Motorola One Zoom vs Nokia 7.2: A Detailed Comparison for the Discerning Buyer

Released around the same time, the Motorola One Zoom and Nokia 7.2 represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market. Both aimed to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, but they took different approaches. The Motorola One Zoom prioritized display brightness and processing power, while the Nokia 7.2 focused on a more refined design and a clean software experience. This comparison dives deep into the specifications to determine which device offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Motorola One Zoom emerges as the stronger choice. Its significantly brighter display (690 nits vs 585 nits) and more powerful Snapdragon 675 chipset provide a noticeably smoother and more enjoyable user experience, especially for media consumption and gaming. While the Nokia 7.2 offers a respectable package, it falls behind in key performance areas.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola One Zoom Nokia 7.2
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - ROW
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 661, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - ROW
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/100 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps or LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - IN
Launch
Announced2019, September 05. Released 2019, September 052019, September 05. Released 2019, September 23
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Panda King), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame
Dimensions158 x 75 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.95 x 0.35 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 + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)180 g (6.35 oz)
 Splash and dust resistant-
Display
ProtectionPanda King glassCorning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDIPS LCD, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver)Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM675 Snapdragon 675 (11 nm)Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm)
GPUAdreno 612Adreno 512
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie)Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, Android One
Memory
Call records20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls-
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
Phonebook1000 entries, Photocall-
 UFS 2.0eMMC 5.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRZeiss optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens-
Single8.1 MP, AF-
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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRZeiss optics, HDR
Single25 MP, f/2.0, 0.9µm20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX
NFCYesYes (excl. India)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB 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
BrowserNo-
GamesYes-
JavaNo-
MessagingSMS-
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging15W wired10W wired
Stand-byUp to 625 h-
Talk timeUp to 11 h-
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsElectric Gray, Cosmic Purple, Brushed BronzeCyan Green, Charcoal, Ice
ModelsSGP771TA-1193, TA-1178, TA-1196, TA-1181
PriceAbout 140 EURAbout 240 EUR
SAR1.26 W/kg (head)     1.39 W/kg (body)1.15 W/kg (head)     0.90 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.71 W/kg (head)     1.54 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     1.44 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -91.6dB / Crosstalk -91.8dB Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB
Battery life Endurance rating 90h Endurance rating 69h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1342:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 85dB -29.6 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 146810 (v7), 180000 (v8) GeekBench: 5802 (v4.4), 1534 (v5.1) GFXBench: 7.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 139495 (v7), 164484 (v8) GeekBench: 5440 (v4.4), 1398 (v5.1) GFXBench: 8.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola One Zoom

  • Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
  • More powerful Snapdragon 675 chipset
  • Longer battery life (90h endurance)

  • Charging speed is only 15W
  • Software updates may be less frequent than Nokia

Nokia 7.2

  • Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
  • Aesthetically pleasing design
  • Higher contrast ratio (on paper)

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 660 chipset
  • Dimmer display
  • Shorter battery life (69h endurance)

Display Comparison

The Motorola One Zoom boasts a substantial advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 690 nits compared to the Nokia 7.2’s 585 nits. This difference is immediately noticeable outdoors, where the Motorola One Zoom remains easily readable in direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' (Motorola) and 1342:1 (Nokia) contrast ratio, the higher brightness of the Motorola One Zoom effectively translates to a more dynamic and visually appealing image. The Nokia 7.2’s contrast ratio, while numerically higher, doesn’t compensate for the lower peak brightness. Neither manufacturer specifies panel technology, but both likely utilize IPS LCDs, common for this price point.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics on sensor size or aperture, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Motorola One Zoom’s chipset provides more processing power for image processing algorithms, potentially leading to better dynamic range and low-light performance. The Nokia 7.2’s emphasis on design might have prioritized camera module aesthetics over sensor capabilities. The absence of details on OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for either device makes it difficult to assess video stabilization performance.

Performance

The Motorola One Zoom’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 (11nm) significantly outperforms the Nokia 7.2’s Snapdragon 660 (14nm). The 675’s newer architecture and smaller manufacturing process result in improved efficiency and processing power. The CPU configuration – Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) on the Motorola versus Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) on the Nokia – further highlights this difference. The 675’s Kryo 460 cores offer better sustained performance, crucial for multitasking and gaming. The larger process node of the 660 also implies potentially higher heat generation under load, potentially leading to thermal throttling.

Battery Life

The Motorola One Zoom’s endurance rating of 90 hours surpasses the Nokia 7.2’s 69 hours. This difference is directly attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 675 chipset and potentially optimized power management. While the Motorola One Zoom offers 15W wired charging, the Nokia 7.2 is limited to 10W. This means the Motorola One Zoom will recharge significantly faster, reducing downtime. The Nokia 7.2’s smaller battery capacity, combined with the less efficient chipset, contributes to its lower endurance rating.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola One Zoom if you prioritize a vibrant display for media viewing, need a phone capable of handling demanding apps and games, and value longer battery endurance. Buy the Nokia 7.2 if you prefer a cleaner Android experience with guaranteed updates, appreciate a more aesthetically refined design, and are less concerned with raw performance or peak display brightness.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 660 in the Nokia 7.2 struggle with demanding games like PUBG?
The Snapdragon 660 can run PUBG, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. The Snapdragon 675 in the Motorola One Zoom offers significantly more headroom for gaming, allowing for higher settings and more consistent performance.
❓ How much faster will the Motorola One Zoom charge compared to the Nokia 7.2?
With 15W charging, the Motorola One Zoom will recharge noticeably faster than the Nokia 7.2’s 10W charging. While exact 0-100% times aren't available, expect the Motorola One Zoom to gain a significant percentage of charge in the same time it takes the Nokia 7.2 to reach 50%.
❓ Does either phone have a headphone jack?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, both the Motorola One Zoom and Nokia 7.2 included a 3.5mm headphone jack, a common feature for mid-range phones released in 2019.
❓ Which phone is likely to receive more software updates?
Nokia historically prioritizes software updates and offers a cleaner Android experience. While Motorola has improved in this area, Nokia generally provides more consistent and timely updates, making it a better choice for users who value software longevity.