OnePlus Nord 4: The smartphone landscape continuously evolves with manufacturers striving to distinguish their offerings in the fiercely competitive mid-range segment.
Released in July 2024, the OnePlus Nord 4 represents a bold statement from the brand, bringing premium design elements and impressive specifications to a price point that won’t break the bank. Let’s dive into what makes this device stand out from the crowd.
OnePlus Nord 4: Design: The Metal Renaissance
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the Nord 4 is its return to a premium metal unibody construction—a rarity in today’s plastic and glass-dominated market.
OnePlus proudly touts it as “the slimmest Nord ever” at just 8mm thick, crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum that offers superior durability while maintaining an elegant aesthetic.
The device comes in three distinct finishes:
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Obsidian Black (brushed aluminum with a subtle, understated look)
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Mercurial Silver (featuring over 28,000 nano-laser cuts that create a fluid effect with light)
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Oasis Blue (an anodized dual-tone finish providing a calming appearance)
This premium build quality gives the Nord 4 a substantial yet comfortable feel in hand. The horizontal camera arrangement (designed to accommodate a larger battery) sits within a glass panel on the rear, creating an interesting visual contrast with the metal body.
Despite the departure from previous OnePlus design languages, the signature alert slider remains, maintaining that distinctive OnePlus DNA.
Display: Flagship-Level Visual Experience
The Nord 4 features a substantial 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2772 × 1240 pixels (450 ppi). This screen delivers impressive specifications that rival many flagship devices:
| Display Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Panel Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2772 × 1240 pixels (450 ppi) |
| Aspect Ratio | 20.1:9 |
| Refresh Rate | Up to 120Hz adaptive |
| Standard Brightness | 1100 nits (HBM) |
| Peak Brightness | 2150 nits |
| Color Depth | 10-bit (1.07 billion colors) |
| Color Gamut | 100% sRGB, 100% Display P3 |
| Special Features | HDR10+, Ultra HDR support, Aqua Touch technology |
| Eye Protection | PWM dimming up to 2160Hz, TÜV Rheinland certified |
| Screen-to-body Ratio | 93.5% |
The “Aqua Touch” technology is particularly noteworthy, allowing for responsive touch input even with wet fingers—a practical feature for everyday use.
Combined with the ultra-high brightness levels, the display remains perfectly visible even under direct sunlight, addressing a common pain point in mid-range devices.
Performance: Punching Above Its Weight
Under the hood, the Nord 4 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 Mobile Platform—an efficient yet powerful chipset built on advanced 4nm process technology.
This processor strikes an excellent balance between performance and energy efficiency, making it ideal for demanding tasks while maintaining reasonable battery life.
Memory configurations include:
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8GB LPDDR5X RAM + 128GB UFS 3.1 storage
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8GB LPDDR5X RAM + 256GB UFS 4.0 storage
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12GB LPDDR5X RAM + 256GB UFS 4.0 storage
The device also features OnePlus’ RAM-Vitalization technology, which effectively allows the phone to utilize storage space as additional virtual RAM when needed.
This technology helps maintain smooth performance even when multiple demanding applications are running simultaneously.
In benchmark tests, the Nord 4 achieves impressive scores:
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Geekbench 6: 1911 (Single-Core), 5143 (Multi-Core)
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AnTuTu: Approximately 1,366,982 points
These numbers translate to smooth real-world performance, whether you’re multitasking between apps, playing graphically intensive games, or using AI features.
The Nord 4 handles everyday tasks with ease while providing enough headroom for more demanding workloads.
Camera System: Versatile Photography
The camera setup on the Nord 4 emphasizes quality over quantity, featuring a dual-rear camera system:
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Primary: 50MP Sony LYTIA sensor (1/1.95″, f/1.8 aperture, OIS, PDAF)
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Secondary: 8MP ultra-wide angle lens (112° field of view)
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Selfie: 16MP Sony IMX471 (f/2.4 aperture)
While this might seem modest compared to the quad-camera arrays on some competitors, OnePlus has focused on optimizing image quality rather than padding the spec sheet.
