Huawei P40 lite vs Nokia 7.2: A Detailed Comparison of Performance and Battery Life

The Huawei P40 lite and Nokia 7.2 represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The P40 lite prioritizes performance and fast charging, while the Nokia 7.2 focuses on a cleaner Android experience and a more refined display. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device delivers the best value for your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing performance and convenience, the Huawei P40 lite is the clear winner. Its Kirin 810 chipset and 40W fast charging significantly outperform the Nokia 7.2’s Snapdragon 660 and 10W charging. However, Nokia’s cleaner software experience may appeal to those seeking a bloatware-free Android experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P40 lite Nokia 7.2
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - ROW
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - JNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21B1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - ROW
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/75 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps or LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - JNY-L22A, JNY-L02A, JNY-L22B1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - IN
Launch
Announced2020, February 27. Released 2020, March 022019, September 05. Released 2019, September 23
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame
Dimensions159.2 x 76.3 x 8.7 mm (6.27 x 3.00 x 0.34 in)159.9 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight183 g (6.46 oz)180 g (6.35 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
ChipsetKirin 810 (7 nm)Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm)
GPUMali-G52 MP6Adreno 512
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, Android One
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1eMMC 5.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Triple-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
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRZeiss optics, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX
NFCYes (market/region dependent): JNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21BYes (excl. India)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired, 70% in 30 min10W wired
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Emerald Green, Light Pink/Blue, Skyline GrayCyan Green, Charcoal, Ice
ModelsJNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21B, JNY-L22A, JNY-L02A, JNY-L22B, JNY-LX1TA-1193, TA-1178, TA-1196, TA-1181
PriceAbout 170 EURAbout 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 121h Endurance rating 69h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1085:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1342:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.0 LUFS (Good) -29.6 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 325777 (v8) GeekBench: 7846 (v4.4), 1862 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 139495 (v7), 164484 (v8) GeekBench: 5440 (v4.4), 1398 (v5.1) GFXBench: 8.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P40 lite

  • Significantly faster charging (40W)
  • More powerful Kirin 810 chipset
  • Longer battery endurance (121h)

  • EMUI software may not appeal to all users
  • Lower contrast ratio compared to Nokia 7.2

Nokia 7.2

  • Cleaner, stock Android experience
  • Higher contrast ratio (1342:1)
  • Potentially more natural color reproduction

  • Slow 10W charging
  • Less powerful Snapdragon 660 chipset
  • Shorter battery endurance (69h)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature similar display sizes, but diverge in key specifications. The Nokia 7.2 boasts a higher contrast ratio of 1342:1 compared to the P40 lite’s 1085:1, potentially resulting in deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. However, the P40 lite counters with a brighter panel, reaching 515 nits compared to the Nokia’s 585 nits, which could improve visibility in direct sunlight. While the Nokia 7.2 has a higher contrast ratio, the P40 lite's brightness is a practical advantage for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are limited in the provided data. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given Huawei’s historical emphasis on camera technology, it’s reasonable to assume the P40 lite benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms. The Nokia 7.2 likely prioritizes natural color reproduction, while the P40 lite may lean towards more saturated and contrast-enhanced images. The absence of specific details makes it impossible to declare a clear winner without further testing.

Performance

The performance gap is substantial. The Huawei P40 lite is powered by the Kirin 810 (7nm), an octa-core chipset featuring Cortex-A76 cores, while the Nokia 7.2 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 (14nm). The 7nm fabrication process of the Kirin 810 offers superior power efficiency and transistor density, translating to noticeably faster processing speeds and improved graphics performance. The P40 lite’s CPU configuration (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) provides a significant advantage over the Snapdragon 660’s (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) in multi-threaded tasks and gaming.

Battery Life

The Huawei P40 lite achieves an endurance rating of 121 hours, significantly exceeding the Nokia 7.2’s 69 hours. This difference is largely attributable to the Kirin 810’s superior power efficiency and, crucially, the P40 lite’s 40W fast charging capability. The P40 lite can reach 70% charge in just 30 minutes, a massive advantage over the Nokia 7.2’s slow 10W charging. While the Nokia 7.2 may offer acceptable battery life for light users, the P40 lite provides both longer runtime and significantly faster replenishment.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei P40 lite if you need a phone capable of handling demanding applications, enjoy faster charging speeds, and don't mind Huawei's EMUI software. Buy the Nokia 7.2 if you prefer a stock Android experience, prioritize a slightly higher contrast display, and are less concerned with raw processing power or rapid charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei P40 lite's Kirin 810 chipset capable of handling demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
Yes, the Kirin 810 is a capable chipset for gaming. Its Cortex-A76 cores and Mali-G52 MP6 GPU provide sufficient power for smooth gameplay in most popular titles, although you may need to adjust graphics settings for optimal performance in the most demanding games.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Nokia 7.2 with its 10W charging?
With its 10W charging, the Nokia 7.2 will take a considerable amount of time to fully charge – likely exceeding 3 hours from 0% to 100%. This is a significant drawback compared to the P40 lite’s 40W fast charging, which can reach 70% in just 30 minutes.
❓ Does the Huawei P40 lite support Google Mobile Services (GMS)?
This is a critical consideration. The Huawei P40 lite, released before significant restrictions, *did* ship with Google Mobile Services. However, it's crucial to verify the specific model and region of purchase, as later versions may rely on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and the AppGallery.
❓ What are the key differences between EMUI (Huawei) and stock Android (Nokia)?
EMUI is Huawei’s custom Android skin, offering features like theme customization and performance optimizations. However, it also includes pre-installed apps (bloatware) and a different user interface compared to stock Android. Nokia 7.2 runs a near-stock Android experience, providing a cleaner, more streamlined interface with faster updates and fewer pre-installed apps.