Hands-On

OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Entertainment companion, not much more

OnePlus needs to step up

Published

September 2, 2024

I spent the last two weeks using the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite to take photos of food and a few items in my toy collection. I also used it to browse on various online stores, play a few mobile titles, and watch sports.

In short, I utilized OnePlus’ new midrange offering for my main hobbies and interests. The brand pegged the Nord CE4 Lite as a smartphone “built for entertainment”, and that’s what I straightforwardly did on the device.

The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is an intriguing addition to the lower midrange competition. Pricing wise, it sits more expensive than the likes of the realme 12, Samsung A25, and some of Infinix’s cheaper gaming devices in the tier.

It is also just slightly above the HONOR X9b. On the positive side, it is definitely more affordable than the OPPO Reno12 F (Singapore price) and vivo V30e, which are both the “lite” variants under their respective series.

Beyond its price tag, OnePlus’ new handset offers a mix of what you will see from its competitors from both the lower and upper ends of the spectrum. However, it also lacks a lot of features expected for a mid-ranger in 2024. You’ll find out as we scroll along.

OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite specs

Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, up to 2.2GHz
8GB RAM (plus 8GB virtual expansion)
256GB internal storage
Runs on OxygenOS 14 (Android 14)
6.67-inch AMOLED display, 1080 x 2400, 394 ppi
120Hz refresh rate, 2,100 nits peak brightness
50MP Sony LYT-600 main camera, 2MP depth-assist camera, 16MP selfie camera
5,500mAh battery
80W fast charging

Camera performance

I’ll pick up where I left off. With a sensor common to the segment, the Nord CE4 Lite is able to produce crisp and high-quality images under the ideal lighting conditions.

Captures come out with natural and true-to-life colors, which has been OnePlus’ signature identity for quite a while now when it comes to its camera system.

The main camera is a reliable tool to make subjects like food, merch, and landscapes stand out. Outdoors, the shooter is able to retain detail in the shadows, which comes in handy for against-the-light captures or whenever there is a back light.

With a 2MP “depth assist” camera, this OnePlus handset produces portraits that are above par. For instance, it highlights some of the food I ate throughout the past few weeks more. My troika of iconic Japanese 70s and 80s mecha also stood out inside a coffee shop.

Furthermore, close-up shots achieve the proper focus.

Portrait Mode generally has good post-processing. Although, there were times where the edges of the subject become serrated a bit, hence a segmentation error. But it works with a touch of trial-and-error. It’s natural.

Even with selfies, the Portrait Mode did well to isolate the subject especially if there’s a crowded background, like in the case of this pizza parlor.

Moreover, the main camera has a fairly quick shutter, so if you need subjects frozen in the frame, it will do the trick. Check this moving car in a local avenue, captured in pristine detail. I covered the plate number for privacy but it was totally legible.

For low-light and night captures, Night Mode slows down the shutter speed to absorb more light. It does its job, with brighter images compared to the default mode. Although, expect a slightly grainier or noisier result.

Indoors, the camera does well to fend off the strength of artificial lighting. However, it’s hit or miss for the selfie counterpart. You’ll just have to edit.

More samples for your perusal:

Another downer is the phone can only record up to 1080p @ 30 fps. Yes, there’s EIS+OIS support so the videos taken aren’t totally shaky, but I expected at least a 1080p @ 60fps option considering its price.

Display

Moving onto general content consumption, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is enough. With a high pixel density display, photos, videos, and more content come out sharp and detailed. It complements the camera package as well for quick viewing.

Naturally, I had to set the graphics settings for some games to medium to avoid lagging, but I was generally satisfied with the overall look of the content I’m on. With a peak brightness of 2,100 nits, I also didn’t have any problems browsing even when I’m outside in the middle of a hot afternoon.

Long-lasting

Another checked box in the list is the device’s battery performance. It takes just about an hour or less to add 70% with its 80W fast charging support.

As this has a 5,500mAh battery, users are assured of all day use. In fact, I admit that I had a difficult time draining its battery every day. The usual run involved playing mobile games, browsing social media and shopping apps, and watching content in between.

It takes about eight hours to drain the battery down to 50%, and anywhere between 12 to 15 hours to bring it down to 20%, depending on how exhaustive the usage is. You can definitely spend an entire day outside with just this device.

Outdated processor

What was really underwhelming for the Nord CE4 Lite is the Snapdragon 965 5G processor. I reckon this outdated processor for a 2024 phone is what led to many unpleasant instances.

Gaming on Wi-Fi connection wasn’t exactly smooth. There were glitches and connectivity problems. I felt it should be something optimized already. Perhaps, it’s the lack of an advanced “antenna” or related technology.

In all fairness, I didn’t experience too much lagging or freezing on the usual MOBA, FPS, and action-adventure or RPG titles I play. The phone does have a dedicated gaming mode to optimize its efficiency.

However, a major issue would be if you’re in a setup with Wi-Fi, and several devices are connected to the same network, the phone isn’t exactly the strongest competitor for bandwidth. In my experience, that led to unsmooth browsing and gaming at times.

Minus points for feel

The Nord CE4 Lite unit I had did have a strikingly unique color in blue. It weighs almost the same as most phones in the same segment, but feels a little imbalanced.

The back is also very slippery, and I sometimes have a difficult time one-handing it in landscape mode, due to its squared edges.

