OnePlus has announced the next in its Nord CE Series. The brand recently launched the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G, which is the successor to the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G that came in 2023. The latest in the Nord CE Lite lineup comes with a larger battery, faster charging, advanced cameras, and brighter display, and all this for just Rs. 3000 more. However, the processor is still the same, which makes one question whether the 2024 Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is worth upgrading to or not. To answer this question, we have compared the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G with the recently announced OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G.
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OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G: Design
The design might not be the most important aspect of a smartphone, but it is something that people notice first. The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G features a design similar to its predecessor but with a few tweaks.
While the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G had a thickness of 0.83cm and weighed 195 grams, the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G weighs slightly less than 191 grams, and the thickness has also been reduced a little to 0.81cm. The durability has also been improved, as Nord CE 3 Lite 5G was only splashproof. In comparison, Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is IP67 rated, which means the device is protected against dust and is immersed in water between 15cm and 1m. The camera island on Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is more defined than its predecessor and a new orange color option has been announced.
Result- OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G has an edge over Nord CE 3 Lite 5G.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Vs. OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G: Display
In terms of display, OnePlus has made considerable improvements to the 2024 smartphone OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G. It had a 6.72-inch FHD+ LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, 2400×1080 pixel resolution, and a punch-hole display camera. It also had a 240Hz touch sampling rate and 680 nits brightness with support for 16.8 billion colors.
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G might have a slightly small 6.6-inch panel, but this time, it is an AMOLED screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, 1080×2400 pixel resolution, and 2100 nits brightness. The display has gotten better and brighter, and there is also an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Result- The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is better than the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G.
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OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G: Performance & Software
OnePlus surprised quite a few tech enthusiasts when it announced the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G with the same chipset as the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G. Both Nord CE Lite smartphones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, which means no significant performance upgrade. However, the software has been updated. The chipset is an 8-core SoC with two 2.2GHz Cortex A78 cores and six 1.8GHz Cortex A55 cores. Both smartphones come with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB onboard storage.
The only difference is that while the Nord CE 4 Lite can accommodate a 2TB microSD card, the Nord CE 3 Lite comes with 1TB expandable storage.
While OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G ran Android 13-based OxygenOS 13.1 out of the box, the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G runs Android 14-based OxygenOS 14. However, this improvement is not worth upgrading to Nord CE 4 lite.
Result- Since the processor hasn’t been upgraded, it’s a tie.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G: Camera
The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G comes with a 50MP Sony LYT-600 main camera with Optical and Electronic Image Stabilization. It also has a 2MP mono camera. At the front, there is a 16MP sensor for selfies and video calls.
However, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G had a triple camera setup at the back. It had a 108MP Samsung HM6 sensor at the back, along with a 2MP depth and a 2MP macro sensor. At the front, there is a 16MP snapper for selfies. The rear camera had no OIS but only EIS available.
Result—Though it might look like the Nord CE 3 had more cameras, the Nord CE 4 Lite has OIS and a better sensor, so it is better.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G: Battery
The Nord CE 4 Lite 5G has received a substantial battery upgrade. While the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G packs a 5000mAh battery, the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G packs a 5500mAh powerhouse under the hood.
Charging speed has also been improved. Nord CE 3 supported 67W wired fast charging, but Nord CE 4 Lite 5G comes with 80W Wired fast charging. The former charged from 0 to 80% in 30 minutes, while the latter charged from 1 to 100% in 52 minutes. This time, there is also support for 5W Reverse Charging.
Result- OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is the winner.
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OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G: Price
Both OnePlus Nord CE 3 lite 5G and Nord CE 4 lite 5G come in two storage configurations. Here is the side-by-side comparison of prices.
| Model | OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G | OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G |
| 8GB RAM+128GB storage | Rs. 17,000 | Rs. 20,999 |
| 8GB RAM+256GB storage | Rs. 19,999 | Rs. 23,999 |
While the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is priced around 3k higher than its predecessor, during the first sale (starting 27 June), it will be available at an effective price of Rs. 19,999 for 8GB/128 and Rs. 22,999 for 8GB/256GB version. So, if you want the latest version at a lower price, you can opt for it during the first sale period.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G: Specs At A Glance
| Specification | OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G | OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 695 | Snapdragon 695 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | Up to 256GB | Up to 256GB |
| Screen | 6.72-inch LCD, 120Hz | 6.6-inch AMOLED, 120Hz |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 14 |
| Rear camera | 108MP+2MP+2MP | 50MP+2MP |
| Front Camera | 16MP | 16MP |
| Battery | 5000mAh | 5500mAh |
| Charging speed | 67W | 80W, 5W reverse |
| Weight | 195 grams | 191 grams |
| Thickness | 0.83cm | 0.81cm |
| Colors | Pastel Lime, Chromatic Gray | Super Silver, Mega Blue & Ultra Orange |
Final Thoughts: Is Nord CE 4 Lite worth upgrading to?
In summarizing this comparison, OnePlus has let down its fans by not upgrading the chipset of the 2024 device. Nevertheless, taking into account other factors, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G offers an AMOLED display, a larger battery, faster charging, an advanced OS Version, and a better back camera sensor. The design has also seen slight improvements with the introduction of new color options. Therefore, if your priority lies in an enhanced camera, battery, or display, and you are willing to pay a bit more, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite can be a suitable choice. However, if you are not concerned about these improvements and your budget is the main factor, the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is available at an Rs. 3000 lower price, making the 2023 smartphone a viable option as well.
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