OnePlus Nord 4: A Balancing Act of Performance and Affordability
The OnePlus Nord 4 continues the heritage that began with the first-generation Nord in 2020, offering an alternative flagship phone.
The OnePlus Nord 4 continues the legacy that began with the first-generation Nord in 2020, presenting an alternative flagship phone experience. The Nord 4 features an aluminum unibody, a rarity for phones priced around ₹29,999.
This choice of material adds to its premium feel and distinguishes it from competitors like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13, Vivo V30, Samsung Galaxy A35, and Google Pixel 8a.
The phone is available in three variants, with the green model offering a standout dual-tone finish. However, it only has an IP65 rating, so keeping it away from water is best.
Performance of OnePlus Nord 4:
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 chip, the Nord 4 is positioned just below flagship models in terms of performance.
This chip competes with the Google Pixel 8a’s Tensor G3, and the Nord 4 performs admirably in daily tasks, maintaining a consistent performance during multitasking and app navigation.
However, the phone shows signs of struggle after about 30 minutes of intensive gaming, which might be due to thermal throttling or could be resolved with a software update.
Software and User Experience:
OnePlus’ OxygenOS 14.1 is a strong point, offering a fresh, responsive, and fluid user experience. AI features like audio transcriptions, and AI Note Summary add to the phone’s utility.
However, the presence of preloaded apps and games is a downside, but these can be deleted to declutter the phone.
Connectivity and Signal Reception:
The Nord 4’s aluminum body is said to amplify 5G signals, although real-world testing shows signal levels similar to other OnePlus and Android phones. This claim remains inconclusive but does not detract from the phone’s overall connectivity performance.
Battery Life: The Nord 4’s battery performance is impressive, with minimal drain during extended video streaming. Coupled with 100-watt fast charging, the phone ensures battery anxiety is kept at bay, making it reliable for heavy daily usage.
Camera: The dual-camera setup includes a 50-megapixel Sony LYTIA sensor and an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor. While the main camera performs well regarding color accuracy and separation, it sometimes struggles with sharpness and detail in low-light conditions.
The predecessor’s absence of a macro lens is not missed. The ultrawide camera performance is less consistent, and the overall camera experience may benefit from future software updates.
