Released six months ago, the OnePlus Nord 4 entered the market as a mid-range smartphone designed to punch above its weight. At a competitive launch price of ₹29,999, it featured a powerful Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 processor, a vibrant 6.74-inch AMOLED display, and the sleek OxygenOS 15 built on Android 15. Fast forward to today: how does the Nord 4 fare after 180 days of real-world usage? This comprehensive review’ll explore every aspect—design, performance, battery life, camera, and more—to determine whether the OnePlus Nord 4 is still a worthy investment.

Design and Build Quality: A Durable Beauty

The OnePlus Nord 4 impresses right out of the box with its premium design and robust build quality. Its unibody aluminum frame and glass finish give it a sophisticated look and ensure durability over time. Even after six months of daily use—including instances without a protective case—the phone has managed to avoid major scratches or dents, showcasing its resilience.

What Makes the Design Stand Out?

• Slim and Lightweight: With a thickness of just 8mm and weighing 199 grams, the Nord 4 is sleek and compact, making it easy to handle.
• Classic Aesthetics: The phone’s metallic unibody design exudes a nostalgic yet modern vibe, setting it apart from competitors in the segment.
• Color Options: Available in elegant shades like Arctic Blue and Midnight Black, the Nord 4 retains its charm even after extended use.

Overall, the design remains a strong selling point for users who value both style and substance.

Display: Bright and Smooth, But No Dolby Vision

The 6.74-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate is a treat for multimedia lovers. Its vibrant colors, smooth transitions, and HDR10+ certification make it ideal for streaming, gaming, and everyday use.

Performance Over Time

• Peak Brightness: The display boasts an impressive 2150 nits of brightness, ensuring excellent visibility under direct sunlight.
• Smoothness: The high refresh rate, combined with OxygenOS optimizations, ensures fluid scrolling and seamless animation.
• Streaming Quality: While HDR10+ enhances the viewing experience, the lack of Dolby Vision puts the Nord 4 slightly behind competitors like the Realme GT series.

For most users, the display remains a joy to use, offering a premium experience that’s hard to beat at this price point.

Performance: Reliable and Fast

At the heart of the Nord 4 is the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 processor, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage (for the 256GB variant). This combination delivers snappy performance, making the phone a powerhouse in its segment.

Real-World Use Cases

• Multitasking: Seamlessly switches between apps without lag.
• Gaming: Handles games like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile effortlessly, maintaining stable frame rates and efficient thermal management.
• Benchmarks: Scores consistently around 11-13 lakh on Antutu, placing it among the top performers in its class.

The phone’s performance remains consistent, ensuring a lag-free experience even after months of heavy usage.

Software: A Mixed Bag

The OxygenOS 15, based on Android 15, has been both a strength and a point of contention for OnePlus users. While the UI is smooth and feature-rich, the increasing similarity to ColorOS has divided opinions.

Strengths

• AI-Driven Features: Tools like smart scheduling and adaptive brightness enhance usability.
• Updates: Regular software updates ensure security and keep the phone up-to-date.

Weaknesses

• Bloatware: Pre-installed apps detract from the clean OnePlus experience many users expect.
• ColorOS Influence: Long-time fans of OxygenOS may find the interface less distinctive.

Despite these drawbacks, the software delivers a reliable and user-friendly experience.

Camera: Good, But Room for Improvement

The Nord 4 features a 50MP Sony primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 16MP front-facing camera. While the camera system performs well in most conditions, there’s still room for improvement.

Camera Performance

• Daylight Photography: Produces sharp, detailed images with accurate colors.
• Portrait Mode: Struggles slightly with skin tone optimization but offers decent edge detection.
• Low-Light Performance: Handles night shots well, with minimal noise and good clarity.
• Video Recording: Supports 4K recording, delivering crisp and stable videos.

The cameras are versatile enough for everyday use, but fine-tuning could elevate their performance to flagship levels.

Battery and Charging: Endurance Meets Speed

The 5,500mAh dual-cell battery ensures all-day usage, even under heavy workloads. Paired with 100W SuperVOOC charging, the Nord 4 charges from 0 to 100% in just 30 minutes.

Battery Life Insights

• Heavy Usage: Lasts a full day with gaming, streaming, and social media use.
• Charging Speed: The dual-cell technology ensures efficient and safe fast charging.

This combination of endurance and quick charging makes the Nord 4 ideal for power users.

Verdict: Is the OnePlus Nord 4 Still Worth It?

After six months, the OnePlus Nord 4 continues to deliver on its promise of premium features at a mid-range price. Its durable design, smooth performance, reliable battery life, and vibrant display make it a strong contender in the ₹30,000 segment.

Pros

• Premium design and build quality.
• Consistent performance and gaming capabilities.
• Excellent battery life with ultra-fast charging.

Cons

• Presence of bloatware.
• No Dolby Vision support.
• Camera performance could be refined further.

If you’re looking for a mid-range smartphone with flagship-level features, the Nord 4 remains a solid choice. While there are areas for improvement, its overall value proposition is hard to ignore

The OnePlus Nord 4, even after 180 days, proves to be a reliable and well-rounded smartphone. Whether you’re upgrading or buying a new device, the Nord 4 deserves serious consideration.