OnePlus entered the budget smartphone category in India with the launch of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite in 2022. This device was introduced as a toned-down version of the OnePlus Nord CE 2, which itself was a watered-down version of the OnePlus Nord 2.
These three series of handsets make up OnePlus’ mid-range and budget smartphone portfolio. They are currently in their 4th gen, hence the number ‘4’ in their names.
We recently reviewed the OnePlus Nord CE 4. We found it to be as good as its predecessor OnePlus Nord CE 3.
On the other hand, we did not get a chance to try out the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. But we got to play around with the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite, which shares almost everything with its successor. We were surprised by the unexpected goodness it offered.
Now, two years later, how does the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite fare? Having used the phone over the past few days, I have shared my thoughts in this article.
Before I pen down my opinion, I want to let the readers know that OnePlus India who loaned us a review unit had no editorial input or early look. The thoughts shared here are mine alone.
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1. The Good Stuff
Unlike in the premium smartphone segment, consumers get a wide variety of options in the budget category. Thus, handsets come in all shapes and sizes.
Since design is subjective, companies cannot satisfy all users with a single design. But there are some designs that cater to a wider audience. The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite has this.
Personally, I prefer the looks of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite over any other sub-₹20000 smartphone in India right now. It is simple yet elegant, especially in Ultra Orange. You can also avail it in either Mega Blue or Super Silver color options.
The device features a sturdy flat plastic frame like most phones in the segment. This frame houses tactile power and volume buttons on the right side and a dual SIM/MicroSD (shared) card slot on the left. A USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack can be found at the bottom.
The two cameras are vertically placed on the top left corner of the handset’s rear plastic panel which looks and feels like glass. With a thickness and weight of 8.1mm and 191g, respectively, the phone is comfortable to hold.
The product doesn’t have any unnecessary large text anywhere on its body. It only has the iconic OnePlus logo on the center of the rear panel.
Simply put the design is as clean as the one offered by Samsung’s smartphones. Thus, I believe it would be preferred by most people.
I know I described the product’s design a lot because that’s the only thing that stood out more to me other than its battery life. The 5,500mAh battery inside it can easily last for more than a day even with 5G mobile data.
Refueling it can be done within an hour, thanks to 80W SuperVOOC fast charging support. The required power adapter and cable are included in the box along with a basic silicone protective case.
As for longevity, OnePlus promises two Android upgrades and three years of security patches. Currently, the smartphone boots Android 14-based Oxygen OS 14, and therefore, it should receive up to Android 16 in the future.
This is not the best software support in the segment but it is comparable to most devices.
2. Up to Standard
The most notable upgrade that the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite offers over its predecessor is the display. The device finally gets an AMOLED panel compared to LCD screens on the previous two models.
The new 6.67-inch centered punch-hole display retains the 120Hz refresh rate and FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution. Additionally, it is noticeably brighter with an official spec of 1200 nits brightness in auto high brightness mode (HBM). The peak brightness is rated at 2100 nits but it’s of no use as the product cannot play HDR content.
The main camera also gets an upgrade in the form of an OIS-assisted 50MP Sony LYT-600 primary sensor. However, the secondary sensor is merely a 2MP depth sensor and the selfie camera continues to be the same 16MP shooter. There’s no 2MP macro snapper as found on the forerunners.
The output from the camera setup is just fine. There’s nothing to home about. It does a decent job when there’s adequate light. But in low light, it struggles a lot which is common among most phones in the category.
The dual speakers do their job of offering stereo sound effects. The sound quality, however, is average. There’s also a ‘300% Ultra Volume Boost’ mode which can be activated by pressing the volume up button after the volume bar hits the maximum level. This artificial bump in volume is terrible but can be useful in traffic for gig workers.
3. The Achilles’ Heel
The one thing that hasn’t changed in the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite from its predecessors is its chipset — Qualcomm Snapdragon 695. The chip is paired with the same LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.2 storage.
This silicon cannot handle the new OxygenOS 14 efficiently. The animations are slow and there are frame drops all over the place.
I faced the same on the more expensive OnePlus Nord CE 4 as well as its forerunner OnePlus Nord CE 3. So this is not limited to OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, however, it is more pronounced given the less powerful nature of the system on chip.
On top of this, the app opening time and touch responses are slower compared to other handsets in the same price segment. This is not a deal breaker for many but when there are better options, why settle?
OnePlus is known to improve the overall experience of its products post-launch through software updates. I expected a similar magic for the Nord CE 4 Lite but unfortunately, none of the OTA updates brought meaningful changes in the performance department.
The Snapdragon 695 is an Achilles’ heel for the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite. The brand shouldn’t have cheaped out by using an older and less powerful chipset.
4. Conclusion
Historically, the OnePlus Nord CE Lite series has not been the best offering in the sub ₹20000 price category in India. But still, the first two models were not only the brand’s best sellers but also the whole segment in some quarters. I won’t be surprised if the latest model continues this tradition.
Unlike in other regions, OnePlus has a ‘premium image’ in India. It is considered an equal to Samsung and Apple in India.
To credit where it’s due, OnePlus offers an overall premium experience from unboxing to after-sales service compared to its Chinese counterparts in the region. This is the primary reason that drives the sales of its most affordable smartphone lineup.
Anyhoo, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite was a good option when it was released. It was almost the same as most competitors of its time. I cannot comment on its successor OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite as I did not get to experience it.
Coming to OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, it lacks behind competitors in nearly all aspects. Today, there’s a better smartphone for all things, be it performance (iQOO Z9 / Vivo T3) or camera (Realme Narzo 70 Pro).
Therefore, it’s hard for me to recommend the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite wholeheartedly. I hope the company comes up with an improved successor next year.
