OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Review: A Mixed Bag with Some Sparkle

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite has finally arrived, and it has already stirred quite a buzz in the Indian market. Building on the popularity of its predecessors—the Nord CE 4 Lite and CE 3 Lite—this latest iteration from OnePlus has several changes, both promising and disappointing. This detailed review aims to give you a comprehensive understanding of the Nord CE 4 Lite, covering everything from its design and performance to its multimedia capabilities and camera quality. We will also compare it to its predecessor, the Nord CE 3 Lite, to help you decide if this “upgrade” is worth your attention.

Unboxing the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite

Upon opening the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite box, you will find the following items neatly packed:

• Documentation
• Phone case
• SIM card tool
• OnePlus stickers
• Red Cable Club card
• 80W charging brick
• USB Type-C red cable
• The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite itself

The initial impression is that OnePlus continues to maintain a premium unboxing experience, with attention to detail that makes the first interaction with the product quite pleasant.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Design and Build Quality

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite comes in three colors—blue, orange, and silver—and features a minimalist design with flat sides, but it’s prone to fingerprints.

The design of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is a blend of minimalism and modern aesthetics. The phone is available in three colors:

• Blue
• Orange
• Silver

While the design is quite appealing, especially with the new color options, it’s worth noting that the Nord CE 4 Lite is a fingerprint magnet. This could be a minor annoyance for users who prefer their devices to remain smudge-free.

Build and Dimensions

• Weight: 189g
• Thickness: 8.5mm

The phone feels reasonably light and comfortable to hold, despite housing a large 5500mAh battery. The flat sides contribute to a better grip, and the overall build quality is solid, maintaining OnePlus’s reputation for premium craftsmanship.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Display

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite features a 6.67” 120Hz AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 2100 nits, offering an excellent viewing experience.

The display on the Nord CE 4 Lite is a significant upgrade from its predecessor. It now boasts a:

• 6.67-inch AMOLED display
• 120Hz refresh rate
• 2100 nits peak brightness

This combination makes for an impressive visual experience, with vibrant colors and smooth transitions. The higher peak brightness also ensures good visibility even under direct sunlight.

Display Features:

• Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 20:9
• Screen-to-body Ratio: ~85%

The thin bezels and the average-sized chin give the phone a modern look, and the in-display fingerprint sensor is a welcome upgrade from the side-mounted one in the Nord CE 3 Lite.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Performance and Hardware

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is powered by the Snapdragon 695 chipset, a three-year-old processor that struggles to meet modern performance standards.

One of the most controversial aspects of the Nord CE 4 Lite is its processor. It uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, which is the same processor found in the last two generations of the Nord CE series.

Key Specifications:

• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
• RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
• Storage: 128GB/256GB UFS 2.2

While the Snapdragon 695 was a decent choice back in 2021, it feels outdated in 2024. This impacts not only the general performance but also the phone’s connectivity and camera capabilities.

Performance Benchmarks:

• Antutu Score: ~480,000

In terms of day-to-day usage, the phone performs adequately for tasks like browsing, social media, and casual gaming. However, more demanding applications and games will push the limits of this chipset.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Battery and Charging

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite comes with a 5500mAh battery and supports 80W fast charging, but it is surprisingly slow compared to other OnePlus models.

Battery life is one of the stronger points of the Nord CE 4 Lite. The 5500mAh battery ensures that the phone lasts a full day with moderate to heavy use.

Charging Features:

• Battery Capacity: 5500mAh
• Fast Charging: 80W

Despite the high wattage, the charging speed is slower than expected. OnePlus claims a full charge takes 52 minutes, which is slower compared to other OnePlus models known for their rapid charging capabilities.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Camera

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite features a 108MP primary camera and a 2MP secondary sensor, but overall camera performance is average.

The camera setup on the Nord CE 4 Lite includes:

• Primary Sensor: 108MP
• Secondary Sensor: 2MP

While the primary sensor is a notable upgrade in terms of megapixels, the actual camera performance is average. Photos in well-lit conditions are decent, but low-light photography leaves much to be desired.

Camera Capabilities:

• Video Recording: Full HD at 30FPS
• Selfie Camera: 16MP

The inability to record 4K videos is a significant downside, especially when many competitors offer this feature in the same price range.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Software and User Experience

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite runs on a bloatware-heavy OS, affecting available storage and overall user experience.

The Nord CE 4 Lite comes with a lot of pre-installed apps, some of which can be uninstalled, while others can only be disabled. This bloatware takes up considerable storage space, reducing the effective space available to users.

OS and Updates:

• Operating System: OxygenOS (based on Android)
• Update Policy: 2-3 years of security updates (unconfirmed)

The user interface is smooth, and the presence of an in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock adds to the convenience. However, the heavy bloatware detracts from an otherwise clean user experience.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Connectivity and Additional Features

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite offers dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, and a hybrid SIM slot, but lacks certain features like FM radio.

Connectivity options are fairly standard for this segment, with a few shortcomings due to the outdated chipset.

Connectivity Features:

• Wi-Fi: Dual-band
• Bluetooth: 5.1
• SIM: Hybrid SIM slot
• 3.5mm Jack: Yes
• IP Rating: IP54

The absence of FM radio and the presence of a hybrid SIM slot instead of a dedicated one are minor inconveniences.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Multimedia Experience

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite offers a good multimedia experience with its AMOLED display and decent speakers, but lacks support for 4K and HDR content.

The AMOLED screen enhances the multimedia experience with its vibrant colors and high brightness. However, the limitations of the Snapdragon 695 chipset mean that the phone cannot handle 4K or HDR content.

Multimedia Features:

• Display: 6.67” 120Hz AMOLED
• Speakers: Stereo

Watching videos and playing games on this phone is a pleasant experience, although there are better options available in the same price range.

Sensors and Security

The phone is equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock, both of which work reliably. Other sensors include an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass.

Security Features:

• Fingerprint Sensor: In-display
• Face Unlock: Yes

These features ensure that the device is secure and quick to access.

Comparing Nord CE 4 Lite with Nord CE 3 Lite

To help you decide if the Nord CE 4 Lite is a worthy upgrade, let’s compare it with its predecessor, the Nord CE 3 Lite.

Final Verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is a mixed bag of upgrades and downgrades. While it offers a significant display improvement and better charging capacity, the use of the outdated Snapdragon 695 chipset is a major drawback. This limits its performance and connectivity, which are crucial aspects in today’s competitive smartphone market.

Pros:

• Impressive 120Hz AMOLED display with high brightness
• Decent build quality with attractive color options
• In-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock

Cons:

• Outdated Snapdragon 695 chipset
• Average camera performance
• Slower-than-expected charging time for a OnePlus device
• Heavy bloatware affecting storage and user experience

For those who are staunch OnePlus fans and are looking for a device under ₹20,000, the Nord CE 4 Lite can be a viable option. However, if performance, camera quality, and future-proofing are your priorities, there are better alternatives available in the market.

In conclusion, while the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite may attract attention due to its brand value and design, it falls short in several critical areas. Buyers should carefully consider these factors before making a purchase.