OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G Review: Needs More Work

OnePlus has been a strong performer within the mid-range and flagship smartphone markets of late.

The OnePlus 12 and OnePlus Open can maintain their very own on the high of the market, whereas the OnePlus Nord 3 and OnePlus 12R have a lot to supply for many who wish to spend rather less cash.

Whereas it could be a stretch to say that the model’s extra inexpensive telephones have let the facet down, they’ve undoubtedly underwhelmed. After a very flat exhibiting with the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G final 12 months, we’re intrigued to see if the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G can inject some pleasure into the sub-£300 class.

Enhancements to the show, digicam, battery, and design provide motive for hope, whereas the worth has mercifully stayed precisely the identical. Does that each one add as much as a compelling bundle, although?

Design & Construct

• Barely smaller and lighter than earlier than
• Flat-edged all-plastic design
• Tremendous Silver or Mega Blue, latter impressed by Mega Man

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G felt like a reasonably large and heavy cellphone contemplating its worth and supplies, so it’s good to see that OnePlus has shaved a couple of millimetres off in all instructions.

At 162.9 x 75.6 x 8.1mm and 191g, you’ll nonetheless comprehend it’s there in your pocket, but it surely’s not excessively chunky. The invoice of supplies nonetheless consists of loads of plastic and no trace of (exterior) metallic however the design has a minimum of gotten a bit extra distinctive.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

This time across the again is as flat as the perimeters, lending a extra industrial look. The Tremendous Silver mannequin that I acquired actually leans into this, although I’ve to say that the Mega Blue different seems to be far more attention-grabbing. OnePlus claims that the latter shade has been impressed by Capcom’s Mega Man character, which places me in thoughts of the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Version from a few years again.

Another excuse to go together with the blue variant is that it guarantees a sure stage of fingerprint resistance. The mirror-like end on this silver mannequin nearly immediately donned a coat of greasy prints. The majority of the physique has a barely subtle impact, whereas an prolonged lozenge-shaped space across the digicam module is full-on reflective.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

One noteworthy benefit over the earlier mannequin is the inclusion of an IP54 ranking, which implies it’s higher geared up to tackle this damp squib of a summer season British individuals are dwelling via on the time of writing. It nonetheless falls effectively behind the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion with its IP68 ranking, thoughts.

One other ostensible improve is the availability of an in-display fingerprint sensor, somewhat than the earlier side-mounted variant. It’s not the speediest unlock round, doubtless as a result of humble chip on the cellphone’s core, however I discovered it to be far more dependable than rival efforts from Xiaomi’s finances sub-brands.

The return of a 3.5mm headphone jack will likely be excellent news to these nonetheless dwelling the wired headphones life.

Display & Audio system

• 6.67-inch OLED
• FHD+ & 120Hz
• Stereo audio system with ‘300% Extremely Quantity Mode’

OnePlus has modified up its finances show recreation with the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G, and the display screen could be the most important space of enchancment for the entire cellphone.

Whereas it’s barely smaller than earlier than at 6.67in, the essential distinction is a basic improve to OLED panel expertise. Not simply any OLED both, however a top quality Samsung E4 panel that gives the identical illumination materials because the OnePlus 11, which was the model’s 2023 flagship.

The result’s a manner richer and extra vibrant output, to not point out extra correct colors. I recorded an sRGB gamut protection of 99.8% and a mean Delta E of 1.38 within the Pure color mode, which is phenomenal at this worth.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

It will get actually vibrant too, with a recorded peak handbook brightness of 586 nits. OnePlus claims that it might hit 1200 nits in HBM circumstances (with autobrightness on), and as much as 2100 nits in HDR eventualities.

Along with a 120Hz refresh fee, these are figures we’d usually affiliate with far more costly telephones.

OnePlus can also be shouting about its ‘Aqua Contact’ characteristic, which guarantees to allow you to make use of the display screen even with moist fingers, or certainly when the display screen itself is moist. I put this to the check, and whereas the fingerprint sensor didn’t work correctly, the display screen itself was certainly fairly attentive to my contact straight from having simply run my fingers underneath the faucet.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

As soon as once more, you may rely on a robust pair of stereo audio system. You don’t anticipate distinctive bass at this worth, however I used to be impressed by the depth and readability for a £300 cellphone.

OnePlus’s claims of a “300% Extremely Quantity Mode” sounds spectacular, however the characteristic is seemingly topic to a obscure “OTA content material” software program replace. What can’t be disputed is that the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G audio system get good and loud with out extreme distortion.

Specs & Efficiency

• Historic Snapdragon 695 chip
• 8GB RAM
• microSD slot

Final 12 months I grumbled a bit over the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G‘s use of the very same Snapdragon 695 chip because the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. I can scarcely imagine it, however the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G makes use of the exact same chip once more.

Qualcomm’s chip is now a few years previous, and it was hardly a super-speedy element when model new. It’s backed by 8GB of RAM, which is a lot, however that processor actually holds issues again.

