Though not as large as rumored, the Lite model still excels with a larger 5110mAh battery compared to the 5000mAh battery of the Nord CE4. You have European laws to blame for that.
OnePlus EU Battery Statement
Due to applicable laws and regulations in certain European countries regarding the carriage of batteries, there are stringent requirements placed on the transportation and handling of battery cells with the Watt-hour rating over 20 Wh. As a result of the nominal voltage of our batteries being 3.88 V, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite will be equipped with a 5110 mAh battery in Europe, instead of the 5500 mAh battery available in other markets.
This will have minor effects on the overall battery usage and charging speed statistics for the device. Please be aware that performance metrics may differ from those communicated globally, and you will receive specific figures for the European version of the device.
OnePlus
It helps that OnePlus has added its Battery Health Engine (BHE), which uses AI to learn your habits and adjust charging speed. It maintains 80% capacity after 1,600 cycles and stops charging when the battery is full. However, the Nord CE4 supports faster 100W charging, while the Nord CE4 Lite supports 80W charging. Plus, you can use it to charge accessories with a Type-C to Type-C or Type-C to Micro-USB cable.
OnePlus has toned down the Lite model’s performance with the Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, whereas the Nord CE4 has a more powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor. Both phones have 8GB RAM, though the Lite model has only 256GB storage. The Nord CE4 gives you a 128GB variant if you don’t need that much space.
The Lite model retains the brilliant 120Hz AMOLED display, although OnePlus has amped the screen brightness to 2100 nits, making it easier to see in direct sunlight than the 1100 nits peak brightness of the Nord CE4. It does support Aqua Touch, which first came out on the OnePlus 12. With the technology, you’ll still be able to control your device in the rain or while holding it in sweaty hands. Meanwhile, the IP64 resistance rating means your device is safe from rain, water splashes, and dust.
Great camera & audio on the Nord CE4 Lite
The Nord CE4 still has the same Sony LYT-600 camera sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) as the more expensive Nord CE4 5G. The trade-off is in the secondary camera, where you now have a 2MP mono lens instead of an 8MP lens that helps you fit more scenes into the frame.
The mono lens is less practical but mostly useful for black-and-white photography or enhancing details. The 16MP selfie camera uses a cutout design. The device also sports dual stereo speakers with a volume boost of up to 300% with Ultra Volume Mode.
The Nord CE4 Lite is now available in Super Silver and Mega Blue. However, if we’re honest, the Blue model is the more attractive of the two.
The phone will go on sale officially on July 1, priced at £299/€329, which converts roughly to $378. Pre-orders start immediately. If you order before then, you’ll get a free phone case, a pair of the Nord Buds 2, or an adapter. If you preorder between now and August 2, you’re eligible for a €50 discount (roughly $54).
