The OnePlus Nord series has carved a significant niche in the mid-range smartphone market, consistently offering premium features at an accessible price point. The OnePlus Nord 4 5G continues this tradition, promising to deliver a blend of powerful performance, sleek design, and cutting-edge technology. This article delves into the intricate details of the OnePlus Nord 4 5G, exploring its design, display, performance, camera system, software, battery life, connectivity, and overall value proposition.
Design and Build Quality
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G showcases a refined aesthetic, balancing elegance with durability. The device features a sleek glass back with a subtle matte finish, reducing fingerprints and enhancing grip. The frame, crafted from high-quality aluminum, adds to the phone’s premium feel while ensuring robustness.
The Nord 4 5G is available in three striking colors: Midnight Ice, Aurora Blue, and Sunset Red. Each variant has its unique charm, catering to different tastes. The Midnight Ice offers a classic and sophisticated look, while the Aurora Blue exudes a vibrant and youthful energy. The Sunset Red stands out with its bold and fiery hue, perfect for those who want their device to make a statement.
OnePlus has paid close attention to the ergonomics of the Nord 4 5G. The phone’s dimensions (160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4 mm) and weight (185 grams) ensure it feels comfortable in hand, with a well-balanced distribution that prevents fatigue during prolonged use. The button placement is intuitive, with the volume rocker on the left side and the power button, which also doubles as a customizable alert slider, on the right.
Display
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G boasts a 6.55-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 402 PPI. This Full HD+ panel supports HDR10+, ensuring vibrant colors and deep blacks, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming. The 120Hz refresh rate provides smooth scrolling and an overall fluid user experience, a feature that is increasingly becoming a staple in higher-end smartphones.
OnePlus has incorporated several enhancements to optimize the display experience. The display’s peak brightness of 1,100 nits ensures excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. The adaptive brightness feature dynamically adjusts the screen’s brightness based on ambient lighting conditions, reducing eye strain.
Additionally, the Nord 4 5G’s display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6, offering enhanced durability against scratches and minor drops. The device also features an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is both fast and reliable, providing a seamless unlocking experience.
Performance
At the heart of the OnePlus Nord 4 5G lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 780G processor, built on a 5nm architecture. This octa-core chipset comprises a high-performance Cortex-A78 core clocked at 2.4 GHz, three Cortex-A78 cores at 2.2 GHz, and four power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores at 1.9 GHz. The Adreno 642 GPU handles graphics-intensive tasks, ensuring smooth gameplay and high-quality visuals.
The Nord 4 5G is available in three memory configurations: 6GB RAM with 128GB storage, 8GB RAM with 256GB storage, and a top-tier 12GB RAM with 256GB storage. The use of LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage technology ensures fast data transfer rates and quick app load times, contributing to an overall snappy performance.
In everyday use, the OnePlus Nord 4 5G excels at multitasking, effortlessly switching between apps and handling demanding tasks with ease. The device runs on OxygenOS 13, based on Android 13, which is known for its clean and intuitive user interface. OnePlus has included several performance optimizations, such as RAM Boost and Smart Battery Management, to enhance the user experience further.
Camera System
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G features a versatile quad-camera setup on the rear, designed to cater to a wide range of photography needs. The primary sensor is a 64MP Sony IMX682, with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS). This sensor captures detailed and vibrant images, even in challenging lighting conditions.
The secondary camera is an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens with a 119-degree field of view, perfect for landscape shots and group photos. The third camera is a 5MP macro lens, allowing users to capture intricate details of small objects from a close distance. The fourth camera is a 2MP monochrome sensor, enhancing portrait shots by adding depth and contrast.
OnePlus has equipped the Nord 4 5G with an array of camera features, including Nightscape mode for low-light photography, UltraShot HDR, Super Macro, and Pro mode for manual adjustments. The AI scene detection optimizes settings based on the scene being captured, ensuring the best possible outcome.
On the front, the device sports a 32MP selfie camera with an f/2.4 aperture, housed in a punch-hole cutout. The front camera supports features like AI Beautification, Portrait mode, and 1080p video recording, ensuring high-quality selfies and video calls.
Software and User Experience
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G runs on OxygenOS 13, OnePlus’s custom skin based on Android 13. Known for its clean and bloatware-free interface, OxygenOS offers a near-stock Android experience with several useful enhancements.
