OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G Review

It’s been a hot minute since its recent release, so we’ve had quite a bit of time to tinker with the new OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G. It’s become something of a wildcard in mid-range smartphone market, as the brand itself doesn’t really deal with a solid “budget range” as compared to its competitors. As such, it finds itself going toe-to-toe with a bunch of other midrange devices, having to prove itself a worthy opponent.

While the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G comes with most of the features its predecessor possesses, it does introduce a few new things that could come in handy as a daily driver. At the end of the day, it’s still a OnePlus device, so the bar most definitely needs to be set at a certain height–which we did.

As such, we went right into things, had it in our hands for a few weeks, and saw how it fared as a reliable partner in the pocket. Read on to see how things went.

Geeksthetic

The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G embraces a minimalist design with a certain sheen. There’s nothing loud about its looks, which is nice, given one of its newer features. Our unit clad in Super Silver sports a plastic back and frame at 162.9 mm wide and 8.1 mm thin. It’s lightweight and comfortable in hand at 191 grams. While it may not feel as premium as glass or metal, it looks premium enough. It’s one hell of a fingerprint magnet, though. You really need a TPU case if you’re not a fan of such a finish, which is sold separately.

Up front, you’re greeted by a 6.67-inch, 1080 × 2400 resolution display, with slim bezels making up its 92.2% screen-to-body ratio. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor doubles as the power button, providing quick and reliable access. At the bottom, you’ll find the USB-C port and a single speaker grille. You’ll also find one up top. Dual stereo speakers, hell yeah.

A standout feature is the IP54 rating, offering protection against dust and splashes. It’s a welcome addition in this price range, providing peace of mind for those accidental spills or unexpected rain showers.

Binge-Watching Factor

The 6.67-inch AMOLED display is where the Nord CE4 Lite 5G packs a bit of a punch here. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling through social media, and watching videos feels fluid and responsive. Alongside some crisp visuals, we get Eye Comfort and Auto Brightness, making it great for long viewing periods, or simply viewing on the go.

While it may not reach the peak brightness levels of more expensive models, it’s more than adequate for most indoor and outdoor situations. The vivid colors and deep blacks characteristic of AMOLED panels make for an immersive viewing experience.

Audio is handled by dual stereo speakers that can go all the way up to “300% Ultra Volume.” This particular feature ensures you won’t miss notifications or struggle to hear your content in noisy environments. It’s really loud.

Gaming Prowess

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset and Adreno 619 GPU, the Nord CE4 Lite 5G holds its own in the gaming department. While it won’t be running Genshin Impact at max settings anytime soon, you can still enjoy such demanding titles if you tweak the graphic settings a bit. Zenless Zone Zero runs smoothly in its default settings, and it can be quite an action-packed game. In any case, we didn’t experience much trouble.

As for the likes of Honor of Kings and MLBB, we had an even easier time. We were able to crank the settings a bit higher without experiencing any stutters.

While the CE4 Lite is by no means a dedicated gaming phone, it handles most popular titles with ease. The 8GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking and app switching, while the 120Hz display contributes to a responsive gaming experience. Overall, if you don’t demand too much from it, this smartphone can deliver an adequately enjoyable gaming experience.

Geek Photoshoot Capabilities

The camera setup on the Nord CE4 Lite 5G is straightforward but effective. We don’t get any bells and whistles here. The main 50MP sensor with OIS captures detailed shots in good lighting conditions. Colors are generally accurate, and the dynamic range is decent even up to 2X lossless zoom.

: 1X

: 2X

: 1X

: 2X

: 1X

: 2X

The 2MP depth sensor aids in creating a natural bokeh effect for portrait shots. While it’s not as versatile as having an ultrawide or telephoto lens, it gets the job done for casual photography. You also get a decent amount of detail that doesn’t get overwhelmed by the AI. It’s nice to see that even non-flagships and upper midrangers are stepping up their game when it comes to background bokeh.

: 1X

: 2X

As for selfies, we can appreciate the 16MP front-facing camera. For as long as you’re under a bit of lighting, you capture decent, social media-worthy photos. The inclusion of HDR helps balance tricky lighting situations.

: 1X

: 1X Portrait

Video capabilities are modest, with both front and rear cameras limited to 1080p at 30fps. It’s sufficient for capturing everyday moments and going through the usual video call. Don’t expect content creator-levels of output, though.

Everyday Reliability

As a daily driver, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G can just be the smartphone to satisfy your needs. OxygenOS 14, based on Android 14, offers a clean and intuitive user experience with useful customization options. We really didn’t encounter any problems here, and even received a couple of updates. Things were silky smooth throughout the couple of weeks we had the smartphone.

An interesting addition is the Aqua Touch feature, which improves touch response on a wet display. It’s a thoughtful touch for those intense gaming sessions or when you’re caught in the rain. It may sound like a gimmick, but after actually using it during what was quite the rainy season, it does come in quite handy.

The 5500mAh battery definitely puts in the work, easily lasting through a full day of heavy use. Of course, mobile date notwithstanding. When it’s time to recharge, the 80W fast charging capability gets you back up and running in no time. The addition of 5W reverse charging is a nice touch, but don’t expect too much. It won’t charge as fast as you can charge the smartphone itself, but serving as a power bank is still a nice feature to have.

It’s worth noting that 5G connectivity ensures you’re future-proofed for faster mobile data speeds, while the ample 256GB of storage means you won’t run out of space anytime soon. In terms of reliability, you’ll experience no issues here.

Final Geek Lifestyle Verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G may not be the most powerful or feature-packed phone in its class, but it offers a well-balanced package that caters to the essentials. It excels in battery life, charging speed, and display quality, while offering decent performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming. The camera performance isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s reliable enough for most situations. The inclusion of an IP54 rating, and unique features like 300% Ultra Volume and Aqua Touch add some value to the overall package.

Speaking of value, that might be a bit of a point of contention. As of right now, this smartphone retails for PHP 17,999. That’s not a small amount, by any means. OnePlus pretty much has its hands full as the CE4 Lite will be competing against a myriad of other brands in this specific price range which might edge it out in terms of specs and features. Nonetheless, if you’re a longtime OnePlus user who isn’t looking to go for the much more expensive OnePlus 12R, then this might be for you. At the end of the day, it will all be down to personal preference.

The Nord CE4 Lite 5G can a compelling option for those who with to partake. It may not be a heavy-hitter, but it spec and feature-wise, it does strikes a balance that many users will appreciate in their daily smartphone use.

For those who wish to cop this bad boy, it’s available for purchase via Lazada and Shopee. For more information, check out the official website and Facebook page.

OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G Full Specs: