Phone companies are in a constant battle for attention, and superior design remains central to that effort. Previously toying with unusual yet fascinating concepts, OnePlus is now reviving the use of metal in phone design. The OnePlus Nord 4 is launching on July 16 and the company has already started rolling out its next edition.
We’ve already given you a preview of the upcoming metal-backed OnePlus Nord 4, 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” yet on its devices.
First, let’s talk about this design
Our conversation began with a design that evokes a great deal of nostalgia. Metal-bodied phones dominated the second half of 2010, but were eventually phased out in favor of glass or plastic garments, leaving enthusiasts like me mighty unfulfilled.
I asked what led to the choice of material. Liu told me that the journey back to metal was primarily inspired by the four qualities it brings, namely “durability, beauty, constancy and strength”. Understandably, metal phones don’t take hard drops as easily and are harder to break. While the beauty of a polished metal finish can be subjective – and rightly so in the eye of the beholder – they are undeniably more resistant to the effects of time, such as the micro-scratches that glass phones develop after constant use.
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 is likely to heat up during use, it will also cool down faster than most phones with a glass back. By preventing heat from being trapped inside the body, it also prevents damage to internal components during long-term use.
So what led to the displacement 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.
A larger number of antennas leads to problems with the concept of more in the body. Meanwhile, metal bodies would interfere with the combined signals from these antennas, so companies began to prefer glass or plastic, while the use of metal remained limited to the side rails.
This made me wonder what changes have now been made and how OnePlus was able to achieve a metal construction without impacting 5G signals. Liu informed me about the redesigned antennas, which are now 50% smaller than before. More importantly, OnePlus redesigned the motherboard and placed these antennas strategically so that the Nord 4’s body doesn’t obstruct cellular signal. Additionally, the phone has plastic inserts in places like the lower back to boost signal strength.
In addition to ensuring 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 from, even on the most premium phones and despite the strongest Gorilla Glass – or similarly strong – protective layers.
A new record for OnePlus software updates
But the OnePlus Nord 4 is about more than just a design change focused on endurance. Software also plays a vital role. In fact, it comes with the promise of the “longest software support package” from OnePlus.
Liu confirmed that the OnePlus Nord 4 will get four years of Android updates, launching with Android 14 and going all the way to Android 18 (or equivalent). In addition, OnePlus will provide an additional two years of software support for important feature updates, including security patches. That means the total support is 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 another 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 that tops it is the Google Pixel 8a, for which Google reserves a seven-year update window.
Extensive testing to support powerful claims
I asked if other OnePlus phones, especially previously announced flagships like the OnePlus 12, would get the same treatment. Unfortunately, I did not receive a specific answer.
Instead, our conversation turned to Liu, who reiterated that these are not just bold promises about the number of years the phone will receive updates. I was told that the phone should “stay fast and smooth for a long time and its battery [should] too [be] in it for the long haul.”
To make sure it goes according to plan, OnePlus has asked German testing agency TÜV SÜD to conduct a 72-month fluency test that the company claims is advanced. This test simulates extensive and laborious tests, copying tens of gigabytes of files and quickly deleting them to load storage, installing and deleting hundreds of apps, and launching and closing various apps, all while timing the startup.
The test confirms that the OnePlus Nord 4 will be as smooth after 72 months (six years) of use as it was on day one. In addition, the battery has been repeatedly charged and discharged to ensure its long life. OnePlus found that the battery remained in top condition through 1,600 charge cycles.
These assurances should instill a sense of peace among buyers. Toward the end of our conversation, Liu commented that a phone without these guarantees is “like a strong house without a solid foundation. It looks good on the surface, but you really don’t want to live with it.”