OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite Review: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

TL;DR

The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite offers a vibrant 6.67-inch AMOLED display and decent battery life but is hindered by the aging Snapdragon 695 chip, limiting its future-proofing and video capabilities. While the camera performs well in good lighting, it struggles in low light, and the phone's performance is exaggerated by pre-installed bloatware, making it less competitive in its price range.

Transcript

hi this is the OnePlus Nord C4 light the successor to the C3 Light released about a year ago looking back at the C3 light it aimed to be a more budget oriented phone that however fell a bit short on the lack of a good display as well as performance and camera not really being up to speed with the competition so what's new with the C4 light well on ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎁 OnePlus has shifted to a more mature design with the C4 Light, presenting a serious aesthetic compared to its predecessor.
• 😥 The AMOLED display stands out as a major selling point, providing an enjoyable viewing experience, especially for multimedia content.
• 🙂 While the device handles basic tasks and light gaming effectively, it struggles to compete in a market moving towards more powerful processors.
• 😥 Pre-installed apps are a point of contention, indicating a trend that may irritate consumers seeking a bloatware-free experience.
• 🙂 The rear camera's performance remains respectable in good lighting but suffers in low-light situations, highlighting a need for better low-light technology.
• 😑 The phone's construction gives a premium feel, but the difficulty of pressing the physical buttons could be seen as a quality control issue.
• 👤 Including a headphone jack is a positive addition for traditional audio users amidst a market trend against this feature.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the display of the OnePlus Nord C4 Light compare to the C3 Light?

The OnePlus Nord C4 Light introduces a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, a significant improvement over the previous model's LCD screen. The transition enhances brightness, offering a peak of 1,200 nits and supports refresh rates of up to 120Hz. The colors appear natural and the viewing angles are excellent, making it a standout feature of the device.

Q: What are the main camera improvements in the OnePlus Nord C4 Light?

The main camera has been upgraded to a 50-megapixel sensor from Sony, replacing the previous model's 108-megapixel camera. This change focuses on enhancing photo quality in well-lit conditions, while the secondary lens assists with portrait effects. However, low-light performance shows some shortcomings, leading to reduced sharpness.

Q: Why is the Snapdragon 695 chip considered a limitation for the Nord C4 Light?

The Snapdragon 695 is now about three years old, and while it performs adequately for general tasks, it restricts the device's future-proofing and overall capability. For instance, video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps, falling behind competitors that offer higher resolutions for video—a common expectation in a smartphone at this price point.

Q: What are the battery capabilities of the OnePlus Nord C4 Light?

The OnePlus Nord C4 Light boasts impressive battery life, lasting about two days under normal usage conditions. It supports fast charging up to 80 watts, with a full charge achievable in approximately 50 minutes. Additionally, it features reverse charging, allowing it to act as a power bank, although activation requires enabling the OTG setting.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The OnePlus Nord C4 Light features a significant upgrade with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, enhancing brightness and color quality compared to its predecessor.

• Despite improvements in the display and battery life, the C4 Light is limited by its aging Snapdragon 695 chip, affecting future-proofing and video recording capabilities.

• The device maintains decent photo quality and includes useful features like a 3.5 mm headphone jack and fast charging, but struggles with pre-installed apps and general competition.