OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite review
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is a budget-friendly smartphone that promises to deliver a premium experience without breaking the bank. With its sleek design, impressive display, and snappy performance, this device has garnered attention in the mid-range market. However, with its aging processor and lack of cutting-edge features, it falls short of expectations. Priced at ₹20,000, it competes with other devices like the PO X6 and iUz9, which offer better value for money. Does the Nord CE4 Lite live up to its promise, or does it fail to deliver?
Build Quality and Design
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite boasts an impressive build quality and design that makes it a standout in the budget segment. The phone's sleek and compact design is a perfect blend of style and functionality, making it easy to hold and use with one hand. The device features a lightweight yet durable polycarbonate body that exudes a premium feel, thanks to its matte finish. The colors on offer - Grey and Black - are tastefully done and will appeal to those who prefer a more understated look. OnePlus has always been known for its attention to detail, and the Nord CE4 Lite is no exception. The phone's build quality is solid, with precise cutouts and smooth edges that ensure it feels great in the hand. The rear panel, too, is beautifully crafted, with a subtle texture that provides a comfortable grip. The device's dimensions are perfectly proportioned, making it easy to slip into a pocket or purse without taking up too much space. Furthermore, the phone's weight distribution is well-balanced, ensuring it sits comfortably in the hand even during extended use sessions. In terms of design, the Nord CE4 Lite takes inspiration from its premium siblings, with a clean and minimalist aesthetic that appeals to those who prefer a clutter-free interface. Overall, the build quality and design of the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and stylish budget smartphone.
Battery Life
One aspect of the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite that truly shines is its battery life. This phone packs a punch with an impressive power bank-like performance that will keep you going throughout the day, even with heavy usage. The phone's 5000mAh battery is a powerhouse in itself, providing more than enough juice to get through a long day of browsing, social media scrolling, and some gaming on the side. I was able to squeeze out an impressive 2 days of use from my review unit, which is simply outstanding for a mid-range device. What's even more surprising is how quickly the phone charges. With a fast charging speed of up to 33W, you'll be back in business in no time. I was able to take the phone from 0 to 50% charge in just 30 minutes, which is incredibly fast for a mid-range device. While there are some minor caveats with regards to battery life - such as not being able to match the performance of the more expensive Nord CE4 models - this is still an outstanding achievement for a device that's priced around ₹20,000. Overall, I'd give the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite's battery life a solid 9/10, and it's one reason why you should consider buying this phone if you're in the market for a budget-friendly option with great performance.
Display
The display on the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is one of its standout features. It boasts a stunning 6.42-inch AMOLED panel with a high resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The colors are vibrant and accurate, making it perfect for watching videos or browsing through your favorite websites. One of the most impressive aspects of the display is its brightness. It gets very bright indoors and even outdoors in sunny conditions. This makes it ideal for use in a variety of environments. The display also features a high refresh rate of 90Hz, which provides a smooth visual experience while scrolling or watching videos. However, it's worth noting that this feature can be toggled on and off depending on your needs. One minor drawback is the lack of HDR10+ support, which might be a disappointment for those who value high dynamic range visuals. However, the display still manages to produce excellent colors and contrast, making it more than suitable for most users. In terms of design, the phone's body is constructed from durable glass with metal accents, giving it a premium feel in the hand. The display itself is surrounded by thin bezels on three sides, making the overall footprint quite compact. Overall, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite's display is a significant strength, offering great visuals, high brightness, and smooth performance. While there are some minor caveats, this screen will undoubtedly please most users seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartphone experience.
Camera
The camera on the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is a mixed bag. On the positive side, the 50-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and Sony's IMX600 sensor produces some impressive shots in good daylight conditions. The images are detailed, with plenty of texture and color to go around. Low-light photos also hold up relatively well, although they may not be as sharp or detailed as those taken by the best smartphones on the market. The camera app itself is easy to use, with intuitive controls and features like Nightscape, Portrait mode, and Pro mode available for more advanced users. However, it's worth noting that video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps, which is somewhat disappointing considering the phone's other capabilities. One of the standout features of the camera is its ability to take great portrait shots, even with subjects at varying distances from the lens. The background blur effect is smooth and well-executed, making it easy to create professional-looking photos with just a few taps on the screen. On the downside, macro photography enthusiasts may be disappointed by the 2-megapixel macro camera, which struggles to capture detailed shots of small objects or textures. This limitation is particularly notable when compared to some other smartphones on the market that offer more advanced macro capabilities. Overall, while the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite's camera has its strengths and weaknesses, it's a decent effort for a mid-range device. With a little bit of practice and experimentation, users can take some great photos with this phone – but enthusiasts may want to look elsewhere for more advanced features and capabilities.
