The sub-$200 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Cubot P30 and Nokia 7.2 represent two distinct approaches to delivering value. The P30 focuses on a lower entry price, while the Nokia 7.2 aims for a more refined experience with a more powerful chipset. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right phone for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Nokia 7.2 is the superior choice. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset provides a significantly smoother and more responsive experience than the Cubot P30’s MediaTek Helio P23. While both offer similar battery endurance, the Nokia 7.2’s better performance justifies the potential price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - ROW |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 19, 20 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - ROW |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps or LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - IN |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020. Released 2020 | 2019, September 05. Released 2019, September 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 156.6 x 74.3 x 8.1 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.32 in) | 159.9 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186.4 g (6.56 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.5 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6763 Helio P23 (16 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G71 MP2 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, Android One |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Zeiss optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 12 MP, (wide), 1/2.9", AF
8 MP, 125˚ (ultrawide)
20 MP, (depth), 1/2.78" | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Zeiss optics, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Unspecified | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes (excl. India) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Type | 4000 mAh | Li-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Black, Green | Cyan Green, Charcoal, Ice |
| Models | - | TA-1193, TA-1178, TA-1196, TA-1181 |
| Price | - | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.44 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 69h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1342:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.6 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 139495 (v7), 164484 (v8)
GeekBench: 5440 (v4.4), 1398 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Cubot P30
- Lower price point makes it accessible.
- Decent battery endurance for basic use.
- Functional for essential smartphone tasks.
- Significantly weaker performance compared to the Nokia 7.2.
- Likely a less refined camera experience.
- Display quality is likely inferior.
Nokia 7.2
- Superior performance thanks to the Snapdragon 660.
- Brighter and potentially more accurate display.
- Better camera capabilities expected.
- Potentially higher price than the Cubot P30.
- Slow 10W charging.
- Battery life is comparable despite the more powerful chipset.
Display Comparison
The Nokia 7.2 boasts a noticeably brighter display, reaching a measured 585 nits compared to an assumed lower brightness on the Cubot P30 (data unavailable). Both share a 1342:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar black levels and color depth. However, the Nokia 7.2’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. The lack of information on the P30’s panel type makes it difficult to assess color accuracy, but Nokia’s history suggests a more calibrated display.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are absent. However, given the Nokia 7.2’s positioning, it likely features a more sophisticated camera system with potentially larger sensors and better image processing. The absence of details on the Cubot P30 suggests a more basic camera setup. The Nokia 7.2’s brand reputation also points to a more refined camera experience, with better dynamic range and low-light performance. We can assume the P30 will rely heavily on software processing to compensate for hardware limitations.
Performance
This is where the Nokia 7.2 truly shines. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, built on a 14nm process, is a more efficient and powerful chipset than the Cubot P30’s MediaTek Helio P23 (16nm). The Snapdragon 660’s octa-core CPU, with its Kryo 260 Gold and Silver cores, offers a more balanced performance profile, excelling in both single-core and multi-core tasks. The Helio P23’s all-Cortex-A53 core configuration will struggle with demanding applications and multitasking. While both likely feature similar RAM configurations (data unavailable), the Snapdragon 660’s superior architecture will provide a far smoother experience.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both the Cubot P30 and Nokia 7.2 achieve an endurance rating of 69 hours. This suggests similar battery life despite the Snapdragon 660’s higher performance. The Nokia 7.2’s 14nm process likely contributes to better power efficiency, offsetting the performance difference. Both phones feature 10W wired charging, indicating relatively slow charging speeds. Expect around 2-3 hours for a full charge on both devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Cubot P30 if your primary need is a functional smartphone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media, and your budget is extremely limited. Buy the Nokia 7.2 if you prioritize a smoother user experience, better performance for multitasking and gaming, and a more capable camera system, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Cubot P30 struggle with popular apps like TikTok or Instagram?
Yes, the MediaTek Helio P23 chipset in the Cubot P30 is likely to exhibit noticeable lag and slowdowns when running demanding apps like TikTok or Instagram, especially when multitasking. The Snapdragon 660 in the Nokia 7.2 handles these apps with significantly more ease.
❓ Is the Nokia 7.2 a good option for light gaming?
The Nokia 7.2, with its Snapdragon 660, is a reasonable option for light gaming. It can handle less demanding titles without issue, but graphically intensive games may require reduced settings to maintain a playable frame rate. The Cubot P30’s Helio P23 will struggle with even moderately demanding games.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge both phones?
Given the 10W charging on both devices, expect a full charge to take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours from 0%. Neither phone offers fast charging capabilities.
❓ Does the Nokia 7.2 receive regular software updates?
Nokia is known for providing relatively timely Android updates and security patches, even on their budget devices. The Cubot P30’s software update schedule is less predictable and may be limited.
