With OnePlus launching the Nord CE4 Lite last month and CMF Phone 1 dropping earlier this month, buyers now have two options under Rs. 20,000. While one model offers exceptional customization, the other provides a robust operating system and a larger battery. To clear out the confusion, here’s a detailed comparison between the CMF Phone 1 and the Nord CE4 Lite.
CMF Phone 1 Vs. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Design
In terms of design, CMF Phone 1 seems to have the upper hand, mainly because of the modular back panel the phone comes with. Essentially, users can unscrew the back panel on the handset by removing four screws and replace it with one that has a different color. One can also attach various accessories, such as a cardholder, a lanyard cable, and a kickstand.
Apart from the customizable rear panel, the CMF Phone 1 has a metallic camera module, while the rest of the body (including the removable plate) is made of plastic. On the front, the phone has a punch-hole camera in the center, while the bezels are symmetrical on three sides (except for a slightly thicker chin).
CMF Phone 1’s replaceable back panels are available in four colors: orange, blue, black, and light green. The first two have a vegan leather finish, while the rest have a matte finish.
If we strike out the removable back plate from the conversation, the Nord CE4 Lite is no slouch either. The handset features a pill-shaped camera cutout on the rear, with an otherwise plane rear panel. On the front, the bezels seem to be a hair thinner than those on the CMF Phone 1 (although there is a thicker chin at the bottom).
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The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite is available in three colors: Mega Blue, Super Silver, and Ultra Orange.
CMF Phone 1 Vs. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Screen
With the CMF Phone 1, users get a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen that can achieve 2,000 nits of peak brightness and has a pixel density of 395 ppi. The display supports HDR10+ content and always-on functionality. Last but not least, it is also capable of refreshing at 120Hz.
The OnePlus Nord CE4 also has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 2,100 nits and a pixel density of 394 ppi. It can also refresh at 120Hz, support 100% of the sRGB/Display P3 color space, and play HDR content.
Hence, based on the display specifications, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is the one with a brighter screen. However, the difference might not be evident unless one holds the two phones side by side.
CMF Phone 1 Vs. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Processor
Under the hood, the CMF Phone 1 features the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC (4nm), which has four 2.5GHz Cortex-A78 and four 2.0GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The processor is paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (expandable up to 2TB with microSD card). Interestingly, CMF has equipped the smartphone with UFS 3.1 storage, which is significantly faster than the segment’s prevalent UFS 2.2.
On the popular benchmarking platform Antutu, the phone scores around 650K points, which is quite respectable in the segment.
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite, on the other hand, features a years-old Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) processor with two 2.2GHz Kyro 660 Gold and six 1.7GHz Kryo Silver cores. However, unlike the CMF Phone 1, the handset is available with up to 256GB of storage (expandable up to 2TB with a microSD card), and 8GB of RAM. Unlike the OnePlus smartphone, CMF’s first phone debuts with UFS 2.2 storage.
Given a less capable chipset and slower storage, the Nord CE4 Lite scores around 430K points on the Antutu benchmark.
Hence, if you’re in the market for better performance, the CMF Phone 1 could be the right choice. However, those who want more in-built storage might opt for the Nord CE4 Lite.
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CMF Phone 1 Vs. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Camera
The primary camera on the CMF Phone 1 is a 50MP (f/1.8, 79-degree) Sony sensor, while the secondary camera is a 2MP (f/2.4) depth sensor. On the front, users get a 16MP (f/2.0) selfie shooter. While the rear camera can record videos in 4K at 30 fps, the front camera is locked at 1080p at 30 fps.
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite has a similar camera configuration. It features a 50MP (f/1.8) primary sensor with optical image stabilization (something that’s missing on the CMF Phone 1) and a 2MP (f/2.4) depth sensor. For clicking selfies and attending video calls, the smartphone features a 16MP (f/2.4, 24mm) sensor.
What’s odd is that the Nord CE4 Lite can only record videos in 1080p at 30 fps. The CMF Phone 1 can not only record videos in 4K but also shoot in 1080p at 60 fps.
CMF Phone 1 Vs. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Battery
Apart from the replaceable rear panel, a Dimensity 7300 SoC, and a dual-rear camera system, the CMF Phone 1 features a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 33W wired charging (up to 50% in 20 minutes). Users also get custom charging modes, courtesy of the new Battery Health technology.
Although the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite has a less efficient processor, the smartphone ships with a larger 5,500 mAh battery. It also supports 80W wired charging, which can charge the phone to 100% in about 50 minutes.
CMF Phone 1 Vs. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Software
Nothing has promised that the CMF Phone 1 will receive two years of Android upgrades and one additional year of security patches. The phone runs out of the box on the Nothing OS 2.6 (based on Android 14).
The Nord CE4 Lite ships with OxygenOS 14. Like the CMF Phone 1, it will also receive two years of Android updates and an additional year of security updates.
CMF Phone 1 Vs. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Additional Features
The CMF Phone 1 features an IP52 dust and water resistance rating, an under-display fingerprint scanner, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, and a USB-C port.
The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite features a slightly better IP54 rating, an under-display fingerprint scanner, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth v5.1, and a USB-C port.
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CMF Phone 1 Vs. OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite: Conclusion (With Price)
- CMF Phone 1 (6/128GB) will be available for Rs. 14,999.
- CMF Phone 1 (8/128GB) will be available for Rs. 16,999.
- The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite (8/128GB) is available on Amazon for Rs. 19,999.
- The OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite (8/256GB) is available on Amazon for Rs. 22,999.
While the CMF Phone 1 has the upper hand in terms of design, performance, and optics, the OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite runs on a more familiar operating system, has a more capable battery (with faster charging), and provides more in-built storage. With the pros and cons out of the way, the CMF Phone 1’s top model seems to offer more value for buyers’ money.
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