The latest manufacturer to make its announcements for the summer, OnePlus is not doing things by halves. Its new mid-range smartphone, its tablet and its smartwatch are playing the tight price card.
After Oppo, Motorola and Samsung, the smartphone range renewals of this early summer continue. This time, it is the turn of the Chinese OnePlus to comply with the exercise. On the program, the new mid-range model of its Nord series which is celebrating its 4th anniversary, the Nord 4, but not only. The manufacturer is taking advantage of its global launch in Milan to also deliver a new tablet, the Pad 2, as well as a more affordable version of its Watch 2 smartwatch, the Watch 2R.
OnePlus Nord 4: a device built to last
With this fourth iteration of the Nord, OnePlus is focusing on durability. The device is designed around an all-aluminum unibody. Which, for a smartphone in this category, gives it a certain cachet. We were able to appreciate its design and take it in hand during its official presentation on July 16. Our copy adopts a silver dress with an industrial style that is not unpleasant to the eye.
The thickness remains controlled, just under the 8 mm mark. The device exudes solidity and we still appreciate the presence of the slider, the small sliding button on the left edge to manage the sound, a OnePlus trademark. In addition, the 5G connection remains in place even with this monocoque case. OnePlus has been cunning in placing the antennas differently in order to maintain good signal reception.
On the front, the Nord 4 benefits from a 6.7-inch Amoled screen, refreshed up to 120 Hz for a brightness indicated at 2150 nits peak. Under the hood, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC is at the helm associated with 12 or 16 GB of RAM depending on the configuration. From what we have seen, the applications, just like Android 14, run smoothly. What we appreciate above all is OnePlus’s desire to make its device last also on the software side. The firm promises 4 years of major Android updates and 6 years of security patches. A first and above all a nice step forward for mid-range smartphones that are not usually so well off.
On the photo side, nothing spectacular. We find a 50 Mpx main sensor and an 8 Mpx ultra wide-angle module. Not enough to revolutionize the world of photography but according to our first tests, it seems sufficient to produce very acceptable shots.
Finally, the device has a generous 5500 mAh battery and offers fast charging up to 100 W. The OnePlus Nord 4 will soon be available from 499 euros in the 12-256 GB version and 599 for the 16-512 GB version (on sale at 549 euros for the launch).
OnePlus Pad 2 and Watch 2R: families are growing
Alongside the Nord 4, OnePlus also took advantage of its global launch in Milan to enrich other product ranges. A new Pad 2 tablet is making its debut. An astonishing 12-inch tablet powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, Qualcomm’s most powerful chip currently found in high-end smartphones. Enough to compete without blushing with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9, including the S9+, its main rival equipped with a SoC from the previous generation. Knowing that, unlike last year, Samsung did not take advantage of its Unpacked event to present new tablets. The price of this new Pad 2 is set at 549 euros, again a price much lower than what is practiced by the Korean (starting at 800 euros for the Tab S9+).
Another announcement, the new Watch 2R smartwatch. Here, little change compared to the Watch 2 introduced last spring at a price of 329 euros. This new 2R model retains the specificities of its predecessor, in particular the presence of two processors, which allow this watch powered by WearOS to last around 4 days without having to recharge. One processor is responsible for running Google’s system and the other, a low-power model, is used to run RTOS for apps that require few resources.
A great performance then knowing that WearOS is really not a good student in the field of autonomy. The differences with the Watch 2 are played out elsewhere, notably on the case. Stainless steel gives way to aluminum, lighter and also less expensive. The Watch 2R will be marketed at a price of 279 euros.