On the positive end, the UI is, as expected, simple and easy to navigate. I also don’t have anything negative to say about its simplistic design with protruding back cameras. It’s ideal for a mid-ranger.

Final thoughts: OnePlus needs to step up

I understand that OnePlus is trying its best to connect to the market of a developing country like the Philippines. But man, they have to step it up.

While the Nord CE4 Lite is a compelling all-around lower midrange option, it could have been beefed up with more features. It could have had a higher RAM capacity, some tech to improve performance, or simply a lower price point to seal the deal. It performs just alright for a device of its category, but there were inefficiencies here in there.

Yes, the camera system, its processing, and the long-lasting battery are all plus points. The display is also one of the best in its class, resolution, brightness, and pixel density wise. I can see why OnePlus said the phone is built for entertainment.

It’s a safe choice for those who consume a lot of content, love social media, and take a lot of photos and videos, with a splash of occasional mobile gaming. Just not worth PhP 17,999 if you ask me.

Related Topics:OnePlus OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite

Hands-On

OPPO Reno15 F 5G hands-on

More question marks than exclamation points?

Published

March 6, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G made its way to the Philippines last month, and reception has been pretty great so far.

With a powerful camera package, AI, and a slew of upgrades, there’s a lot to love and not much negative to say. But that’s with both the standard and Pro models.

On the other hand, with the Reno15 F 5G — the series’ supposed budget-friendly “lite” variant —there were more question marks than exclamation points.

I attack this piece once more from a consumer standpoint: shelling out PhP 23,000 to PhP 26,000 for a midrange smartphone that feels and performs like it’s a few notches below its segment doesn’t sound too pleasant.

Performance

With a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, the OPPO Reno15 F performs pretty much like any sub PhP 20,000 mid-ranger. It’s acceptable, but does not punch above its weight as expected.

No major hiccups for light and casual usage. But performance struggles a lot for demanding video games.

It also heats up significantly just 10 minutes into a title like Honkai: Star Rail. This is a stark contrast to the marketed 25℃ and up to 10 hours straight of smooth gameplay.

Although, the experience was still enjoyable with several wins and MVP runs in Call of Duty Mobile. It only means the F variant remains a more camera-centric phone rather than an a hard-hitting all-arounder.

As with other devices, the 7000mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC is a strong suit. You’re fueled from dawn ’til dusk, with much to spare. Recharging takes a breeze, too.

Display

The OPPO Reno15 F has a 6.57-inch 120Hz display, with a 92.8% screen-to-body ratio. At least, that allows you to focus on content on the screen.

Content leans more towards the cooler tone, so you’ll have to adjust it manually if you want a warmer or more vivid look.

The 397ppi pixel density is fine to ensure sharper visuals, while the 1400 nits peak brightness is helpful outdoors.

Camera

The device’s 50MP main camera captures decent quality. The color science leans on being natural anew, without being too dull nor washed out. You can pull off smooth portraits too.

I hardly used the phone for stills as I focused on videos, but here are some samples, on the occasions I was able to take the handset with me:

The 50MP front camera is an intriguing add-on, as it is capable of up to 4K video and a wide 100° field of view.

What this does is it essentially removes the need to flip your phone for the popular “0.5” shots. And the quality doesn’t get compromised given the pixel count.

Here are some selfies from different focal lengths:

To its credit, filming with the back camera at 60fps does look and feel smooth, although it can be improved.

Same with the front camera; and the zoom range can be switched from 0.6 to 2x without cutting the recording.

Although, it’s still best to use a selfie stick or small tripod if you’re just after talking head videos.

Speaking of which, here are a few I’ve made with just this device:

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♬ original sound – Manila Connoisseur – Manila Connoisseur

But for travel and on-the-go captures, as OPPO markets for the series in general, even the Reno15 F can cover a lot of background along with your or your groups’ faces.

Make no mistake, there are some useful AI editing features here. In particular, AI Portrait Glow gives your raw capture an effect to make it look it was taken with flash.

I do not recall the device heating up as well when taking many photos or videos, so you can say it’s more optimized for that task rather than gaming.

Connectivity issues

Meanwhile, AI LinkBoost 3.0, as in the case of the OPPO A6 Pro, doesn’t seem to punch above its weight either.

Once, I also played Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the session opened to a jittery start despite being on Wi-Fi and having a stable connection. I don’t know what triggered this.

Design, feel

We got the Aurora Blue variant which does kind of resemble the northern lights when you tilt the phone a certain way and when light hits its back panel.

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The cursive “Reno” on the large, protruding camera island gives it more style.

However, it’s all just aesthetics. On the downside, the phone is all sorts of slippery.

I couldn’t hold it properly without think of it slipping away from my hands; nor could I put it on my lap with confidence.

So I guess it’s good that it has structural integrity and waterproofing, because you’ll need that.

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The 6.57-inch body does have a good balance between being too compact and too large, like ultras and pro maxes.

It has a squarish body and has already adapted to the premium, aluminum frame look from the sides.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Sadly, the OPPO Reno15 F 5G is a Swipe Left unlike its bigger, more capable siblings. There are plenty of plus points for the camera package but take that away, and I don’t see much difference between the Reno15 F and something like the A6 Pro.

Granted, the asking price of this phone will drop significantly in a few months. But throw in a little more, and you’ve got a legitimate mid-ranger that’s more on the premium side rather than the cheap end of the spectrum.