Nokia 500 vs Nokia Lumia 1520: A Clash of Eras

Nokia, a name synonymous with mobile history, produced a diverse range of devices. Today, we pit two distinct models against each other: the budget-friendly Nokia 500 and the flagship Nokia Lumia 1520. This comparison will explore their strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide which phone best suits your needs, even years after their release.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia Lumia 1520 is the clear winner. Its superior processing power, stunning display, advanced camera capabilities, and exceptional battery life far outweigh the Nokia 500's simplicity. While the 500 offers a nostalgic experience, the 1520 delivers a significantly more modern and capable smartphone experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia 500	Nokia Lumia 1520

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-937, RM-939, RM-940
4G bands	-	1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - RM-937
Speed	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	-	2, 4, 5, 7, 17 - RM-938, RM-940

Launch
Announced	2011, August. Released 2011, September	2013, October. Released 2013, November
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	111.3 x 53.8 x 14.1 mm, 73 cc (4.38 x 2.12 x 0.56 in)	162.8 x 85.4 x 8.7 mm, 120.3 cc (6.41 x 3.36 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	93 g (3.28 oz)	209 g (7.37 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Resolution	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~229 ppi density)	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density)
Size	3.2 inches, 28.2 cm2 (~47.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT	IPS LCD
	-	ClearBlack display

Platform
CPU	1.0 GHz ARM 11	Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400
Chipset	Mediatek MT6572 (28 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm)
GPU	Mali-400	Adreno 330
OS	Symbian Anna, upgradable to Nokia Belle OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to Windows 10

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	2GB 256MB RAM	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM
	-	eMMC 4.5

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash, panorama
Single	5 MP	20 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.5", 1.12µm, AF, OIS
Video	480p@15fps	4K@30fps (after WP8 Denim update), 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec.

Selfie camera
Single	Yes	1.2 MP, f/2.4
Video	-	720p@30fps
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP, EDR	4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, sensor core
	Exchangeable battery covers with multiple home screens (2 included in the retail box) MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV/еAAC+/WMA player Photo editor Organizer Voice command/dial Predictive text input	-

Battery
Charging	-	Wireless (Qi)
Music play	Up to 35 h	Up to 124 h
Stand-by	Up to 500 h (2G) / Up to 455 h (3G)	Up to 768 h (2G) / Up to 768 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 7 h (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G)	Up to 27 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 25 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1110 mAh battery (BL-4U)	Li-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable (BV-4BW)

Misc
Colors	Black/White with covers in Black, Azure Blue, Coral Red, Purple, Khaki, Orange, Green, Pink, Silver	Yellow, white, black, red, green (AT&T)
Price	About 110 EUR	About 350 EUR
SAR	1.47 W/kg (head) 1.38 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	1.18 W/kg (head)	0.64 W/kg (head) 0.20 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -90.1dB / Crosstalk -91.2dB	Noise -89.3dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 107h
Camera	Photo	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1207:1 (nominal) / 1.813:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 73dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB	Voice 73dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 74dB

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -90.1dB / Crosstalk -91.2dB	Noise -89.3dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 107h
Camera	Photo	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1207:1 (nominal) / 1.813:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 73dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 75dB	Voice 73dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 74dB

Nokia 500

Extremely affordable
Compact and lightweight
Simple and easy to use
Nostalgic design

Outdated hardware
Low-resolution display
Limited camera capabilities
Slow performance

Nokia Lumia 1520

Large, high-resolution display
Powerful processor
Excellent camera
Long battery life
Wireless charging (Qi)

Older model (limited software updates)
Larger size may be unwieldy for some
Potential for battery degradation over time

Display Comparison

The Lumia 1520 boasts a massive 6-inch Full HD (1080p) display with an impressive 1207:1 contrast ratio (nominal) and 1.813:1 in sunlight, offering exceptional visibility. The Nokia 500 has a much smaller 2.4-inch QVGA display, which is adequate for basic tasks but lacks the clarity and immersion of the Lumia 1520.

Camera Comparison

The Lumia 1520's camera is a major advantage, featuring both photo and video capabilities. It typically had a 41MP main sensor (depending on the specific variant), offering excellent image quality and detail. The Nokia 500's camera is limited to basic photo capture, lacking video recording and offering considerably lower resolution.

Performance

The Lumia 1520's Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset and quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 CPU provide significantly faster performance than the Nokia 500's 1.0 GHz ARM 11 processor and Mediatek MT6572 chipset. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a more responsive user experience on the Lumia 1520.

Battery Life

Both phones boast an endurance rating of 107 hours, indicating excellent battery life. However, the Lumia 1520's larger battery capacity (3400 mAh) contributes to its longevity, especially considering its more powerful hardware.

Buying Guide

The Nokia 500 is for those seeking a basic, ultra-affordable phone for calls, texts, and simple apps, perhaps as a secondary device or for nostalgic purposes. The Nokia Lumia 1520 is ideal for users who want a large-screened phone with a great camera and long battery life, even if it's an older model.