One of the standout features of OxygenOS is the extensive customization options it provides. Users can personalize the look and feel of their device through various themes, icon packs, and accent colors. The Always-On Display feature can be customized with different clock styles and notifications, adding a touch of personalization to the device.
OxygenOS also includes several productivity features, such as Zen Mode, which encourages users to take a break from their phones, and Work-Life Balance, which helps manage notifications based on time and location. The Gaming Mode optimizes performance and minimizes distractions during gameplay, ensuring an immersive gaming experience.
The software experience on the OnePlus Nord 4 5G is smooth and responsive, thanks to the combination of the powerful hardware and the well-optimized OxygenOS. Regular software updates and security patches ensure the device remains up-to-date and secure.
Battery Life and Charging
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery, providing ample power to get through a full day of moderate to heavy use. The power-efficient Snapdragon 780G processor, combined with the optimizations in OxygenOS, ensures the device delivers excellent battery life.
OnePlus has included its proprietary Warp Charge 65T technology, which offers 65W fast charging. This technology can charge the device from 0 to 70% in just 20 minutes and to 100% in under 40 minutes. This fast-charging capability is a significant convenience for users who are always on the go and need a quick power boost.
The device also supports 30W wireless charging, a feature that is still relatively rare in the mid-range segment. The reverse wireless charging feature allows the Nord 4 5G to charge other compatible devices, such as earbuds or other smartphones, adding to its versatility.
Connectivity and 5G
As the name suggests, the OnePlus Nord 4 5G supports 5G connectivity, providing access to ultra-fast internet speeds and low latency. The device supports both Sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G bands, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of 5G networks globally.
In addition to 5G, the Nord 4 5G includes support for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and GPS. The dual-SIM capability allows users to manage two phone numbers simultaneously, a useful feature for those who travel frequently or need to separate work and personal contacts.
OnePlus has also included a robust suite of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass, ensuring the device is equipped for a variety of applications and use cases.
Audio and Multimedia
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G offers a well-rounded multimedia experience, thanks to its high-quality display and audio capabilities. The device features dual stereo speakers, providing rich and immersive sound for music, videos, and gaming. The Dolby Atmos support enhances the audio quality, delivering a more dynamic and spatial sound experience.
For those who prefer wired audio, the Nord 4 5G includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature that is becoming increasingly rare in modern smartphones. The device also supports high-resolution audio codecs such as aptX HD and LDAC, ensuring a high-quality audio experience over Bluetooth.
The combination of the vibrant AMOLED display and the robust audio capabilities makes the Nord 4 5G an excellent choice for media consumption, whether streaming movies, listening to music, or playing games.
Security and Privacy
Security is a top priority for OnePlus, and the Nord 4 5G includes several features to protect user data and privacy. The in-display fingerprint sensor provides fast and secure unlocking, while the face unlock feature offers an additional layer of convenience.
OxygenOS includes several privacy-focused features, such as App Locker, which allows users to lock specific apps with a password or fingerprint, and Private Safe, which secures sensitive files and documents. The device also includes a built-in VPN, providing an extra layer of security for online activities.
OnePlus is committed to providing regular security updates, ensuring the device remains protected against the latest threats and vulnerabilities.
Value Proposition
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G offers an impressive array of features and specifications at a competitive price point, making it a compelling option in the mid-range smartphone market. Its combination of premium design, powerful performance, versatile camera system, and 5G connectivity positions it as a strong contender against more expensive flagship devices.
OnePlus has consistently delivered value-driven products, and the Nord 4 5G is no exception. The device offers a flagship-like experience without the flagship price tag, appealing to budget-conscious consumers who do not want to compromise on quality or performance.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord 4 5G continues the legacy of the Nord series, offering a well-rounded and feature-rich smartphone that caters to a wide range of users. With its sleek design, vibrant display, powerful performance, versatile camera system, and robust connectivity options, the Nord 4 5G sets a new benchmark in the mid-range segment.
OnePlus’s commitment to providing a high-quality user experience, coupled with regular software updates and security patches, ensures that the Nord 4 5G remains a reliable and future-proof device. Whether you are a tech enthusiast, a photography buff, or simply someone looking for a dependable and stylish smartphone, the OnePlus Nord 4 5G is a worthy contender that delivers on all fronts.