OnePlus claims to have made its UI smoother than earlier than, however there’s no disguising the juddery scrolling I skilled in Chrome and on the Google Uncover display screen. Or, even worse, the slight stuttering delay if you bounce into the Settings menu. Hopping between a number of open apps isn’t the silky expertise that you simply get with different telephones promoting for related cash, both.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Benchmark scores aren’t significantly nice, as you would possibly anticipate from such an underwhelming element. In comparison with contemporaries just like the Redmi Observe 13 Professional 5G and the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, each of which supply the extra trendy Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip, it’s not even shut. Nor can it stand as much as the Samsung Galaxy A35, which is hardly recognised as a pace demon.

The Pixel 7a and the Motorola Edge 40 Neo – two older telephones that may now be at for a similar and even much less cash – additionally comfortably trounce the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G in most if not all metrics.

Gaming efficiency isn’t nice both. Wreckfest efficiency appeared downright damaged, with the sport constantly stuttering to a freeze after lower than a minute, till I cranked the settings proper down and steadily edged them up with not one of the graphical bells and whistles energetic.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

It’s clear that OnePlus has prioritised areas aside from efficiency this time round, however I’d argue that the processor was in as a lot want of a refresh because the show and the digicam. Perhaps much more so, on condition that it impacts the basic expertise of utilizing the cellphone.

The spec is a bit more aggressive elsewhere, with 256GB of storage as normal, together with a microSD slot offering as much as 2TB of growth. But when there’s one space OnePlus badly wants to enhance for the Nord CE 5 Lite 5G, it’s this one.

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G benchmarks

Digicam

• 50Mp Sony LYT-600 sensor
• 2Mp depth sensor
• No ultra-wide or telephoto

Final 12 months’s OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G disillusioned within the digicam division, with its 108Mp essential sensor not dwelling as much as the pixel rely. Understandably, OnePlus has modified issues up for the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G.

It now makes use of the identical 50Mp Sony LYT-600 sensor that discovered its manner (in another areas a minimum of) into the OnePlus Nord CE 4 earlier this 12 months. In some methods it is a downgrade, with fewer pixels and a smaller 1/1.953-inch dimension. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that mixture ends in bigger pixels, which means superior mild seize.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The photographs this digicam produces are detailed and wealthy with color in good lighting circumstances. Nevertheless, I discovered that it tended to blow out highlights, and that it didn’t cope effectively when capturing on a sunny day, opting to darken the general image past what I’d have most popular.

Finally, picture high quality falls effectively in need of what the Pixel 7a can now provide for related cash. Google’s telephones are an outlier, after all, and the Pixel 7a nonetheless technically carries an RRP of £449. However the £349 Motorola Edge 50 Fusion packs in a better grade of Sony picture sensor, to not point out a greater processor. The Samsung Galaxy A35 additionally presents a better-balanced digicam set-up.

Certainly, all of these rivals additionally present a devoted ultra-wide digicam, which OnePlus has chosen to omit right here. There’s a sturdy argument for this method, with ultra-wide cameras invariably being sub-par in something in need of flagship telephones. Nonetheless, having additional capturing choices is all the time welcome.

As it’s, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G options solely a 2Mp depth sensor along with that essential digicam. On the plus facet, the cropped 2x photographs that it produces are fairly good.

Evening photographs are fairly typical for a contemporary cellphone at this worth. It might probably brighten the photographs to an affordable diploma, aided by OIS (one thing the earlier mannequin omitted), however there’s evident noise to be present in darker areas.

Video is restricted to 1080p and 30fps, nonetheless, which is fairly poor. All the aforementioned rivals provide 4K.

Selfie high quality from the 16Mp entrance sensor is fairly good for a cellphone of this worth, capturing pores and skin tones and colors fairly precisely.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5110mAh battery
• Two days of reasonable utilization
• 64% cost in half-hour

OnePlus has needed to compromise on the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G’s battery right here within the EU. As an alternative of the worldwide mannequin’s 5500mAh battery, we’ve to make do with a 5110mAh one. How on Earth will we cope?

I jest, after all. Most full-sized Android telephones – together with the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G – will pack in a 5000mAh battery, so OnePlus remains to be going above and past with this 12 months’s mannequin, if solely barely.

The ensuing stamina is predictably sturdy. A median day of sunshine utilization, with 2 hour half-hour of display screen on time, dropped the battery gauge to simply 74%. You possibly can fairly conceivably undergo two full days of reasonable utilization on a single cost.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Within the PC Mark Work 3.0 battery check, which simulates a continuing blended workload, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G scored 13 hours and 49 minutes, which is about 45 minutes longer than its predecessor.

The Redmi Observe 13 Professional, with its equally capacious battery, lasted nearly two hours much less. The OnePlus additionally outlasted the Samsung Galaxy A35 by about 1 hour half-hour. You get the image: stamina is a robust level right here.

