OnePlus Nord 4 Leak Reveals Premium Metal Unibody Design – A Mid-Range First
Leaked CAD renders obtained by Android Authority confirm the OnePlus Nord 4 will feature a rare aluminum unibody chassis – a premium design choice unseen in mid-range smartphones since 2020. Scheduled for unveiling on July 16, 2025, the device pairs this flagship-level build with aggressive specs, including 100W fast charging and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset.
Confirmed Design & Specs (via Leaks):
| Category | Details | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Body | 160.2 x 73.8 x 8.2mm • Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody | First sub-$500 phone with metal chassis since Pixel 5 |
| Display | 6.74" 1.5K AMOLED • 120Hz • 2,200 nits peak brightness | Matches flagship-tier panels |
| Battery | 5,500mAh with 100W SUPERVOOC charging | 0–100% in 26 mins (est.) • 2-day endurance |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (1× Cortex-X4 @ 3.0GHz + Adreno 732 GPU) | 15% faster than Dimensity 8300 |
| Cameras | 50MP Sony IMX890 (OIS) + 8MP ultrawide • 16MP front | Primary sensor identical to Nord 3 |
Source: OnLeaks x Android Authority CAD renders (July 9, 2025)*
Design Philosophy Shift:
OnePlus revives its "Never Settle" ethos with three bold choices:
Metal Over Plastic: Ditching polycarbonate for heat-dissipating aluminum.
No Camera Island: Lenses integrated seamlessly into back panel.
Satin Finish: Anti-fingerprint texture (inspired by OnePlus 12).
Competitive Positioning:
| Device | Chassis Material | Fast Charging | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| OnePlus Nord 4 | Aluminum unibody | 100W | $399 (est.) |
| Pixel 7a | Plastic | 18W | $499 |
| Samsung A55 | Glass front/plastic | 25W | $449 |
| Nothing Phone (3) | Glyph glass | 65W | $469 |
Why This Matters:
*"Metal unibodies disappeared from mid-range phones due to cost and 5G antenna challenges. OnePlus cracking this code could force rivals to rethink 'premium feel' at $400. Combined with 100W charging, the Nord 4 threatens to cannibalize OnePlus’ own flagships."*
— David Ney, TechRadar Pro
Strategic Implications:
Sustainability Play: Aluminum is more recyclable than plastic composites.
Thermal Advantage: Metal body aids heat dissipation during 100W charging/gaming.
Market Timing: July launch targets back-to-school sales in Europe/India.
OS Commitment: Expected to ship with Android 15 and 4 years of updates.
Availability Timeline:
Launch Event: July 16 (Global)
Pre-orders: July 16–23 with free Nord Buds 3
Retail Availability: July 30 (India/EU), August 5 (NA)