The primary Sony LYTIA sensor, in particular, delivers excellent results in various lighting conditions, with the optical image stabilization (OIS) helping to ensure sharp images even in challenging scenarios.
The camera system supports various shooting modes:
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True-light HDR for improved dynamic range
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Ultra HDR for Google Photos integration
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AI-enhanced portrait mode with skin-tone optimization
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Night mode for low-light photography
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4K video recording at 30fps
OnePlus has also incorporated several AI-powered features into the camera experience:
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AI Groufie enhancement (fixes blurred faces in group photos)
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AI object eraser (removes unwanted elements from photos)
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AI object selection (extracts objects from images for creative use)
These computational photography features help elevate the camera experience beyond what the hardware specifications might suggest on paper.
Battery and Charging: Endurance Champion
Battery life is a particular strength of the Nord 4, featuring a substantial 5500mAh dual-cell battery. This large capacity, combined with the efficient processor and optimized software, delivers exceptional endurance:
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Up to 50.4 hours of typical use according to OnePlus’ Day of Use model
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Comfortable all-day battery life even with heavy usage
Equally impressive is the charging technology. The Nord 4 supports 100W SUPERVOOC fast charging, which delivers:
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5 hours of Netflix streaming with just 5 minutes of charging
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Full charge (1% to 100%) in approximately 28 minutes
The device also includes OnePlus’ Battery Health Engine, which helps maintain battery longevity by intelligently managing charging patterns and protecting against degradation over time.
Software: OxygenOS with AI Enhancements
The Nord 4 runs OxygenOS 14.1 based on Android 14, offering a clean, fast, and customizable user experience.
OnePlus has promised four major Android version updates and six years of security patches—an impressive commitment for a mid-range device.
The software includes several AI-powered features:
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AI audio summarization (converts speech to concise text summaries)
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AI caption generation for photos and content
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AI writing assistance for messaging and content creation
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Smart connectivity optimization for improved signal and data speeds
These features are integrated thoughtfully throughout the interface rather than feeling like gimmicky additions, enhancing the overall user experience in meaningful ways.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Nord 4 offers a comprehensive set of connectivity options:
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5G support (multiple bands for global compatibility)
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Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO
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Bluetooth 5.4 with support for high-quality audio codecs
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NFC for contactless payments
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Dual SIM with Dual Active support
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GNSS support (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS)
Additional features include:
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In-display fingerprint sensor
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Stereo speakers
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Infrared remote control functionality
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USB Type-C (USB 2.0)
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Alert slider for quick profile switching
Value Proposition and Market Position
Priced at ₹26,490 in India (approximately $334 globally), the OnePlus Nord 4 positions itself as a compelling option in the mid-range segment. Its primary competitors include:
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Google Pixel 8a (superior camera processing but less impressive hardware)
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Samsung Galaxy A55 (better software support but inferior performance)
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Nothing Phone (2) (distinctive design but less powerful processor)
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Realme GT 6T (similar performance but less premium construction)
The Nord 4’s metal construction, flagship-grade display, large battery, and fast charging help it stand out in this crowded market segment.
While it may not excel in every category compared to its competitors, it offers a well-balanced package that emphasizes build quality and real-world performance.
Key Takeaways: Why Consider the Nord 4?
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Premium construction: The metal unibody design provides a more premium look and feel than most plastic or glass competitors.
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Exceptional display: The high-brightness AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate delivers a visual experience typically reserved for more expensive devices.
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Balanced performance: The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 provides ample power for everyday tasks and gaming without excessive battery drain.
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Long-lasting battery: The 5500mAh capacity ensures all-day battery life even for heavy users.
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Blazing-fast charging: 100W SUPERVOOC charging eliminates battery anxiety with just minutes at the outlet.
The OnePlus Nord 4 represents a thoughtful approach to the mid-range segment, focusing on the aspects that most impact day-to-day use rather than trying to win the specification war.
While no phone is perfect—some users might prefer a telephoto lens or wireless charging—the Nord 4 delivers an experience that feels premium in the ways that matter most.
For users seeking a device that combines flagship-like design and display quality with solid performance and exceptional battery life, the OnePlus Nord 4 presents a compelling option that doesn’t require flagship pricing.
