OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Review: Modern Display, Old Chipse

In this OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Review, we will try to explore how the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite performs in the fiercely competitive sub-Rs 20,000 price range.

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite has been introduced in India as the successor to last year’s Nord CE 3 Lite. This new model offers several upgrades in terms of specifications and features an updated design. Positioned in India’s highly competitive budget segment, this phone competes with other smartphones that typically include OLED displays, 5G connectivity, and fast charging capabilities. After spending a few days with this smartphone, we evaluate whether it has enough to stand out in this crowded market.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite price in India

In India, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite starts at Rs. 19,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, with a 256GB storage option available for Rs. 22,999. The phone is offered in Mega Blue, Super Silver, and Ultra Orange colors.

For this review, the company provided the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite. The package includes a TPU case, an 80W SuperVOOC charger, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, and a SIM ejector tool.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Review: Design

The ‘Mega Blue’ version of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite features a plastic rear panel with flat plastic edges that mimic a metal finish. The corners are slightly rounded, and the flat edges make the phone comfortable to hold. The device feels somewhat heavy at 191 grams even without the TPU case, but it is not excessively weighty to cause discomfort during use.

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite retains a vertically aligned rear camera setup like its predecessor, but this year’s model includes a new pill-shaped section that encompasses the camera lenses and dual LED flash, positioned under the rear panel.

The bottom edge of the Nord CE 4 Lite includes a 3.5mm audio jack, a microphone, a USB Type-C port, and a speaker grille. There’s an additional speaker on the top edge, while the power and volume buttons are on the right side. The SIM card tray is located on the left edge. The phone has an IP54 rating, and the transparent cover includes built-in covers for the audio and charging ports.

Performance in the Sub-Rs. 20,000 Segment

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite enters the Indian market as a successor to the Nord CE 3 Lite, introducing several specification upgrades and a refreshed design. Competing in the sub-Rs. 20,000 segment, where features like OLED screens, 5G support, and fast charging are common, the Nord CE 4 Lite aims to make its mark. We spent some time with this device to see if it holds up against its competitors.

Pricing Details in India

The starting price for the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite in India is Rs. 19,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model, with the 256GB variant priced at Rs. 22,999. Available in Mega Blue, Super Silver, and Ultra Orange, the review unit provided was the 8GB+256GB version, accompanied by a TPU case, 80W SuperVOOC charger, USB Type-A to Type-C cable, and a SIM ejector tool.

Design Insights

The ‘Mega Blue’ variant of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite showcases a plastic rear panel with flat plastic edges that simulate a metallic look. Its slightly rounded corners and flat edges ensure a comfortable grip. At 191 grams, it feels a bit heavy but manageable for extended use.

The phone’s rear camera layout maintains a vertical alignment like its predecessor, but now features a pill-shaped section surrounding the camera lenses and dual LED flash.

On the bottom edge, you’ll find a 3.5mm audio jack, microphone, USB Type-C port, and speaker grille. There’s another speaker on the top edge, and the power and volume buttons are on the right side. The SIM tray is positioned on the left edge. The device boasts an IP54 rating, and the transparent case includes protective covers for the audio and charging ports.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Review: Specifications and Software

Specifications:

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite brings two notable upgrades over its predecessor: an OLED display and a primary camera with optical image stabilization. It features a 6.67-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The display brightness reaches up to 1,200 nits when automatic brightness is enabled, a significant improvement over last year’s LCD screen.

Under the hood, the phone is powered by the same Snapdragon 695 chipset used in its predecessors. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.

The phone runs on Android 14 with OxygenOS 14. While OnePlus hasn’t specified the software support timeline for the Nord CE 4 Lite, its predecessor is slated to receive two major Android updates and an additional year of security updates.

Connectivity Options:

The Nord CE 4 Lite offers similar connectivity features as its predecessor, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, 5G, 4G LTE, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. However, it lacks NFC support, meaning there’s no contactless payment capability.

Battery and Charging:

OnePlus has increased the battery capacity to 5,500mAh and improved the charging rate, offering 80W SuperVOOC charging. Unlike previous models, this one includes an in-display fingerprint sensor thanks to the OLED screen.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite: Performance

The Snapdragon 695 is a competent chip for general tasks, offering performance comparable to MediaTek’s Dimensity 7050 chipset. It can handle popular games and widely-used apps, provided they aren’t too demanding.

