Nokia 7.1 vs Samsung Galaxy A54: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The smartphone market is overflowing with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting the budget-friendly Nokia 7.1 against the popular Samsung Galaxy A54 to see which device offers the best overall experience. We'll break down everything from display quality to battery life and performance.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the Nokia 7.1 offers decent battery life, the A54 boasts a significantly more powerful processor, a brighter and higher-quality display, and a more modern camera system, all while maintaining excellent endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia 7.1 Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 28, 38, 40, 66 - USA1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - USA25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2018, October 04. Released 2018, October 282023, March 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions149.7 x 71.2 x 8 mm (5.89 x 2.80 x 0.31 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight160 g (5.64 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size5.84 inches, 85.1 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR10Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 509Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, Android OneAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1-
Main Camera
Dual12 MP, f/1.8, 1.28µm, dual pixel PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesZeiss optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
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 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging18W wired25W wired
Stand-byUp to 408 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 19 h 30 min (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 3060 mAh, non-removable5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGloss midnight blue, gloss steelLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsTA-1100, TA-1097, TA-1085, TA-1095, TA-1096SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 240 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR-0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.26 W/kg (head)     1.74 W/kg (body)0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -94.4dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 80h Endurance rating 119h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1300:1 (nominal), 2.804 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 75dB / Noise 76dB / Ring 81dB -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 117175 (v7) GeekBench: 4975 (v4.4) GFXBench: 5.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia 7.1

  • Excellent battery life (80h endurance)
  • Affordable price point
  • Clean Android experience (at launch)

  • Outdated processor
  • Dim display
  • Less capable camera
  • Slow charging (18W)

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Powerful Exynos 1380 processor
  • Bright and vibrant display (980 nits)
  • Excellent camera system
  • Long battery life (119h endurance)
  • Fast charging (25W)

  • Potentially more expensive than Nokia 7.1
  • Samsung's One UI can be divisive

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54's display is a major upgrade. Its 980 nits max brightness makes it easily viewable outdoors, a significant advantage over the Nokia 7.1's contrast ratio of 1300:1 (nominal) and 2.804 (sunlight). The 'Infinite' contrast ratio on the A54 suggests superior color reproduction and deeper blacks. The Nokia 7.1's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and brightness of the A54.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A54's camera system is expected to be significantly better. Samsung consistently delivers strong camera performance in its mid-range devices. The Nokia 7.1's camera is adequate but lacks the advanced features and image processing capabilities of the A54.

Performance

The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is considerably faster than the Snapdragon 636 in the Nokia 7.1. The A54's 5nm process also contributes to better power efficiency. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the A54. The Nokia 7.1 is sufficient for basic tasks but will struggle with demanding games or applications.

Battery Life

The Nokia 7.1 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 80h, while the Galaxy A54 achieves 119h. However, the A54's active use score of 11:15h suggests it can handle more intensive usage before needing a recharge. The A54's more efficient processor also contributes to its longevity.

Buying Guide

The Nokia 7.1 is a good choice for users on a very tight budget who prioritize long battery life and don't need the latest features. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is ideal for those seeking a well-rounded smartphone with a great display, capable camera, and solid performance for everyday tasks and light gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nokia 7.1 still worth buying in 2024?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and prioritize battery life above all else. Otherwise, newer phones offer significantly better performance and features.
❓ What are the main differences between the Nokia 7.1 and the Samsung Galaxy A54?
The Galaxy A54 has a much faster processor, a brighter and higher-quality display, a better camera, and faster charging. The Nokia 7.1's main advantage is its slightly longer endurance rating, but the A54's overall performance is superior.