OnePlus Nord 4 Challengers: OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Nord 4 and in the best Nord tradition, it comes with good specs that deliver solid performance at a competitive price. One of the biggest USPs of the Nord 4 this time around is its design. The Nord 4 comes with a metal body (OnePlus claims this is the only 5G phone in the market with a metal unibody), which helps it stand out in the crowd of similar-looking smartphones. Even though it is metal, the phone is very slim at 8 mm and is not too heavy at 199.5 grams.
ALSO READ: OnePlus Nord 4 Review: Nord’s Classical Music Gets A Heavy Metal Makeover
Inside this metal body are some impressive specs for a mid-segment smartphone. The Nord 4 comes with a tall 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,772x1,240 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The phone is powered by the extremely capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 chip, which is capable of handling high-end gaming if you tweak settings a little, with the phone's stereo speakers making the experience more immersive.
The phone comes with 8GB and 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, but the base variant comes with 128GB UFS 3.1 storage while the 256GB and 512GB come with superior UFS 4.0 storage, which is rather odd.
The camera setup on the back is spearheaded by a 50-megapixel Sony Lytia main sensor with OIS coupled with an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor. In typical OnePlus tradition, there is a 16-megapixel sensor on the front for selfies.
A major USP of the phone is its 5,500mAh battery which comes with support for 100W SuperVOOC charging and a charger in the box.
The Nord 4 comes with Android 14 out of the box with OnePlus’ OxygenOS 14.1 on top, with an assurance of four years of Android updates and six years of security updates.
Its very Nord-like starting price of Rs 29,999 makes the OnePlus Nord 4 one of the best options in its zone, but having said that, there are a few devices in the market that can give it a run for its money. These five phones stand in the way of the newest Nord in town:
Poco F6: Biggest Headache For New Nord
Price: Rs 27,999 onwards
While the Nord 4 is a good overall package, the Poco F6 is aimed at those who are looking for sheer power under the price tag of Rs. 30,000. Its biggest USP is its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, a processor that aims to democratise premium-level power, and handles high-end gaming with ease.
This is coupled with speedy LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, making the phone a speed demon. Combine this with a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and stereo speakers and you get a device that will not only offer a great gaming experience but will also be on top of the multimedia business.
The Poco F6 also comes with a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS which is backed by an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, while selfies are handled by a megapixel-aly better (than the Nord 4) 20-megapixel sensor.
It has a 5,000mAh battery with support for 90W fast charging and a charger in the box, which is not too far from what the Nord 4 offers. The phone brings Android 14 and Xiaomi’s HyperOS to the table. And while it has a plastic back, it does bring IP64 rating to the table, making the phone one sturdy device.
Redmi Note 13 Pro+: Premium Note Against Usual Nord
Price: Rs 30,999 onwards
With the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, the once-humble Redmi Note has gone full-on premium. The phone is the first Note to feature a curved 6.67-inch 1.5K resolution AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra 5G processor, which is paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage, making it a smooth sailor even through some really tough, power-hungry task waves.
A big USP of the phone is its 200-megapixel Samsung Isocell HP3 sensor with OIS, a large f/1.65 aperture and up to 4x lossless zoom, making it one of the most versatile in the segment, although its 8-megapixel ultrawide and 2-megapixel macro sensors are less impressive.
Like the Nord 4, this Note too has a 16-megapixel sensor for selfies and video calls. The Redmi 13 Pro+ runs on a 5,000mAh battery with a whopping 120W charging support with a charger in the box.
It has been upgraded to Android 14 with Xiaomi's HyperOS on top and comes with stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
A striking vegan leather back design and an IP68 rating round off the features that make the phone quite a sweet deal that could sour the Nord 4 future.
Poco X6 Pro: Mid-Segment Gaming Monster
Price: Rs 25,999 onwards
Another processor power packer in the list is the Poco X6 Pro. It runs on flagship-level MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset which is paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage.
Add to this a beautiful 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, and dual speakers and you get a smashing multimedia device, which is also the gaming monster of the mid-segment.
The smartphone also brings a triple camera set up to the table, led by a 64-megapixel main sensor with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a nominal 2-megapixel macro, while a 16-megapixel selfie sensor is on the front.
The phone comes with a 5,000mAh battery with 67W charging support along with a charger in the box and while these battery and charging numbers do not match the ones on the Nord 4, they are still quite good.
The phone runs on Android 14 out of the box with Xiaomi’s HyperOS on top and while it has a relatively basic design, it comes with an IP54 rating and its vegan leather back variant in particular is quite striking.
That said, its biggest USP remains its price which makes it a major hurdle in every mid-segment phone’s way of success.
Samsung Galaxy M55: Solidly Samsung
Price: Rs 28,999 onwards
Perhaps the most ‘plain’ looking device in this list, the Galaxy M55 believes in inner strength more than outer beauty. Beneath its routine exterior lie features that make it a proper threat to the Nord 4.
The phone brings a beautiful and bright 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate and this being a Samsung phone, the display is an excellent one with some really punchy colours.
It is powered by the capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor which is coupled with up to 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage making the phone a solid mid-segmenter.
There is a triple camera set up on the back comprising a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel macro sensor, but it is in the front-facing camera department that the Galaxy M55 leaves the Nord 4 truly behind - it comes with a 50-megapixel sensor on the front.
The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging support, which is on the slower side.
The fact that there is no charger in the box is also a little disappointing.
You do get Android 14 out of the box with Samsung’s OneUI on top, a promise of four years of major updates and five years of security updates and stereo speakers.
Those who swear by the Samsung brand name (and many do) will see it as the perfect Nord 4 alternative.
Vivo V30e: One For The Creators
Price: Rs 27,999 onwards
If the Nord 4 turns heads with its metallic design, the Vivo V30e does that with its sleek body and distinct dual tone design, which stands out particularly in its Velvet Red shade. Apart from its premium looks, the Vivo V30e also brings some very powerful cameras to the table.
The phone has a dual camera set up on the back, comprising a 50-megapixel Sony IMX 882 sensor with OIS and an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor. The main sensor on the back also acts as a 50mm prime-focal length portrait lens and is also capable of delivering lossless 2x zoom.
The phone's biggest USP is a 50-megapixel selfie sensor which comes with autofocus and 4K video support, making it one of the best in any segment.
The Vivo V30e also sports a premium-looking curved 6.78-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, and even though it is quite slim at 7.65 mm, it brings a big 5500 mAh battery to the table with 44W charging support.
The phone runs on Android 14 out of the box with FunTouchOS on top and comes with an IP64 rating but lacks stereo speakers and has a strictly mid-segment (read relatively weaker) Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor running its show.
Those wanting the Nord 4 for its processing power will not be tempted by it, but those looking for content creator-level cameras and an eye-catching design will.