OnePlus is back with the Oneplus Nord CE 4 Lite, the latest addition to its popular Nord CE lineup. Known for its budget-friendly offerings, the Nord CE series has enjoyed immense success in India, thanks to OnePlus’s brand reputation and value proposition. However, the CE 4 Lite seems to have sparked mixed reactions, with some upgrades and a few disappointing choices. Let’s dive into the unboxing and quick review to see what this phone has to offer and whether it’s worth your money.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite First Impressions
The packaging of the Oneplus Nord CE 4 Lite is familiar yet functional. Inside the box, you’ll find the phone, an 80W charger, a protective case, a SIM ejector tool, stickers, a red cable, and the usual documentation, including the Red Cable Club card. OnePlus continues to provide a complete set of accessories, a gesture appreciated in a market where brands are increasingly cutting down on in-box inclusions.
The phone’s design is minimalistic but not without issues. Available in three colors – blue, silver, and orange – the Nord CE 4 Lite is sleek but prone to fingerprints, making it a “fingerprint magnet.” While the flat sides and compact camera module add to its aesthetic appeal, the choice of glossy materials detracts from its practicality. The build features a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a side-mounted power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor. However, the absence of a noise-canceling microphone is puzzling.
Oneplus Nord CE 4 Lite Display: A Welcome Upgrade
One of the most significant upgrades in the Nord CE 4 Lite is its display. The phone now boasts a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel, a leap forward from the IPS LCD found in its predecessor. With a peak brightness of 2100 nits and a high brightness mode (HBM) at 1200 nits, the screen is vibrant and well-suited for outdoor use. Thin bezels and a moderately sized chin make for an immersive viewing experience, ensuring that the display is one of the phone’s standout features.
Oneplus Nord CE 4 Lite Performance: A Missed Opportunity
Under the hood, the Nord CE 4 Lite is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset—a three-year-old processor that feels dated in 2024. While it delivers acceptable performance for daily tasks and light gaming, it struggles with demanding apps and games. Benchmark scores, such as an Antutu score of 480,000, highlight its limitations. The phone comes with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, available in 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB configurations.
The aging chipset also hampers connectivity and camera performance. The phone supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1, but connectivity speeds lag behind competitors in the same price range. Additionally, the Snapdragon 695 limits the phone to 1080p video recording, which feels restrictive when many rivals offer 4K recording.
Battery and Charging: Good, But Not Great
The Nord CE 4 Lite houses a 5500mAh battery, which is a sizeable upgrade. Paired with 80W SuperVOOC charging, the phone should have excelled in battery performance. However, it takes 52 minutes to fully charge, making it slower than typical OnePlus devices renowned for their fast charging capabilities. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does feel like a missed opportunity to showcase OnePlus’s charging expertise.
Camera: Incremental Improvements
In the camera department, the Nord CE 4 Lite features a 108MP primary sensor, a minor upgrade from its predecessor. The secondary sensor remains a 2MP unit, which doesn’t add much value. The front houses a 16MP selfie camera. While daylight photography is decent, the camera struggles in low-light conditions and lacks the versatility found in competitors. Video recording is limited to Full HD at 30FPS, and the absence of 4K recording is disappointing in this segment.
Software and Features
The phone runs OnePlus’s OxygenOS, which is fast but plagued by bloatware. While some pre-installed apps can be uninstalled, system apps occupy significant storage, leaving less than 100GB of usable space in the base 128GB variant. The in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock are reliable, and the phone supports Widevine L1 for HD streaming. However, the lack of HDR support and an FM radio are drawbacks.
OnePlus hasn’t made any commitments about software updates, but users can expect 2-3 years of security updates based on previous patterns. For fans of clean and fluid software, the bloatware might be a minor annoyance.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
Priced under ₹20,000, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is clearly aimed at brand loyalists looking for an affordable OnePlus device. While it scores well on display quality and battery size, its dated processor, average cameras, and slower-than-expected charging undermine its appeal. In a fiercely competitive market, alternatives like iQOO, Vivo, Realme, and Xiaomi offer better value with superior specs and features in the same price range.
For those who prioritize the OnePlus brand and its premium design language, the Nord CE 4 Lite may still hold some allure. However, for performance-driven buyers, it might be worth exploring other options. In summary, the Nord CE 4 Lite is a phone with potential but falls short of being a standout in its segment.
