OnePlus Nord 5 vs Nord 4: 5 reasons to upgrade and 1 to skip

Reason to upgrade: Faster processor
Nord 5 comes with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, which is a flagship-tier processor. It’s a leap over the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 found in the Nord 4. Users can expect better AI performance, improved gaming, and future-ready speed.

Reason to upgrade: Bigger and faster display
The Nord 5 features a 6.83-inch OLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1800 nits brightness, while the Nord 4 offers a 6.74-inch 120Hz AMOLED with a peak brightness of 2150 nits. Though Nord 4’s panel is slightly brighter, Nord 5’s higher refresh rate and touch response (3000Hz) offer better fluidity, especially for gaming and scrolling.

Reason to upgrade: Better front camera
The Nord 5 upgrades the selfie camera to a 50MP Samsung JN5 sensor with 4K video at 60fps, autofocus, and EIS. In contrast, the Nord 4 offers a 16MP fixed-focus camera limited to 1080p video. For selfie lovers and content creators, this is a major improvement.

Reason to upgrade: Bigger battery
While the Nord 4 packs a 5500mAh battery, the Nord 5 jumps to a 6800mAh unit — the largest yet in a OnePlus phone. Both support 80W charging, but the Nord 5 also adds bypass and reverse wired charging, offering more versatility.

Reason to upgrade: Improved design and durability
Though the Nord 4 boasts a sleek metal unibody, the Nord 5 brings Gorilla Glass 7i protection and an official IP65 rating. It’s heavier (211g vs 199.5g) but more rugged and resistant to daily wear and tear.

Reason to skip: Similar camera setup on the rear
Both phones use a 50MP Sony sensor paired with 8MP ultra-wide cameras. While Nord 5 adds tri-axis OIS and EIS, the real-world jump in rear camera quality may not be drastic enough to justify an upgrade solely for photography.