BUYING a new smartphone shouldn’t mean breaking the bank – and nor should you settle for poor quality if you go cheaper than the big names either.
OnePlus has shaped up to be one of the more popular mid-range devices around since bursting onto the scene more than ten years ago.
I’ve already tried the flagship OnePlus 12 – you can read that review here.
But for something a little more affordable, you might want to consider this, the OnePlus Nord 4.
I’ve taken it for a whirl as my main smartphone for the last week.
Here is my full verdict…
Metal – lots of metal.
That’s the first thing that strikes me when I pick up the Nord 4.
And I’m not 100 per cent sold on it aesthetically.
It feels tough, which is a bonus. And it avoids pesky finger prints too.
There’s a wave-effect on the back that is a nice difference compared to other samey smartphones out there and it provides a bit of extra grip as well.
It doesn’t feel too weighty at 199.5g either, which is about average with competitors in this price range.
As for the display, it’s an AMOLED and comes in at 6.74-inches with 1240 x 2772 resolution.
That’s pretty big and the resolution is larger than similar rivals, meaning you get beautiful, bold colours. Brightness is pretty good too.
OnePlus has also put one of its unique features, Aqua Touch, which allows you to use the screen with wet hands – which has come in useful during a pretty rainy week (and I’m pleased to say, does work, even if it’s uncomfortable).
I’m testing the Mercurial Silver model – the full choice of colours include:
The Nord 4 features a Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 with 12/16GB RAM options, which allows it to glide through anything you throw at it.
Playing GTA: Vice City was no trouble for the handset at all.
It runs on Android 14 with OnePlus’ own OxygenOS on top, which is simple and effective.
However, I’m really not keen on the pre-loaded apps that appear with things like AliExpress and Booking.com – of course, you can just delete these yourself.
OnePlus has committed to providing four major Android updates and six years of security patches which isn’t the biggest around but by no means bad either.
The longer you receive updates, the longer you can safely continue using your smartphone - with the latest features thrown in too for free.
Samsung
Since the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung said it would provide at least seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates.
OnePlus
At the launch of the OnePlus 12, OnePlus committed to at least four years of Android updates and five years of security updates.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi offers four years off Android updates and five years security updates.
Google
For the Pixel 9 series, Google said that devices would receive at least seven years of support.
On paper, the OnePlus Nord 4 has one of the biggest batteries you will find.
It measures in at 5500mAh – by comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s battery is 4,685mAh.
Of course, the way the phone manages battery is what counts most to ensure you get plenty of use out of it.
With average use – which for me includes messaging, browsing, watching YouTube videos and light gaming throughout the day – I was able to get the device to last well into the second day before it needed recharging.
It also charges up pretty fast too, if you have the right kit, as the plug is not included in the box.
At a maximum of 100W wired charging, it will go from empty to full in less than half an hour.
But there’s no wireless charging if that’s you’re thing.
There are two cameras on the back of the OnePlus Nord 4, a 50-megapixel main snapper and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide one.
They take pretty standard photos that neither wow nor overly disappoint.
I find the colour and detail lacks real punch, though there are the usual tools to enhance them after.
OnePlus also has an AI magic eraser feature so you can remove unwanted objects from a photo.
I found the results to be pretty hit and miss.
Removing a tomato from a photo of my partner’s dinner out and you can clearly see it’s been edited, as you’ll see in the results below.
Pros:
Cons:
At £429, the OnePlus Nord 4 is a solid mid-range Android device that won’t break the bank.
And for that price you get a lot of bang for your buck, with a battery to rival most opponents, a big, beautiful display to enjoy games or movies on, as well as top performance.
Let’s not forget fast charging too.
If battery life and performance is more important to you than photos and snazzy features, then this is a good choice.
And if you buy from OnePlus’ website at the moment they throw in a pair of headphones worth £79 as well – or you can opt for the superfaster 100W charging cable.
Rating: 4/5
If you’re looking for a new budget-friendly smartphone and still not sure, why not check out some of these alternatives.
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.
Always do your own research before making any purchase.
