Phone companies are in a constant battle for attention, and outstanding models remain central to this quest. OnePlus, which has previously played with unusual but fascinating concepts, is now reviving the use of metal in phone design. The OnePlus Nord 4 will launch on July 16 and the company has already started showing off its upcoming release.
We already gave you a preview of the upcoming OnePlus Nord 4 with a metal back, while reserving our final review until next week’s announcement. But ahead of the launch, I spoke with OnePlus President and COO Kinder Liu about the exciting aspects of the new design and the company’s commitment to what it claims is the “best fluidity ever” in its devices yet.
First, let’s talk about that design
Our conversation started with the design, which ignites a heavy dose of nostalgia. Metal-bodied phones dominated the second half of the 2010s, but were eventually phased out in favor of glass or plastic casings, leaving enthusiasts like me unsatisfied.
I asked what led to the choice of material. Liu told me that the path back to metal was mainly inspired by four qualities it brings, namely “durability, beauty, durability and strength”. Granted, metal phones don’t take hard drops as easily and are harder to break. While the beauty of a refined metal surface can be subjective – and rightly so in the eye of the beholder – they are arguably more resistant to the effects of time, such as micro-scratches, that develop on glass phones after use. continuous.
The metal also improves performance, with the outer body acting as an effective surface to dissipate heat generated during tasks such as gaming. While this may mean your phone will likely feel hotter while you use it, it will also cool down faster than most glass back phones. By preventing heat from being trapped inside the body, it will also prevent damage to internal components during prolonged use.
So what led to the departure of metal phones and the dominance of glass as the material of choice for premium phones? I asked Liu, who replied: “Metal phones were all the rage before 5G networks. But as 5G gained popularity, smartphones needed more antennas.” Compared to just four antennas on the OnePlus 3T, the OnePlus 12 has more than 13.
The larger number of antennas leads to challenges with accommodating more inside the body. Meanwhile, metal bodies would interfere with the combined signals from these antennas and therefore companies began to prefer glass or plastic, while the use of metal remained limited to the side rails.
This made me curious as to what is different now and how OnePlus was able to achieve a metal build without affecting 5G signals. Liu informed me about the repaired antennas that are now 50% smaller than before. Most importantly, OnePlus redesigned the motherboard and placed these antennas strategically so that the Nord 4’s body doesn’t interfere with cellular signal. In addition, the phone has plastic inserts in places such as the bottom of the back to boost signal strength.
In addition to providing signal strength, OnePlus has also created a metal design with microscopic ridges that look like bumps, but result in a smooth surface. This is something that glass suffers a lot with, even on the most premium phones and despite the tougher – or equally tough – Gorilla Glass protective layers.
A new record for OnePlus software updates
But the OnePlus Nord 4 is about more than just a durability-oriented design change. Software also plays a crucial role. In fact, it comes with OnePlus’ promise of the “longest software support package”.
Liu confirmed that the OnePlus Nord 4 gets four years of Android updates, starting with Android 14 and going all the way to Android 18 (or equivalent). Additionally, OnePlus will provide two more years of software support for essential feature updates, including security patches. This brings the total support to six years, which is longer than any OnePlus phone in the past. This is a step up from the OnePlus Nord 3, which was promised three years of Android updates and an additional year of security updates.
That’s in line with other mid-range devices like the Samsung Galaxy A55, which also promises five years of total software support, including four Android updates. The only mid-range Android phone to top it is the Google Pixel 8a, for which Google reserves a seven-year update window.
Extensive testing to back up powerful claims
I asked if other OnePlus phones, especially previously launched ones like the OnePlus 12, would get the same treatment. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a concrete answer.
Instead, our conversation focused on Liu reiterating that it’s not just about making bold promises about the number of years a phone will receive updates. I was told that the phone should “stay fast and quiet for a long time, and its battery [should] also [be] in it for a long time.”
To make sure this goes as planned, OnePlus used German testing agency TÜV SÜD to conduct a 72-month fluidity test, which the company claims it passed. This test simulates extensive and painstaking tests, copying tens of gigabits worth of files and deleting them one after another to stress saving, installing and deleting hundreds of apps, as well as launching and closing various apps – all while of departure.
The test proves that the OnePlus Nord 4 will be as fluid after 72 months (six years) of use as it is on day one. In addition, the battery is repeatedly charged and discharged to ensure longevity. OnePlus revealed that the battery was in good condition despite 1,600 charge cycles.
These guarantees should instill a sense of peace among buyers. At the end of our conversation, Liu said that a phone without these guarantees is “like a strong house without a strong foundation. It looks good on the surface, but you really don’t want to live with it.”