The all-new OnePlus Nord 4 wants to take the top spot on our list of the best cheap phones from the Google Pixel 8a. But to do so, the Nord will have to outdo the Pixel in photography.
The Pixel 8a is a great value when it comes to its cameras, which include a 64MP main sensor, a 13MP ultrawide, and a 13MP selfie sensor. The Nord offers similar specs, with a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 16MP selfie combo. But Google is well-known for its photography prowess, especially with its AI image processing and editing capabilities. OnePlus has always struggled to compete with the best in the industry with its own processing pipeline.
But every new phone is an opportunity to challenge our preconceived notions. For example, thanks to a trip to the Franciacorta wine region near Milan, I was able to take some stunning photos of the northern Italian countryside with both of my phones. But which one did better? Read on and you’ll see.
Before we get to the photos, I want to make it clear that the OnePlus Nord 4’s shooting is much less consistent than the Google Pixel 8a. All of my Pixel photos looked similar enough, but the Nord’s cameras produced photos in a range of brightness levels, even when capturing the same subject. For each comparison you’re about to see, I chose what I thought was the best version of each image, but be aware that sometimes the phone took lighter and darker versions of the same photo, which could impact which photos someone else would consider the best.
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: main
Our first image shows us part of the vineyard hedgerow, all the way to the hills beyond. The Nord 4’s image is brighter overall, perhaps due to its main camera’s wider aperture letting in more light. However, the Pixel 8a delivers richer colours and better contrast in return, so I can’t really pick a favourite.
Winner: Draw
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: ultra wide angle
This ultra-wide shot of an imposing wooden door topped with an eagle crest, all set into a stone brick wall, looks very different from the two phones because they offer different levels of magnification. But we can also see that the Nord 4’s image is much cooler in colour than the Pixel’s, and the OnePlus’ lower-resolution camera has really taken a toll on its ability to capture detail. A direct win for Google’s phone thanks to its superior specs.
Winner: Google Pixel 8a
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: close-up
I couldn’t help but glance at this sommelier sword (used to dramatically open champagne bottles) when I found it in the winery’s dining room, and I took these close-ups to remember all the fun details.
The Pixel produces higher-resolution photos with its main camera, but we get a less detailed shot. While it’s not as bright, the Nord does a better job of capturing details in the chain and leather handle.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 4
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: Dynamic range
At the top of the main building of the vineyard is a small enclosed turret with slit windows, through which one can see the surrounding landscape. It’s a delicate mix of light and dark that is an excellent test of the dynamic range capabilities of both our phones.
The OnePlus Nord’s image is decent, though the view through the window is a bit washed out. But the Pixel 8a nailed this image, showing the brightest part of the image with full detail and color while allowing the outer part of the image to appear appropriately dark.
Winner: Google Pixel 8a
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: Colors
Now let’s judge the color reproduction capabilities of these phones with the pink, white and green of this flower bed in the vineyard.
As with the main camera comparison above, the OnePlus focused on brightness over color saturation, and vice versa in the Pixel’s case. While I don’t think the Nord 4’s photo is necessarily bad, as this is a color-focused round, the Pixel is the clear winner.
Winner: Google Pixel 8a
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: Zoom
This long row of bottles in the vineyard cellar fits perfectly into the 2x zoom modes built into the sensor of both of these phones, resulting in the photo we have here.
The Nord gives us a darker image because it can’t use its entire large sensor to absorb light. As a result, the red wine bottles end up appearing almost black with minimal detail, something the Pixel 8a has no trouble with.
Winner: Google Pixel 8a
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: Low light
A darker part of the cellar made for a great place to test the powers of both our phones’ night mode, overlooking rows and rows of stored bottles.
The OnePlus Nord 4 produced a darker photo, but in doing so it did a good job of controlling the reflections from the bottles. The Pixel 8a’s brighter image overexposes the reflections somewhat, which makes me lean toward the Nord in this case.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 4
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: Selfie
Even though I didn’t dare take off my baseball cap and sunglasses for fear of getting sunburned, I still tried to take a selfie in portrait mode.
The Nord 4’s portrait mode is softer than the Pixel 8a’s, but as a result, the OnePlus doesn’t exhibit weird artifacts like the halo around my cap. As for colors, the Pixel 8a’s super-saturated look and the Nord 4’s less intense one both exceed the coloring I was hoping to see. Combined with the minimal difference in detail between the two shots, this round doesn’t have a clear winner.
Winner: Draw
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: Bokeh effect
This close-up of a flower gives us the opportunity to check how well these phones create a natural bokeh effect (background blur) without applying any artificial effects.
The Pixel’s blur is more intense, though the odd color cast in this shot ruins the overall look. The Nord has a similar focus-to-blur ratio, so while I’d pick this shot as the overall winner, in terms of bokeh, neither phone comes out on top.
Winner: Draw
OnePlus Nord 4 vs Google Pixel 8a: verdict
So the Pixel 8a’s place at the top of the budget phone pile seems secure for now. OnePlus has the hardware to match Google’s phone, but for the most part, the Nord 4 falls short. It’s unfortunate that OnePlus doesn’t seem keen to bring the Hasselblad tuning from its flagship phones to the Nord family, as I think that would go a long way toward improving things.
But for now, US buyers can rest assured that missing out on the Nord 4 won’t deprive them of a secret champion of budget camera phones. In the meantime, in Europe and elsewhere, you can decide whether the Nord 4’s other strengths, like its lower price, more interesting design, and larger screen and battery, make up for the gap in camera quality with the Pixel 8a.
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