The OnePlus Nord 5 (our review here) the latest model in the Nord lineup, has just hit the market, yet another reminder of how this series continues to rival flagship devices without the hefty price tag. It’s the perfect time to take a look back at its predecessor, nearly a year after its release. We previously reviewed the OnePlus Nord 4 at launch in an article by our Robin, and now, 12 months later, it’s time to see whether the device has lived up to the expectations and promises it made.
Before switching to the Nord 4, I had used the Nord 2 for two years—a solid and reliable device that I was genuinely happy with. Still, upgrading to the Nord 4 felt like a major leap forward in everyday use, thanks to smoother performance and a noticeable boost in speed, especially after the update to OxygenOS 15.
OnePlus Nord 4: our tops & flops after 12 Months
The Nord series was never meant to compete with flagship phones—but sometimes, it’s easy to forget that. After a year of daily use, the OnePlus Nord 4 still offers impressive performance, especially with the steady rollout of new AI features. Its camera and video capabilities remain one of its strongest assets, making it a great tool for creating content that shines on social media.
That said, there’s a downside worth mentioning: a recurring bug affecting photo management. It’s unclear whether this issue is specific to the Nord 4 or shared with other models—we’ll get into that further below.
Over the past 12 months, I’ve often traveled with the device, and I have to say: the lack of eSIM support has been a real inconvenience. Swapping physical SIM cards can be a hassle, especially on the move. If you’re a frequent traveler, this might be a drawback. If not, it’s probably something you can live with.
What We Like
- Excellent photo and video quality
- Fast and reliable performance
- Regular software updates
What We Don’t Like
- Occasional bugs in photo management
- No eSIM support
OnePlus Nord 4: unique design that still stands out
The OnePlus Nord 4 immediately won us over with its distinctive design. The aluminum frame and softly curved edges give the phone a premium, solid feel. I opted for a clear case to keep it fully visible—and even after a year, the build quality feels just as good as it did on day one.
The design still feels fresh and contemporary. With the Nord 5, OnePlus has moved the camera layout again, echoing the look of earlier Nord models. That makes the Nord 4’s design stand out even more—it remains unique, and still worth appreciating.
The OnePlus Nord 4 comes equipped with a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor, LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage. From the start, we said this combination could deliver performance close to flagship levels—and after a year of use, that verdict still holds true. Even when multitasking heavily or keeping numerous apps open in the background, the device stays responsive and fluid.
The only drawback? Under intense use—especially when running demanding apps like games or video editing tools—the phone can get noticeably warm. However, in day-to-day usage, this isn’t a real issue.
The 6.67-inch AMOLED display offers solid resolution and visibility, even in bright environments. It’s detailed enough to make photo and video editing enjoyable, and during trips I often found myself watching movies or TV shows on the Nord 4 with genuine pleasure.
Forget about power banks. The 5500mAh battery still easily gets me through a full day with plenty of charge to spare—even when traveling and using the phone intensively for navigation or photos. And with fast charging, the Nord 4 can reach 80% battery in just a few minutes—another feature that makes it highly convenient for everyday use, especially when you’re in a rush. One year in, the Nord 4’s endurance remains a major strength.
Camera: its biggest strength (and weak spot)
The camera system on the OnePlus Nord 4 is both one of its strongest assets and its most frustrating flaw.
On the front, the 16MP Sony IMX371 selfie camera—also found in previous Nord models—delivers solid results in good lighting, especially for social media-ready selfies. It does its job well, though the decision to upgrade this sensor in the Nord 5 was certainly the right move.
On the back, the main camera features a 50MP Sony Lytia-600 sensor, supported by an 8MP ultrawide lens. The main sensor impressed us right away, offering high-quality shots even in low light. After months of use, including travel and content creation, the results continue to impress. Video quality is equally strong: 4K at 60fps looks amazing and genuinely holds its own against many flagship devices.
While there’s little to criticize on the hardware side, the software tells a different story. Photos aren’t immediately available in the gallery—they need a few seconds to be processed, likely due to size or AI enhancements. If the camera app is closed too soon, there’s even a chance the photos won’t be saved at all. This issue, though slightly improved with the OxygenOS 15 update, hasn’t been completely resolved. For users who take a lot of photos and videos, it remains a major inconvenience.
OxygenOS 15 Update
When we first got our hands on the OnePlus Nord 4, it came with OxygenOS 14.1 pre-installed—based on Android—with the promise of consistent updates. True to that promise, the device received the OxygenOS 15 update over the past year.
The new version brought a cleaner, more modern interface along with several useful AI-powered features. While it didn’t fix every minor issue, it was a solid step forward—and we’ll be watching to see what future updates bring.
So, is It still worthiIt?
Yes. After a year of daily use, the OnePlus Nord 4 has aged remarkably well. It remains an excellent smartphone and a smart choice—especially now that its mid-range price has dropped even further since launch. With near-flagship performance and solid long-term reliability, it still holds its own in 2025