OnePlus has additionally cranked up the potential charging pace to 80W. The operative phrase right here is ‘potential’ although, because it has additionally left the charger out of the field this time. OnePlus has historically been one of many holdouts on this money-saving transfer, so it’s a little bit of a disappointment.

Once I did hook up an appropriate charger (the OnePlus 12R‘s 100W instance), it acquired the cellphone from empty to 37% in quarter-hour and on to 64% in half-hour. That’s truly a bit slower than the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G with its 67W charger, presumably as a result of greater capability.

One different attention-grabbing trick right here is the power to reverse cost your headphones with the cellphone utilizing the bundled USB-C to USB-C cable. It’s not as handy because the wi-fi model, maybe, but it surely’s a pleasant inclusion nonetheless.

Software program

• Android 14
• OxygenOS 14.0
• Solely two Android updates

The excellent news is that you simply’re getting the most recent model of Android out of the field right here in Android 14. The marginally much less excellent news is that OnePlus is now not at the forefront of customized UIs, and OxygenOS 14 is principally a mildly reskinned tackle Oppo’s ColorOS.

Proof of its origins are everywhere in the UI, from the drop-down notification shade to the Settings menu to the large ugly icons. All of it works simply tremendous, but it surely’s merely not as sharp or intuitive as Google’s inventory OS.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Bloatware isn’t as huge a problem right here as it’s with among the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G’s rivals. You get TikTok, Fb, Netflix, and Reserving.com preloaded, plus three naff video games, however that’s it for third social gathering apps.

OnePlus/Oppo is one other firm that insists on offering its personal internet browser, regardless of the far superior Chrome being pre-installed on just about each Android cellphone, but it surely’s simply ignored. You additionally get a folder stuffed with OnePlus instruments, together with the same old Clone Telephone, Recordsdata, Calculator, Notes, and Climate apps. All as anticipated, and once more, straightforward sufficient to make use of or ignore as mandatory.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

OnePlus/Oppo additionally implements its personal gesture shortcut system, although they’re all turned off by default. You may make it in order that drawing an ‘O’ on the display screen when the cellphone is asleep boots up the digicam, or a ‘V’ to activate the torch. In observe, they’re not as intuitive or dependable as Motorola’s gesture shortcuts, and the cellphone’s sluggish efficiency means they’re not particularly snappy both.

OnePlus is offering two years of main Android updates, and three years of safety updates. That’s a bit behind the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion’s 4 and three years respectively, and effectively behind the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G’s 4 and 5, but it surely matches the anticipated longevity of the Redmi Observe 13 Professional.

Worth & Availability

OnePlus is promote the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G for £299 direct from its web site. It’s not launching within the US in any respect, so far as we all know.

On contract, see one of the best choices beneath, or pair it with a SIM-only deal.

Going by its RRP, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G prices the identical because the earlier mannequin. Today, staying the identical worth could be very a lot excellent news, with worth bumps having turn out to be the norm throughout the trade.

This worth additionally sees the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G undercutting a few of its contemporaries, with the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G and the Redmi Observe 13 Professional each costing £339, and the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion coming in at £349. After all, every of these fashions has a bonus over the OnePlus ultimately or different, so the slight premium would possibly effectively be value paying.

It’s additionally value noting that the Google Pixel 7a is promoting for across the identical worth because the OnePlus on the time of writing. Sure, it’s not the most recent mannequin in Google’s vary, but it surely nonetheless outperforms the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G in a variety of key areas.

Do you have to purchase the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G?

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is one other solidly constructed and keenly priced mid-range cellphone, and it’s made some good enhancements. The show is a real spotlight, with its spectacular brightness and colour-accuracy.

It’s good to see OnePlus persevering with to work at its essential digicam providing too, although the outcomes proceed to be a bit hit or miss. In the meantime, the persevering with lack of a devoted ultra-wide makes it stand out from its contemporaries in a manner that many received’t understand as constructive.

Battery life is even stronger than earlier than, too, with real two-day utilization potential. Whereas 80W charging assist is first rate, nonetheless, OnePlus now not bundles that charger within the field, which can symbolize a hidden price for some.

Maybe the most important problem with the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is efficiency. Sticking with the identical gradual chip for a number of generations in a row is admittedly taking its toll, particularly in comparison with the cellphone’s slicker and speedier competitors.

Finally, whereas the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is a reliable cellphone, you may spend just a bit extra money on the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G, Redmi Observe 13 Professional, or Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, and get a way more balanced bundle.

Specs

• OxygenOS 14 on Android 14
• 6.67in, FHD+, OLED, 120Hz, flat show
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
• 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 256GB storage
• 50Mp, f/1.8 essential digicam
• 2Mp depth-assisted digicam
• As much as 1080p @ 30fps rear video
• 16Mp front-facing digicam
• Stereo audio system
• Twin-SIM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 5.1
• 5110mAh battery
• 80W charging assist
• 162.9 x 75.6 x 8.1mm
• 191g
• Launch colors: Tremendous Silver, Mega Blue