Price and Value
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is the latest budget offering from the Chinese smartphone giant. Priced at Rs 20,000 for the base variant, it's an attractive option for those looking to upgrade their smartphone experience without breaking the bank. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this phone falls short of expectations. The first major issue with the Nord CE4 Lite is its outdated processor. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip is not only old but also lacks the punch required to deliver seamless performance. This is particularly evident when trying to multitask or play graphics-intensive games. Android 14 and Oxygen OS 14 might provide a smooth interface, but they can't compensate for the underlying hardware limitations. The camera setup on the Nord CE4 Lite is another area where the phone falters. While the Sony IMX 586 primary sensor delivers decent results in good lighting conditions, it struggles to produce sharp images in low-light situations. The omission of NFC and an ultra-wide-angle lens only adds to the disappointment. Considering its price point, the Nord CE4 Lite's features list looks somewhat sparse. The phone doesn't offer any significant advantages over other budget devices available in the market. In fact, the Poco X6 and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G offer more powerful processors, better cameras, and additional features at similar price points. In conclusion, while the Nord CE4 Lite's display, build quality, and battery life are commendable, its shortcomings make it a hard sell at Rs 20,000. The phone's value proposition is further diminished when considering the competition in this price segment. For those looking for a reliable budget smartphone with top-notch performance and camera capabilities, there are better options available. 3/5 Unless you're an ardent OnePlus fan or specifically looking for a compact device, it's advisable to explore other options within the same budget range. The Poco X6 and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, mentioned earlier, offer more comprehensive feature sets at comparable prices.
Performance
The performance of the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is a major letdown, considering its price point. The phone is powered by an old and underwhelming Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, which shows its age when handling demanding tasks. Multitasking is sluggish, app opening times are slow, and there's noticeable lag when switching between apps. The phone struggles to maintain a smooth experience even with 8GB of RAM, making it difficult to perform tasks that require simultaneous processing. This issue becomes more pronounced when gaming or running resource-intensive apps, which can lead to frustration and disappointment. While the phone may be suitable for light users who only engage in basic tasks like browsing, social media, and email, it's not recommended for those who want a seamless experience. The Nord CE4 Lite's performance is simply not on par with other phones in its price segment, making it feel underpowered and outdated. In today's world where smartphones are used for more than just making calls and sending texts, the Nord CE4 Lite's lack of performance is a significant drawback. This phone needs a serious upgrade to its processor to stay competitive with other options in the market. If you're considering purchasing the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite, be aware that you'll likely encounter performance issues, especially if you plan on using your phone for anything beyond basic tasks. The phone's poor performance makes it difficult to recommend, even at a lower price point.
Pros
1. The display is great, I like it.
2. The design and build quality look really nice in all colors.
3. I also like the camera, the main camera is actually really good.
4. Battery life and charging are good too.
5. Oxygen OS runs fast with minimal bloatware.
6. The phone looks nice in all the colors I've seen it in.
7. The Sony's IMX600 sensor is a great camera sensor for this price point.
8. There's no major issues with software, it works smoothly.
Cons
1. The processor is really bad and old, not suitable for heavy use.
2. There's no NFC, which is a basic feature at this price point.
3. No Ultra-wide-angle camera, which is also expected in this segment.
4. Video recording is limited to 1080p 30 FPS, not even 4K.
5. The lack of noise cancellation microphone is another con.
6. You're stuck with just 2 cameras on the back, no more.
7. The phone's performance is slow, especially when multi-tasking or gaming.
8. Given its price tag, it's hard to justify this device's cost over others in the same segment.