The OnePlus Nord series has carved a niche in the mid-range smartphone market, offering a blend of performance, design, and value that appeals to a wide range of users. The OnePlus Nord 4 continues this tradition, bringing several upgrades over its predecessor while maintaining an attractive price point. This review delves into various aspects of the OnePlus Nord 4, including its design, display, performance, camera capabilities, software, battery life, and overall value.
Design and Build Quality
Aesthetics and Ergonomics
The OnePlus Nord 4 features a sleek and modern design, with a glass front and back complemented by an aluminum frame. The device is available in three color options: Blue Marble, Gray Onyx, and a new Green Wood finish that has garnered positive attention for its unique look. The Nord 4 feels premium in hand, with smooth curves and a balanced weight distribution that makes it comfortable to hold and use.
Build Quality
OnePlus has always been known for its solid build quality, and the Nord 4 is no exception. The device feels robust and durable, with Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back providing ample protection against scratches and minor drops. The aluminum frame adds rigidity to the structure, ensuring that the phone can withstand daily wear and tear.
Buttons and Ports
The button placement on the Nord 4 is intuitive, with the volume rocker on the left side and the power button on the right. OnePlus has retained the signature alert slider, which allows users to quickly switch between silent, vibrate, and ring modes. The bottom of the device houses a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, a speaker grille, and a SIM card tray. Notably, the Nord 4 does not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, which may be a drawback for some users.
Display
Screen Quality
The OnePlus Nord 4 boasts a 6.5-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. The screen offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making it ideal for consuming multimedia content. With a pixel density of around 402 PPI, text and images appear sharp and clear.
Refresh Rate
One of the standout features of the Nord 4’s display is its 90Hz refresh rate. This higher refresh rate ensures smoother animations and scrolling, providing a more fluid user experience compared to standard 60Hz displays. The 90Hz refresh rate can be adjusted to 60Hz to save battery life if needed.
Brightness and Visibility
The display on the Nord 4 performs well in various lighting conditions. It reaches a peak brightness of 800 nits, which makes it easily readable under direct sunlight. The device also supports HDR10+ content, enhancing the viewing experience for compatible videos and games.
Performance
Processor and RAM
Under the hood, the OnePlus Nord 4 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 780G chipset, an upgrade from the Snapdragon 765G found in its predecessor. This octa-core processor is paired with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM, depending on the variant. The combination ensures smooth multitasking and efficient performance across a range of applications.
Storage Options
The Nord 4 offers two storage options: 128GB and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. While the base storage is ample for most users, the absence of expandable storage via a microSD card slot might be a limitation for those who require additional space for media and apps.
Benchmark Performance
In benchmark tests, the OnePlus Nord 4 performs admirably for a mid-range device. It scores around 600,000 on AnTuTu, placing it comfortably among the top performers in its price range. Real-world performance reflects these benchmarks, with the device handling intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, and multitasking with ease.
Camera
Rear Camera Setup
The OnePlus Nord 4 features a versatile quad-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. The camera module is housed in a rectangular bump on the top left corner of the back panel.
Primary Camera
The 64MP primary sensor captures detailed and vibrant images in good lighting conditions. The camera utilizes pixel binning technology to produce 16MP photos with enhanced clarity and reduced noise. In low-light scenarios, the Nightscape mode significantly improves image quality by increasing exposure and reducing noise.
Ultra-Wide Camera
The 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens offers a 119-degree field of view, allowing users to capture more of the scene in a single shot. While the image quality is slightly lower than the primary sensor, it is still quite good for landscape and group photos. However, edge distortion is noticeable, especially in the corners of the frame.
Macro and Monochrome Lenses
The 5MP macro lens enables close-up photography, capturing intricate details of small subjects. While it is fun to use, the image quality is not as high as the primary and ultra-wide sensors. The 2MP monochrome sensor aids in depth perception and helps improve portrait shots by adding a natural bokeh effect.
Front Camera
For selfies and video calls, the Nord 4 is equipped with a 32MP front-facing camera. The camera produces sharp and vibrant selfies, with a portrait mode that effectively blurs the background to highlight the subject. The front camera also supports Nightscape mode, ensuring good performance in low-light conditions.
Video Recording
The OnePlus Nord 4 supports 4K video recording at 30fps with the rear camera and 1080p video at 60fps with the front camera. Video quality is impressive, with good stabilization and accurate color reproduction. The device also features a range of video recording modes, including time-lapse, slow motion, and super stable mode for smoother footage.
Software
OxygenOS
The OnePlus Nord 4 runs on OxygenOS 12, based on Android 12. OxygenOS is known for its clean and near-stock Android experience, with minimal bloatware and a focus on speed and customization. The user interface is intuitive and offers a range of features, including a customizable dark mode, enhanced privacy settings, and improved notification management.
Software Updates
OnePlus has a solid track record for software updates, and the Nord 4 is expected to receive regular security patches and major Android updates for at least two years. This commitment to software support ensures that users can enjoy new features and improved security over the device’s lifespan.
Battery Life
Battery Capacity
The OnePlus Nord 4 is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery, which is a slight increase from its predecessor. This capacity is sufficient to power the device through a full day of moderate to heavy usage, including web browsing, video streaming, gaming, and social media.
Charging Speed
One of the highlights of the Nord 4 is its fast charging capability. The device supports Warp Charge 30T Plus, which can charge the battery from 0 to 70% in just 30 minutes. This fast charging feature is incredibly convenient for users who need to quickly top up their battery throughout the day.
Battery Optimization
OxygenOS includes several battery optimization features that help extend battery life. Adaptive Battery learns user habits and limits battery usage for infrequently used apps, while Sleep Standby Optimization reduces background activity during nighttime hours. These features contribute to a longer battery lifespan and better overall performance.
Connectivity
Network Support
The OnePlus Nord 4 supports 5G connectivity, ensuring faster data speeds and improved network performance. The device is compatible with both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) 5G networks, making it future-proof as 5G coverage continues to expand globally.
Other Connectivity Features
In addition to 5G, the Nord 4 supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and GPS. These connectivity options ensure reliable and fast wireless connections for various tasks, from streaming high-definition videos to transferring files between devices.
Additional Features
Fingerprint Sensor
The OnePlus Nord 4 features an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is both fast and accurate. The sensor quickly unlocks the device and can also be used for secure app authentication and payments.
Face Unlock
Face unlock is another biometric option available on the Nord 4. Using the front camera, the device can recognize and unlock the user’s face within seconds. While not as secure as the fingerprint sensor, it is a convenient option for quick access.
Audio
The Nord 4 offers a decent audio experience, with a single bottom-firing speaker that delivers loud and clear sound. While it lacks the depth and richness of stereo speakers, it is sufficient for casual listening and media consumption. For a better audio experience, users can connect wireless headphones via Bluetooth 5.2 or use USB-C headphones.
Value for Money
The OnePlus Nord 4 is priced competitively, offering a compelling package of features and performance for its price range. It stands out in the mid-range market by providing a premium design, a high-refresh-rate display, a capable camera system, and solid performance. Compared to other devices in its category, the Nord 4 offers excellent value for money, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious consumers looking for a feature-rich smartphone.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord 4 successfully builds on the strengths of its predecessors, delivering a well-rounded smartphone experience at an affordable price. With its premium design, vibrant display, reliable performance, and versatile camera system, the Nord 4 is an excellent choice for users seeking a mid-range device that doesn’t compromise on quality. While it does have a few minor drawbacks, such as the absence of expandable storage and a 3.5mm headphone jack, these are outweighed