OnePlus has carved a niche for itself in the budget-friendly smartphone segment with its Nord CE series. The “Lite” moniker within the CE range signifies a focus on affordability while retaining some core features. The latest addition, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite, builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessors, the Nord CE 2 Lite and Nord CE 3 Lite, while introducing noteworthy upgrades and refinements. Let’s delve into a detailed comparison of these three models to assess how they stack up against each other.
1. Display
The Nord CE4 Lite takes a clear lead in the display department. It boasts a 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a smoother user experience and deeper blacks compared to the 6.59-inch and 6.72-inch LCD panels found on the CE2 Lite and CE3 Lite respectively, both with 120Hz refresh rates. The CE4 Lite’s display also gets brighter, reaching up to 2100 nits peak brightness compared to the 680 nits of the CE3 Lite and unspecified brightness levels for the CE2 Lite.
2. Design and Other Features
The design language across all three phones is relatively similar, with a punch-hole display and a plastic back. However, the CE4 Lite sheds some weight at 191g compared to the 195g of its predecessors. Another noteworthy addition in the CE4 Lite is the in-display fingerprint sensor, a feature missing in both the CE2 Lite and CE3 Lite, which relied on side-mounted fingerprint scanners.
The CE4 Lite also boasts an IP54 dust and water resistance rating, which is absent in the previous models. All three phones retain the 3.5mm headphone jack, a welcome feature for audio enthusiasts.
The Nord CE4 Lite also introduces a new “Super Silver” color option alongside the standard “Mega Blue” and the India-exclusive “Ultra Orange,” providing users with more choices to personalize their device.
3. Performance and Software
Under the hood, all three models are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G SoC, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming. The Nord CE 2 Lite and Nord CE 3 Lite offer up to 8GB of RAM, while the Nord CE4 Lite is available in 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB configurations. Software-wise, the Nord CE4 Lite ships with Android 14 and OxygenOS 14, providing the latest features and optimizations compared to the Android 12-based OxygenOS 12.1 on the Nord CE 2 Lite and the Android 13-based OxygenOS 13.1 on the Nord CE 3 Lite.
4. Cameras
The camera department sees a shift in the CE4 Lite. It ditches the triple rear camera setup of its predecessors for a dual camera system. The main sensor, however, gets a significant bump to 50MP with a larger 1/1.95” Sony LYT-600 sensor and f/1.8 aperture. This suggests potentially better low-light performance and overall image quality compared to the 64MP sensor in the CE2 Lite and the 108MP sensor in the CE3 Lite.
Both the CE2 Lite and CE3 Lite retained the 2MP macro and depth sensors. The CE4 Lite keeps the 2MP depth sensor but ditches the macro sensor entirely. The front camera remains consistent at 16MP across all three phones.
5. Battery and Charging
Battery capacity sees a notable upgrade in the Nord CE4 Lite, packing a 5500mAh battery compared to the 5000mAh batteries found in the Nord CE 2 Lite and Nord CE 3 Lite. Moreover, the Nord CE4 Lite supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging, which significantly outpaces the 33W fast charging in the Nord CE 2 Lite and the 67W SuperVOOC fast charging in the Nord CE 3 Lite.
6. Price
In terms of pricing, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite maintains the competitive pricing strategy of its predecessors, offering excellent value for its features and specifications. The base model of the Nord CE4 Lite starts at Rs. 19,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant, while the 8GB + 256GB variant is priced at Rs. 22,999. This pricing is in line with the launch prices of the Nord CE 2 Lite and Nord CE 3 Lite.
7. Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite emerges as a compelling upgrade over its predecessors, offering a superior OLED display, enhanced camera capabilities with OIS, a larger battery with faster charging, and the latest Android 14 software. While the processor remains the same, the overall package delivers a more refined and enjoyable smartphone experience. If you’re seeking a budget-friendly device with impressive features and a focus on display quality and camera performance, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is a worthy contender in the market.
