OnePlus is back with another contender in the budget-smartphone space.
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G builds on the success of its predecessor, the Nord CE3 Lite 5G, promising a more vibrant visual experience and extended battery life without adding bulk. While the device sticks with the familiar Snapdragon 695 chipset from the previous generation and 2022’s Nord CE2 Lite 5G, it’s clear that OnePlus is focusing on refining the core experience for budget-conscious users.
A brighter AMOLED display and a larger battery are significant upgrades that directly impact everyday usability. Whether you’re binge-watching shows, playing games, or simply scrolling through social media, these enhancements should make a noticeable difference.
However, the Nord CE4 Lite 5G comes with a twist: a higher price tag. At P17,999, or roughly $312, for the 8GB/256GB configuration, it’s a noticeable bump from its predecessor. In a market obsessed with the latest and greatest chipsets, this price increase raises questions about the phone’s overall value proposition. How does it affect OnePlus’ latest offering? Can the improved display and battery life really justify the extra cost when other brands are touting newer processors?
After spending some time with the newly launched OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G, we can finally answer these questions.
@revuphilippines Color us blue! 💙 This is the #OnePlusNordCE4Lite5G. Find out more about it in our review at www.revu.com.ph / #RevuDotComDotPH. #OnePlusNordCE4Lite #NordCE4Lite5G #NordCE4Lite #OnePlus #OnePlusPH #OnePlusPhilippines #AbsurdlyEntertaining @OnePlus Philippines @OnePlus @monch @Alora Uy Guerrero ♬ original sound – Revu Philippines
Our OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G preview video
Mega Blue for mega style
OnePlus introduces two new colorways for its latest smartphone — Super Silver and — our favorite by far — Mega Blue, which is pictured here. Both come with glossy back covers that are quite prone to fingerprints and smudges, so you might want to purchase a case if you’re eyeing this device, as the company doesn’t include one in the retail box.
Another thing you need is a power adapter because, again, OnePlus decided to skip a smartphone essential for day-to-day use. And while we’re on the topic, you should look for a SUPERVOOC charger that can take advantage of the smartphone’s max charging speed of 80 watts for shorter downtimes.
According to OnePlus, getting the Nord CE4 Lite 5G from zero to full will take approximately 52 minutes with the screen turned off, which is impressive — if you can spare some extra cash for an 80-watt fast charger.
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G is a breath of fresh air in the midrange market. Its design is undeniably eye-catching, especially in the vibrant Mega Blue colorway. This handset is a looker, with its sleek lines and bold color option. It’s the kind of phone that demands attention. While the plastic build might raise some eyebrows, it doesn’t detract from the overall premium feel.
OnePlus also scores some brownie points for keeping the design of the dual-lens camera module simple yet effective, while including two rear-facing LED lights for more accurate skin tones when using the flash in low light. The hardware retains a standard headphone jack for legacy audio devices, as well as storage expansion via a microSD card up to 2TB for all your apps and files.
The brand bills the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G as an entertainment phone, and it certainly delivers on the audio front with stereo speakers. While the Ultra Volume mode can push the decibels, the sound quality takes a hit at higher volumes, becoming tinny and distorted. The inclusion of a headphone jack and the promise of a vibrant AMOLED display bode well for media consumption.
A neat extra is the unit’s 5-watt reverse wired-charging capability, allowing you to juice up other devices, like wireless headphones and smartwatches. However, you’ll need a separate cable with a Type-C connector on both ends for this.
Nord CE Lite goes AMOLED
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G boasts a stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This is a significant upgrade from previous generations, which had LCD panels. The result is a screen that’s vibrant, responsive, and easy on the eyes.
And since this is the first Nord CE Lite phone with an AMOLED screen, there will be no more new models with an LCD display in the OnePlus lineup moving forward — unless, of course, the company decides to launch a much more affordable entry-level handset.
Sunlight visibility is excellent thanks to a peak brightness of 2,100 nits, despite the lack of HDR. Nonetheless, the typical brightness of 600 nits is more than adequate for most outdoor conditions based on our testing.
Color accuracy is decent, with options for both Natural and Vivid color modes. The display also supports adjustable refresh rates, allowing you to manually set specific apps to 60Hz or 120Hz. Unfortunately, game performance seems capped at 60 fps, likely due to hardware limitations rather than the panel itself.
As a bonus, OnePlus has included its Aqua Touch feature, enabling reliable touchscreen use even when wet. And for security, an optical fingerprint sensor is embedded in the display for fast and convenient unlocking. If you prefer, face unlock is also an option.
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G’s screen is definitely a standout feature. The shift to AMOLED has paid off, offering a vibrant, responsive, and energy-efficient viewing experience. While we would have preferred to see higher frame rates in games, the overall display quality is impressive. With its combination of brightness, color accuracy, and smooth refresh rate, it’s a panel that’s a joy to use in just about any environment.
