OnePlus Nord 4 review
The Nord 4 is a relic if you're paying full current price; it's a steal only as a secondhand backup device for €50–100. For fresh money, any current-year budget or midrange phone will outpace it in battery, charging speed, performance, and software support.
This review is based on OnePlus’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the OnePlus Nord 4, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Nord 4 is a 2020 mid-range phone that does the basics well—its AMOLED screen, 765G chip, and 30W charging were solid for that year—but it's now deeply outpaced by rivals that cost the same or less. Worth buying only as a clearance find or if you need dual SIM and nothing else matters.
Design & Build
At 184g and 8.2mm thick, the Nord 4 feels substantial without being unwieldy. The glass front and back with plastic frame is a standard play for this class, and Gorilla Glass 5 is fine for everyday scratches—just not as hardy as later glass or matte finishes. IP65 rating means it survives splashes and brief rain, which is genuinely useful for a mid-ranger from 2020, though it won't survive a dunk. The phone sits between the extremes: not light, not heavy, practical to hold for an hour of use.
Display
The 6.44-inch Fluid AMOLED at 90Hz refresh is the phone's strongest card. At 408 ppi with a 1080×2400 resolution, it's sharp enough that pixelation isn't an issue, and AMOLED blacks are genuinely dark, making video and photos pop. HDR10+ support adds dimension for streaming content, though real-world brightness isn't stated here—typical 2020 AMOLED peaks around 600–800 nits in auto mode, which is solid for indoors but will struggle against direct sunlight. The 90Hz refresh, once a differentiator for OnePlus, is now table stakes even on budget phones by 2024; this was impressive when the Nord 4 launched but feels ordinary today.
Performance
The Snapdragon 765G is a capable chip for 2020, built on 7nm and pairing one fast core with six efficient ones. For messaging, social media, and light browsing, it handles everything without lag. The Adreno 620 GPU is where it shows its limits: lighter games like Candy Crush or Clash Royale run smoothly, but demanding 3D titles (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) will drop frames or force you to lower graphical settings. Everyday performance remains snappy even now, but the 765G is no longer competitive for gaming against newer upper-midrange chips. If you're not a gamer, you won't notice; if you are, don't expect smooth framerates in anything demanding.
Software
The Nord 4 shipped with Android 10 and OxygenOS 12, which is now six years out of date. OxygenOS has always been clean and fast—light bloat, quick updates when they came—but this phone is long past its software support window. Security patches are unlikely, and modern apps increasingly drop support for Android 12. If you're considering one as a used buy, accept that it's in end-of-life territory: it will work fine for a year or two, but you're not getting fresh features or security guarantees. Custom ROM communities keep older Snapdragon 765G phones alive, but that's not for casual users.
Camera
The 48MP f/1.8 main sensor with OIS and PDAF is decent for stills in bright light—daylight photos are sharp and well-balanced, and the f/1.8 aperture helps in moderate indoor scenes. The 8MP ultrawide with a 119-degree field of view is useful for group shots and landscapes, though the smaller 1/4-inch sensor means dim rooms or evening shots look noisy. The 2MP macro is more novelty than practical tool. Video maxes out at 4K 30fps, which is fine but not fluid for fast motion, and gyro-EIS stabilization helps but is no match for optical. The front-facing 32MP and 8MP ultrawide are generous for selfies and video calls, capturing plenty of detail. Overall, this is solid mid-range camera work from 2020, but newer phones at the same price now shoot sharper, faster video and process low-light scenes better.
Battery & Charging
The 4115 mAh battery with 30W charging is where the 2020 positioning shows its age. In mixed daily use (texts, web, calls, some video), expect a full day with light usage or heavy use dipping into the evening—nothing to complain about, but 5000+ mAh is now standard even at budget levels. The 30W charging tops up from zero to 100 in about an hour, which is respectable but nowhere near the 65–120W rivals now offer at comparable prices. The battery itself will degrade like any Li-Po, and after six years in the field, many Nord 4 units are showing worn capacity.
Value & Verdict
In 2020, the Nord 4 was a smart choice at its launch price—it undercut flagships while keeping the key features (AMOLED, 5G, decent chip, IP rating). Today it's a relic. You can find used units for €50–150, and at that price as a throwaway secondary phone or a gift to someone who just needs texts and calls, it's fine. But if you're spending €190 (current pricing), you're making a mistake: newer mid-rangers costing the same offer vastly superior battery life, faster charging, better cameras, and current software. The Nord 4's era of relevance ended around 2022. Buy it only if you specifically need dual SIM, can't find used alternatives in your market, or are willing to accept a six-year-old experience for the sake of brand loyalty.
Verdict
The Nord 4 is a relic if you're paying full current price; it's a steal only as a secondhand backup device for €50–100. For fresh money, any current-year budget or midrange phone will outpace it in battery, charging speed, performance, and software support.
- AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh is bright and smooth, ideal for media and social scrolling
- IP65 rating and dual-SIM design are useful for travel or durability-conscious buyers
- 30W charging and 4115 mAh battery deliver solid endurance for light-to-moderate daily use
- Lightweight at 184g and thin at 8.2mm, comfortable to hold and pocket for hours
- Software is six years old (Android 12 at latest); no security patches or OS updates, abandoning it to end-of-life status
- Snapdragon 765G struggles with demanding games and lags behind modern midrange chips by a clear margin
- 30W charging and sub-4200 mAh battery are now entry-level specs; rivals offer 65W+ and 5500+ mAh for the same outlay
OnePlus Nord 4 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2020, July 21 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.44 inches, 100.6 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio), Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~408 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.5, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Battery | 4115 mAh |
| Charging | 100W wired, PPS, 100% in 28 min |
| Software | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, OxygenOS 12 |
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 2.89 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Durability | IP65 dust tight and water resistant (low pressure water jets) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
OnePlus Nord 4 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Nord 4 support 5G?
Yes. The Nord 4 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Nord 4 use?
The Nord 4 runs on the Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm).
What display does the Nord 4 have?
A 6.44 inches, 100.6 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~408 ppi density).
How big is the Nord 4 battery?
The Nord 4 has a 4115 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 100W wired, PPS, 100% in 28 min.
Does the Nord 4 have NFC?
Yes, the Nord 4 has NFC.
Is the Nord 4 water resistant?
The Nord 4 carries a IP65 dust tight and water resistant (low pressure water jets) rating.
Does the Nord 4 support a microSD card?
No, the Nord 4 does not support expandable storage.
Does the Nord 4 have a headphone jack?
No, the Nord 4 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Nord 4 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Nord CE 4
Nord 2T
Ace 5 Racing
Nord CE4 Lite 5G India
Galaxy M56 5G
