OnePlus has just launched its latest Nord CE 4 Lite smartphone in India. The new mid-range model dropped in India for under 20,000 INR. But at this price range, how does it stack up against the iQOO Z9? Which one is better? Let’s find out in this comparison.
1. OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite vs iQOO Z9: Snapdragon or Dimensity?
While there are many similarities between the two devices, one of the major differences between the Nord CE 4 Lite and iQOO Z9 are their chipsets. Under the hood, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC. Meanwhile, the iQOO Z9 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC.
For whatever reason, OnePlus decided to retain the Snapdragon 695, which was also found on the Nord CE 2 Lite and Nord CE 3 Lite. This means that it is still employing an aged processor. So despite launching back in March 2024, the iQOO Z9 has a better chipset.
2. Bigger Battery and Faster Charging
An area where OnePlus makes up ground is in the battery department. While the iQOO Z9 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery pack, the Nord CE 4 Lite packs a larger 5,500mAh cell. The latter also supports 80W wired fast charging, but the former only supports 44W wired fast charging. In just 52 minutes, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite can hit 100 percent charge. The iQOO Z9 only managed a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes, as per official notes.
3. Display and Camera are nearly identical
From the front and back, the two smartphones are quite similar to one another. Both devices sport a 6.67-inch AMOLED display that offers FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Nord CE 4 Lite’s screen has 2,100 nits of peak brightness, which is slightly higher than the 1,800 nits found on the Z9.
These similarities are reflected in the cameras at the rear. Both models pack a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. A 16-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calls can be found on the front of the iQOO Z9 and Nord CE 4 Lite. These devices with a plastic frame and back, but the iQOO Z9 has a slight advantage thanks to its IP54 rating for water and dust resistance.
4. Pricing and Verdict
OnePlus and iQOO’s mid range devices come in two storage configurations, which have identical price tags. The 8GB + 128GB variant costs 19,999 INR and the 8GB + 256GB version is priced at 21,999 INR. However, the iQOO Z9 is currently on sale with a notable 3,000 INR discount. This brings its effective price tag down to just 16,999 INR.
So if you’re on a strict budget, the iQOO Z9 seems better equipped for your needs. It is hard to recommend the Nord CE 4 Lite at the moment, considering its outdated processor and pricing. You do get a flat 1,000 INR discount with bank offers on the new OnePlus phone, but the iQOO Z9 still strikes as the better deal.
