The OnePlus Nord series has made a name for itself by offering impressive features at a more affordable price point than the company’s flagship models. With the release of the OnePlus Nord 4, it’s time to examine how far the series has come since the original OnePlus Nord, launched back in 2020.
1. Display
The Nord 4 boasts a larger 6.74-inch 2.8D curved AMOLED display with a sharper 1.5K resolution (2772 x 1240 pixels) compared to the original Nord’s 6.44-inch FHD+ Fluid AMOLED display (1080 x 2400 pixels).
The Nord 4 also features a significant upgrade in refresh rate. It supports a variable refresh rate of 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz, allowing for smoother visuals and a more responsive user experience, especially in gaming and scrolling. The original Nord is limited to a 90Hz refresh rate.
Both phones boast peak brightness exceeding 1000 nits, but the Nord 4 pushes the limit with its ProXDR display to a staggering 2150 nits, offering better readability in bright outdoor conditions.
2. Performance
The Nord 4 packs a more powerful processor, the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC, compared to the Snapdragon 765G in the original Nord. This translates to faster performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking.
The Nord 4 is paired with the latest LPDDR5X RAM, offering faster speeds compared to the LPDDR4X RAM in the original Nord. Both phones offer up to 12GB of RAM, but the newer technology in the Nord 4 should provide a smoother overall experience.
The Nord 4 boasts faster storage as well. It utilizes UFS 4.0 storage, significantly faster than the UFS 2.1 storage used in the original Nord. This translates to quicker app loading times and data transfer speeds.
3. Camera
The camera systems on both phones differ. The Nord 4 features a dual rear camera system with a primary 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS (optical image stabilization) and an 8MP ultrawide sensor. The original Nord opted for a quad-camera system with a 48MP Sony IMX586 main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, a 5MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor.
While the Nord 4 has a lower megapixel count on the main sensor, the Sony LYT-600 sensor might offer improved image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The lack of additional sensors in the Nord 4 might be a downside for users who prefer macro photography or depth effects in portraits.
The front camera on the Nord 4 has a 16MP Samsung S5K3P9 sensor compared to the dual 32MP main and 8MP ultrawide setup on the original Nord. This might be a downgrade for users who prioritize high-resolution selfies or wider group selfies.
4. Software
The Nord 4 runs the latest Android 14 with OxygenOS 14 on top, while the original Nord launched with Android 10 and OxygenOS 10.5. OnePlus offers a longer software update commitment with the Nord 4, promising 4 years of Android OS updates and a whopping 6 years of security updates. The original Nord received 2 major Android updates and 3 years of security updates.
5. Battery
The Nord 4 packs a larger 5500mAh battery compared to the 4115mAh battery in the original Nord. This should translate to longer battery life on the Nord 4.
However, the Nord 4 boasts a significant advantage in fast charging technology. It supports 100W SuperVOOC fast charging, which can charge the phone to 100% in just 28 minutes. The original Nord comes with Warp Charge 30T fast charging, which can charge the phone to 70% in 22 minutes.
6. Design and Build
The Nord 4 features an aluminum back with a nano-etched design, offering a more premium feel compared to the original Nord’s plastic back with a Blue Marble or Gray Onyx finish. Both phones have an in-display fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking.
The Nord 4 retains the signature OnePlus alert slider, but it’s repositioned to the left-hand side similar to the OnePlus 12 series.
7. Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord 4 emerges as a clear winner in this comparison, showcasing significant advancements over the original Nord in terms of design, display, performance, software support, camera, battery, and charging.
While the original Nord was a groundbreaking device in its own right, the Nord 4 takes the mid-range smartphone experience to the next level, proving that OnePlus continues to innovate and deliver exceptional value to its customers.