In gaming tests, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) ran well on default settings, though some lag occurred when the phone heated up. Asphalt 9 performed smoothly without issues, even after 30 minutes of gameplay.

Benchmark Performance:

Benchmark	OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite	Realme P1 5G	iQoo Z9 5G
Geekbench 6 Single Core	904	956	1151
Geekbench 6 Multi Core	2015	2369	2669
AnTuTu v10	448,127	570,926	687,545
PCMark Work 3.0	9,850	13,319	13,319
3DMark Wild Life	1508	4126	4126
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited	1507	4205	4205
3DMark Sling Shot	4226	6654	6654
3DMark Sling Shot Extreme	3121	5766	5766
GFXBench Car Chase	17	21	33
GFXBench Manhattan 3.1	30	39	60
GFXBench T-Rex	60	60	108

OxygenOS 14 is stable on the Nord CE 4 Lite. Apps remain in memory for extended periods, switching between apps is seamless, and most apps load quickly.

Bloatware:

The phone comes with preinstalled bloatware, including Agoda, Bubble Pop, Netflix, Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft 365, Myntra, Tile Match, and Word Connect. These apps can be uninstalled after initial setup.

Display and Battery Life:

The AMOLED screen is a significant upgrade, offering good outdoor visibility with automatic brightness. The phone lasted 22 hours and 17 minutes in the HD video battery loop test, averaging about 6 hours of screen-on time per week. Charging to 72 percent takes about 30 minutes, with a full charge in roughly 55 minutes.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Review: Cameras

Camera Setup:

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is equipped with a dual rear camera system. It features a 50-megapixel main camera using a Sony LYT-600 sensor with an f/1.9 aperture, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. In practical terms, the primary camera is the one you’ll use for most photography.

Although the primary camera on the Nord CE 4 Lite has fewer megapixels than its predecessor, the new model includes both optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS).

Daylight Performance:

During my testing, the primary camera captured clear images in daylight, provided the subject was not too distant. These photos are suitable for social media, though they lack detail upon zooming in. The camera app includes an in-sensor zoom mode for 2x zoom shots, which captures close-up subjects with decent detail. However, like the standard 1x mode, there is a noticeable loss of detail when zoomed in.

Night Mode:

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite has a dedicated Night mode for low-light photography. My main issue with this mode is that it must be manually enabled; the app does not automatically enhance images in dark settings. When activated, Night mode improves visibility and detail slightly compared to auto mode, but it takes over a second to capture each image. This delay makes it unsuitable for photographing moving subjects. Additionally, the heavy smoothening applied to reduce noise tends to make the sky look unnaturally bright.

Selfie Camera:

The phone’s 16-megapixel front camera performs well for outdoor selfies during the day and indoor shots with adequate lighting. However, nighttime selfies are often blurry and less vibrant in color.

Video Recording:

The rear camera can record videos at up to 1080p/30fps with both 1x and 2x zoom, supported by OIS and EIS, which cannot be disabled. The videos are clear and suitable for social media uploads, though OIS performance declines in low light. The front camera also supports 1080p/30fps video recording, but lacks stabilization.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Review: GP99 Verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite offers notable upgrades in display and primary camera over its predecessor. However, it faces tough competition in the sub-Rs. 20,000 price range, including from other OnePlus models with better camera performance or more powerful chipsets. For instance, the older OnePlus Nord CE 3 features a more robust processor and often drops below Rs. 20,000 on Amazon.

Given the stiff competition, the Nord CE 4 Lite is difficult to recommend unless you’re specifically seeking a budget smartphone from OnePlus. Alternatives like the Poco X6 5G and Realme 12+ offer faster processors and more versatile cameras. Other options include the iQoo Z9, Realme P1 Pro 5G, Vivo T3, and Tecno Pova 6 Pro.

Final Words: OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite Review: A Disappointing 2024 Release

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite falls short of expectations for 2024, largely due to the choice of the Snapdragon 695 chipset. This decision results in the display lacking HDR support, delivering only mediocre gaming performance, and missing the capability to record 4K videos. Despite featuring a Sony LYT-600 sensor, the camera performance is subpar. While the battery life and fast charging are commendable, these positives are insufficient to justify recommending this outdated device.

Pros: