Hashtag
Men's Weekly

OnePlus Announces Return to Metal Unibody Design with OnePlus Nord 4 with In-Depth Discussion

An interview with the Head of the OnePlus Industrial Design Center and the designer of the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch and Cauldron

SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 July 2024 - Global technology company OnePlus brought back the timeless metal unibody design with the launch of the OnePlus Nord 4 on July 16 in Milan.

The first and only smartphone in the 5G era to feature a metal unibody[1], the OnePlus Nord 4 debuts in three brand-new Nord tones, each offering a fusion of "no-follower" colors and innovative finishings. With the OnePlus Nord 4, OnePlus aims to deliver worry-free durability, premium appeal, and a burdenless experience that liberates users and complements their self-expression.

Caption

To celebrate the renaissance of the metal unibody smartphone, two of the industry's most creative minds — Ryan Ruan, Head of OnePlus Industrial Design Center, and Mathieu Lehanneur, Designer of the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch and Cauldron — met for an in-depth discussion to delve into the timeless allure of metal and share the behind-the-scenes design stories of the OnePlus Nord 4.

Guilloché: A Designer's First Impression
Taking a first look at the OnePlus Nord 4 in Mercurial Silver, Lehanneur was impressed by the stunning visual relief effect and high-end tactile feel created by the 3D nano-laser engraved matte finish. Sculpted from over 28,000 nano-laser cuts, the near-fluid profile that dances with light breaks free from the flat, two-dimensional designs of the past to render a masterpiece in motion.

"It reminds me of a super intricate and beautiful technique often used in luxury watches that we call 'Guilloché' in French," said Lehanneur. "It's not simply the case of loving the shape, or the color, or the features, but about how you can feel the design it in a more sensitive way."

Mathieu Lehanneur testing the OnePlus Nord 4 in his office
Mathieu Lehanneur testing the OnePlus Nord 4 in his office

Timeless Metal and Bold New Look
In CMF (colors, materials, finishes) design, metal has long been favored for its durability, dependability, and minimalist allure. Lehanneur, a big fan of metal himself, has created a range of metal masterpieces throughout his career, including the recent Olympic torch for Paris 2024. Perfectly symmetrical in its design, the torch features a matte finish on its top half and a reflective, subtly indented lower half that emulates ripples and movements of water. Crafting such an emotive sensation from metal requires unmatched intricacy and innovation, and the application of cutting-edge processing techniques to breathe new life into this timeless material.

"OnePlus shares Mathieu's belief that design and craftsmanship are key to redefining metal," said Ruan. "We aim to push the boundaries of this premium material to bring our users entirely new and exhilarating experiences."

To infuse a refreshing touch into metal and craft a unique metallic sheen and feel for the OnePlus Nord 4, OnePlus tested over a hundred different metal finishes, treatments, and color variations, ultimately resulting in three distinctive colorways: Obsidian Midnight, Mercurial Silver, and Oasis Green.

Each colorway enables users to effortlessly pick a color that resonates with them most, based simply on instinct and preference. This same burdenless ethos guided Lehanneur in designing the Olympic torch.

"I love the fact that only the designers, engineers, technicians, and makers truly understand the level of complexity behind the design," said Lehanneur. "For me, the purpose is never to express this complexity to the public but to share a sensation of pure simplicity."

Balance, Not Trade-off
Lehanneur believes that true validation of good design lies in the user experience — whether users can build an emotional connection with the product and feel the desire to own it. This same user-centric approach is what drives OnePlus designs too, based on the belief that while form should always follow function, good design is what ultimately defines the user experience. By balancing aesthetics and functionality, the new OnePlus Nord 4 embodies OnePlus' Never Settle spirit, combining innovative technologies and solutions to create an all-round burdenless experience.

For instance, the optimized internal structure and U-shape antennas of the OnePlus Nord 4 enhance signal performance while mitigating the "death grip" issue that affected previous unibody metal designs. The aluminum alloy body, which is inherently cooler than other materials at room temperature and boasts high thermal conductivity, also offers superior heat dissipation. Additionally, the ingenious thermal conduction barrier design prevents heat transfer through the metal unibody to the gripping area. These features ensure reliable signal strength and consistent user comfort when gripping the phone in different positions, allaying any fears about the conventional drawbacks of metal bodied phones.

At the end of the day, however, much like Lehanneur envisioned the Olympic torch as a universally beloved symbol and memory, OnePlus' aim is that the OnePlus Nord 4 can transcend being just a device to become a piece of art that brings meaningful experiences to more users.

Never Settle: Innovating Towards a Sustainable Future
"Metal comes from the Earth, from the planet itself, so its history is much longer than [that of] flowers," said Lehanneur.

This timelessness and endless recyclability of metal is what inspired Lehanneur to design the Olympic torch using recycled steel. It also continues to drive his use of metal as a key medium in his future works.

Like Lehanneur, OnePlus shares this commitment to sustainability and employs a dedicated CMF team specializing in the innovative application of materials. From the bamboo back of the OnePlus One to the durable and recyclable aluminum unibody of the OnePlus Nord 4, OnePlus pioneers material innovations that marry functionality with sustainability. Looking ahead, OnePlus will continue to explore the next evolution of metal unibody designs, introducing more timeless classics to the world and even potentially placing metal once again at the forefront of innovation in smartphone design.



[1] The OnePlus Nord 4 is the only 5G smartphone to feature a metal unibody 5G in the markets in which it is sold.

Hashtag: #OnePlus

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Business News

ANDPAD Launches Vietnamese Language Support for its Cloud-Based Construction Project Management Service

Expanding Multilingual Support for Global Users TOKYO, JAPAN - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2025 - ANDPAD Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takeo Inada; hereinafter ANDPAD), which opera...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Changhong Unveils Smart Living Innovations at 2025 Jakarta Expo, Bringing AI-Driven Appliances to Indonesian Homes

Exclusive Shopee partnership brings cutting-edge smart living technology to Indonesian consumers JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 24 June 2025 - Changhong, a global leader in smart hom...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Malaysia Launches Full-Scale Startup ASEAN Platform To Drive Regional Growth

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2025 - Malaysia today launched the Startup ASEAN platform, marking the full-scale rollout of a bold, unified digital gateway to connect and empo...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Hong Kong Civil Claim Centre Launches Free Work Injury Compensation Calculator

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2025 - The Hong Kong Civil Claim Centre (hkcivilclaim.com) has officially launched a brand-new online feature: the Work Injury Compensation Calculat...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Deleted

This Press release has been killed

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

SiegFund Transforms into SiegPath: A Strategic Rebrand Paving the Way for the Future of Professional Trading

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 24 June 2025 - SiegFund, a fintech–driven proprietary trading platform, has officially completed its brand upgrade and will now operate as SiegPath, serving...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Health & Wellness

Telehealth Could be the Catalyst for Better Heart Health in Australia

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Image by stockking on Freepik Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Australia despite decades of advancements in medicine and health education campaigns. More than 400 Australians ...

Disability Care in Melbourne: What Families Need to Know in 2025

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

If you’re supporting a loved one with a disability in Melbourne, you’ll know how important it is to find the right care—and how overwhelming it can be to navigate the system. With the National Disab...

Online Medical Certificate Services: Essential Features to Look Out For

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

"Discover top online medical certificate services! Essential features to look for to get trusted and efficient results." Choosing high-quality services is essential for ensuring reliable, efficient, ...