OnePlus Nord 4 vs OnePlus Nord 3: What’s New in OnePlus’ Latest Mid-Range Offering?

As you can see, the latest Nord 4 starts at nearly Rs 7,000 more but offers additional storage options. On the flip side, if you want a phone with 16GB RAM, the Nord 3 is your only option. However, it will cost you Rs 37,999.

The Nord 3 is not officially available on OnePlus’s India website. While it is available on e-commerce sites like Amazon and Flipkart, you might have trouble finding all the models of the Nord 3.

OnePlus Nord 4 vs OnePlus Nord 3: Design

OnePlus has taken a completely different design approach with the latest Nord 4. It doesn’t look like any other phone on the market and stands out. The Nord 4’s back panel features a metal body divided into two sections. The top section is shiny with a horizontally aligned camera, while the rest of the body has a smooth texture.

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The Nord 3, on the other hand, has a more familiar OnePlus Nord aesthetic with the glass build. It features two camera islands in the top right corner, housing the triple camera setup. Unlike the metal frame of the Nord 4, the Nord 3 comes with a plastic one. In terms of feel, the Nord 3 has a velvety touch, while the Nord 4 offers the nostalgic, cold, slippery, yet solid sensation of a metallic device.

Both phones retain OnePlus’s iconic slider, so you won’t miss out on that feature with either model.

OnePlus Nord 4 vs OnePlus Nord 3: Performance and UI

AI is the buzzword of 2024, and OnePlus has joined the trend with its latest Nord 4. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC, which supports multiple large language models (LLMs) and large vision models (LVMs) like Llama 2 and Gemini Nano.

This chipset features an AI-powered Trinity Engine integrating advanced on-device AI capabilities into mid-range smartphones. Beyond the hardware, OnePlus has included several AI features in the Nord 4, such as Audio Summary for transcription, Screen Translate, and LinkBoost, reducing the time to connect to a mobile network in low signal areas.

Despite the Nord 4’s metal body, which might raise concerns about overheating, we found no significant heating issues during use. The Nord 4’s day-to-day performance is fast, and multitasking is smooth.

Regarding gaming on the Nord 4, we played heavy titles like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile with the highest graphics quality and FPS. We got 59 FPS on Call of Duty Mobile and 40 FPS on BGMI. Switching to lower graphic settings allowed us to get 90 FPS on both games. Overall, if you are a gaming enthusiast who enjoys intense battles, the Nord 4 will not disappoint you, even at the highest settings.

If we look at the Nord 3 here, OnePlus took a different approach. It was launched with the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, a chipset which stood out last year. No wonder the Nord 3 was our top-performing contender in benchmarking scores in 2023.

Regarding day-to-day performance and multitasking, the Nord 3 is amazingly fast. You will not have any problem with this device in the name of performance.

We also tried gaming on the Nord 3, and the results were as impressive as expected. While playing BGMI and PUB New State on the device, we achieved 60 and 90 FPS, respectively. There was no major stuttering or random frame drops, either. However, we must remember that we achieved these high scores during the High Performance Mode (HPM). This is designed to enhance the device’s performance, particularly during demanding tasks such as gaming.

It allows the device to operate at higher processing speeds, leading to faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming experiences. But as a result, it drains the battery extremely fast. So, use this mode only while playing some intense BGMI sessions, or you will have to find a charger sooner than expected.

We also ran benchmarking tests like AnTuTu and Geekbench on both devices. Here’s how they performed:

Regarding the software department, both phones will deliver a smooth UI experience. The latest Nord 4 boots up with Oxygen OS 14.1, based on Android 14, and the Nord 3 runs on Oxygen OS 13.1, based on Android 13.

But the interesting part is that the latest entrant comes with some pre-installed apps, and the Nord 3 comes with clean ware. You can install these apps without any hassle, and they don’t send spammy notifications either.

In terms of software updates, the Nord 4 will get four years of software updates and six years of security patches, while the Nord 3 will get three years of Android updates and four years of security patches.

OnePlus Nord 4 vs OnePlus Nord 3: Cameras

With the Nord 4, OnePlus has avoided gimmicky macro or depth sensors. It features two sensors on the back: a primary and an ultrawide. The dual-camera setup on the Nord 4 captures crisp shots in daylight and maintains good highlights and texture even under harsh backlight. The ultrawide sensor performs similarly well.

OnePlus Nord 4 Camera Samples

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The Nord 4’s primary sensor performs adequately in low light, but there are no extraordinary results. Overall, the optics on the Nord 4 are reliable as long as you don’t zoom in too much.

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The Nord 3, on the other hand, has a triple-camera system that includes a macro sensor along with the primary and ultrawide ones. The primary sensor delivers excellent results in both daylight and nighttime, with a balanced dynamic range and well-controlled saturation levels.

The Nord 3’s ultrawide sensor also does a good job. Although it’s only an 8MP sensor, it captures Instagram-worthy photos, which is sufficient for most users.

OnePlus Nord 4 vs OnePlus Nord 3: Display

The displays on Nord 3 and Nord 4 are almost identical, with only one difference in peak brightness levels. The Nord 3 has 1450 nits, while the Nord 4 offers a slightly higher 2150 nits. Other than that, the displays are the same for both devices.

Both phones also support Widevine L1, ensuring you can watch HDR videos on Netflix and other compatible OTT apps without issues. In summary, both Nords offer smooth, bright, and vibrant displays, providing one of the best viewing experiences at their price point.

OnePlus Nord 4 vs OnePlus Nord 3: Battery Life and Charging

OnePlus devices are known for offering fantastic battery life and fast charging. And the Nord 4 and 3 live up to that reputation. The Nord 4 comes with a larger 5500 mAh battery, which gets you through a day and a half with around 20% battery left. It also quickly refuels itself with the help of 100W fast charging support. The Nord 4 could go from zero to 100% during our test in just 24 minutes.

The Nord 3 packs the standard 5000 mAh battery but does not lag behind. During our time with the device, we were able to go through the day on a single charge with moderate usage. However, when it comes to the charging speed, the Nord 3 takes about 45 minutes to fully charge, which feels a lot, especially when comparing it with the ridiculously fast charging capabilities of the latest Nord.

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Verdict

Now, the million-dollar question: “Which Nord to buy?” The answer is simple: Pick the Nord 4. The latest model features AI enhancements, a faster chipset, impressive fast charging capabilities, and battery life. It also runs the latest OS out of the box and will receive four years of Android updates.

Choose the Nord 3 only if you want a more affordable alternative and prefer to stay within the OnePlus ecosystem. Otherwise, there’s no strong reason to go with it in 2024.

Many better options are available today, like the Nothing Phone (2a) with its iconic transparent design, Glyph lights, powerful SoC, excellent cameras, and UI. Another great choice is the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, which boasts a vegan leather back, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, and a curved display.