OnePlus Nord CE 4: In a smartphone landscape where “premium” often translates to “expensive,” the OnePlus Nord CE 4 emerges as a refreshing reminder that exceptional technology doesn’t always require exceptional spending. Starting at ₹21,158, this device challenges every assumption about what a sub-₹25,000 smartphone can deliver, proving that smart engineering and thoughtful design choices matter more than flashy marketing gimmicks.
The Evolution of Affordable Excellence
The Nord CE 4 represents the culmination of OnePlus’s journey back to its roots—delivering flagship-level experiences at prices that make sense. After years of chasing the premium market, OnePlus seems to have remembered what made them special in the first place: creating devices that punch well above their weight class.
This latest iteration builds upon the solid foundation laid by its predecessors while addressing the pain points that held previous CE models back. The result is a smartphone that feels mature, refined, and surprisingly capable in ways that its price tag shouldn’t allow. The engineering philosophy here is clear: maximize impact while minimizing compromise.
Display Technology That Rivals the Flagships
The 6.7-inch AMOLED display immediately announces the Nord CE 4’s serious intentions. With a 120Hz refresh rate, 1100 nits peak brightness, and 2160Hz PWM dimming, this screen delivers visual experiences that were reserved for premium devices just a few years ago. The 394ppi resolution ensures crisp text and detailed imagery, while the 93.4% screen-to-body ratio creates an immersive viewing experience.
What sets this display apart isn’t just the specifications—it’s the thoughtful implementation. The 240Hz touch response rate ensures that every interaction feels immediate and precise, crucial for both productivity tasks and gaming. The support for HDR10+ and Display P3 color gamut means that streaming content appears as the creators intended, with vibrant colors and excellent contrast ratios.
Performance That Refuses to Compromise
At the heart of the Nord CE 4 beats the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, a chip that represents Qualcomm’s commitment to bringing flagship-level capabilities to the mid-range segment. Built on a 4nm process, this processor delivers impressive performance while maintaining energy efficiency that benefits both daily usage and battery life.
The 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, expandable through virtual RAM technology, ensures smooth multitasking even when switching between demanding applications. The UFS 3.1 storage provides snappy app launches and file transfers, while the option to expand storage up to 1TB via microSD card addresses one of the most common pain points in modern smartphones.
Camera System That Captures Life’s Moments
Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the thoughtful camera setup that prioritizes real-world usability over spec sheet bragging rights. The 50MP main camera uses a Sony LYT600 sensor with optical image stabilization, ensuring sharp photos even in challenging conditions. The 1/1.95″ sensor size allows for impressive light gathering, crucial for maintaining image quality as lighting conditions deteriorate.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera with its 112-degree field of view opens up creative possibilities for landscape photography and group shots. While the 16MP front camera might seem modest on paper, its 1.0µm pixel size and f/2.4 aperture deliver selfies that are sharp, detailed, and well-balanced. The camera software includes practical features like Night Mode, Portrait mode, and dual-view video recording.
Battery Life That Outlasts Your Day
The 5,500mAh battery capacity represents a significant achievement in power management engineering. This isn’t just about raw capacity—it’s about intelligent optimization that ensures users can rely on their device throughout even the most demanding days. The battery easily delivers full-day usage under normal conditions, with many users reporting comfortable day-and-a-half usage patterns.
The 100W SUPERVOOC charging technology transforms the charging experience from a chore into a brief pause. The ability to reach significant charge levels in just minutes means that battery anxiety becomes a thing of the past. The included 100W adapter ensures that users can take advantage of this capability right out of the box.
Design Language That Speaks to Practicality
The Nord CE 4’s design philosophy prioritizes function without sacrificing form. The device feels substantial without being unwieldy, measuring approximately 186 grams and featuring ergonomic curves that make extended usage comfortable. The build quality reflects OnePlus’s attention to detail, with premium materials and precise assembly that belies the device’s affordable pricing.
The color options—Dark Chrome and Celadon Marble—offer sophisticated aesthetics that appeal to professional users who need their device to look appropriate in business settings. The pre-applied screen protector and included case demonstrate OnePlus’s understanding that protection shouldn’t be an afterthought.
Software Experience That Prioritizes the User
Running OxygenOS 14.0 based on Android 14, the Nord CE 4 delivers a clean, intuitive interface that stays out of the user’s way while providing powerful customization options. The software experience feels responsive and polished, with thoughtful animations and transitions that enhance rather than distract from daily usage.
The promise of cutting-edge AI features from the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor creates anticipation for future updates that could further enhance the device’s capabilities. OnePlus’s track record with software updates suggests that Nord CE 4 users can expect their device to improve over time through OTA updates.
The Verdict on Value Engineering
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 represents successful value engineering at its finest. Rather than cutting corners, OnePlus has made strategic choices about where to invest their engineering resources to maximize user benefit. The result is a device that feels more expensive than its price tag suggests while delivering performance that satisfies both casual users and power users.
For consumers seeking a reliable, capable smartphone that doesn’t require significant financial sacrifice, the Nord CE 4 makes a compelling case. It proves that in 2025, exceptional smartphones are accessible to more users than ever before, democratizing technology that was once reserved for those willing to pay premium prices.