A decent point-and-shoot option
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G delivers a camera experience that largely doesn’t disappoint.
Driving the camera setup is a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-600 primary image sensor equipped with optical image stabilization. This combination ensures that your daytime shots are crisp, detailed, and free from blur, even when capturing fast-paced action or shooting handheld in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. While there’s a subtle bluish tint in some of our sample images, it’s a minor quibble that doesn’t significantly detract from the overall picture quality.
Low-light photography is where many budget smartphones falter, but the Nord CE4 Lite 5G manages to hold its own. The Night mode does an admirable job of brightening scenes without introducing excessive noise or artificial-looking enhancements. While detail might not match that of flagship devices, the results are still impressive considering the handset’s lower price point.
Portrait mode is another area where the Nord CE4 Lite 5G shines. This device accurately separates subjects from the background, creating professional-looking shots with a pleasing bokeh effect. While there’s occasional softening around subject edges, it’s generally subtle and doesn’t detract from the overall image quality.
Sample shots
Selfie enthusiasts will appreciate the 16-megapixel front camera, which captures detailed and vibrant portraits. While it might struggle in extremely low-light conditions, it delivers solid performance in most everyday scenarios.
While the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G doesn’t offer the highest video specifications, it can still capture respectable footage. The ability to record 1080p videos at 30 fps is sufficient for most users, and the footage produced is generally smooth and well-stabilized. The lack of 4K recording at 60 fps is a notable omission for a midrange model, especially for users who prioritize smooth and detailed video content.
On the software side, OnePlus has included a native camera app that offers a range of shooting modes to cater to different preferences. From the standard Photo mode to more advanced options like Pro mode, users have the flexibility to experiment with different settings and capture the perfect shot.
Familiar chipset, familiar all-day battery life
Under the hood, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G houses the familiar Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, a processor that’s seen duty in previous Nord CE Lite models. Paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, the spec sheet might seem unremarkable. However, OnePlus’ software optimizations work wonders.
Day-to-day tasks are handled with aplomb. The phone feels snappy and responsive, with animations flowing smoothly. Casual gaming is a breeze, but demanding titles like Genshin Impact and Diablo Immortal require graphical compromises to be playable at a solid 30 fps.
Honkai: Star Rail, on the other hand, would stutter when pushed to Medium graphics. We settled for the Low preset at 30 fps and were satisfied with the performance. Again, OnePlus has locked the screen to 60Hz when gaming, so don’t expect games to run higher than 60 fps.
The device’s thermal performance is a bright spot, though. Even under heavy load, the Nord CE4 Lite 5G remains remarkably cool. The inclusion of dynamic RAM expansion, which can boost memory up to 16GB, is a nice touch but not necessarily essential for everyday use.
Running the latest OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android 14 out of the box, the Nord CE4 Lite 5G offers a familiar and efficient user experience. OnePlus’ software refinements enhance multitasking with features like split screen, floating windows, and smart sidebar.
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G boasts an impressive battery life thanks in part to its large 5,110mAh cell and the energy-efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset. The OPPO sub-brand boldly claims this is its longest-lasting smartphone yet, and our testing supports that claim.
With typical use, we easily stretched the battery to two full days on a single charge. In our standardized PCMark battery test, the Nord CE4 Lite 5G endured an impressive 17 hours with the brightness set to 50% — an impressive showing in any price range. This shows the handset’s exceptional endurance.
Additionally, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G comes with intelligent-charging features to optimize battery health and usage. Its Smart Charging mode, for example, analyzes your charging habits and adjusts charging patterns accordingly, while the charging-limit feature prevents overcharging by stopping the process at 80%. The latter, in particular, is beneficial for preserving battery health over time.
Final thoughts
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G is a pretty solid midranger that delivers on some key areas. OnePlus has taken a calculated approach, focusing on refining core aspects like the design, display, and battery life. The shift to an AMOLED panel is a welcome upgrade, and the extended battery life and faster charging are a significant boon for most people.
However, the decision to retain Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695 SoC and introduce a price hike raises questions about the phone’s overall value proposition. While the improvements are noticeable, they might not be substantial enough to justify the increased cost for some. Ultimately, we think the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G is a compelling package for those seeking a reliable and stylish smartphone without going the flagship route, especially if you’re coming from a budget phone.
The Nord CE4 Lite 5G is now available at OnePlus kiosks and partner stores and on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok
OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G specs
- 6.67-inch AMOLED display, FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
- 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor with 5G
- Adreno 619 GPU
- 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 256GB UFS 2.2 expandable storage
- Dual 50-megapixel main, 2-megapixel depth rear cameras
- 16-megapixel front camera
- Under-display fingerprint reader
- 5,110mAh battery with 80-watt SUPERVOOC fast charging
- OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14
- Colors: Mega Blue, Super Silver
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