worth considering.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord CE4 is a reliable smartphone that delivers smooth performance in every department. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 695 chipset, which provides good processing power and efficient battery management. In terms of performance, the phone handles day-to-day tasks with ease, launching apps instantly and multitasking between recently launched apps was seamless. The Android benchmark score of around 473,000 indicates that the phone's performance is more than capable for general use. When it comes to gaming, the Nord CE4 performs reasonably well, although not exceptionally great. Playing BGMI at medium graphics settings resulted in a smooth 40 FPS experience with no lag or drop frames. While it may not be ideal for intense gamers, casual gaming enthusiasts will find the phone's performance satisfactory. The phone's performance is further enhanced by its 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and support for up to 8GB virtual RAM expansion, resulting in a total of 16GB RAM. This allows users to run multiple apps simultaneously without experiencing any significant lag or slow-down. In terms of overall performance, the OnePlus Nord CE4 feels like a well-oiled machine. The phone's interface is snappy and responsive, making it easy to navigate and use. Whether you're browsing through social media, streaming music, or playing casual games, the phone delivers smooth and seamless performance that won't leave you wanting more. With its reliable performance in every department, the OnePlus Nord CE4 makes for an excellent choice for those looking for a capable smartphone without breaking the bank. Its smooth performance, efficient battery life, and good cameras make it perfect for everyday use.
Pros
1. The phone looks absolutely stunning in Mega Blue color
2. It offers smooth performance all day battery life good cameras loud audio and a gorgeous slim design
3. The camera performs well with natural colors, good detail, and impressive dynamic range
4. The AMOLED display is super vibrant with perfect deep blacks excellent clarity
5. The fingerprint scanner works quickly and smoothly
6. The phone has dual Studio speakers with support for 300% audio boost
7. The battery life is solid with a larger 5,500 mAh battery
Cons
1. No 4K video recording on front or rear cameras which might be disappointing
2. No dedicated micro SD card slot (only hybrid SIM tray)
3. Not ideal for gaming with only around 40 FPS in bgmi
4. No headphone jack on some variants (though still available on others)
5. The phone is not a flagship device and may lack some premium features
6. Reverse charging limited to just 5W which might be slow
7. Pre-installed apps and games can be annoying