Nokia C02 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: A David vs. Goliath Battle

The smartphone landscape is vast, offering options for every budget and need. Today, we're pitting two drastically different devices against each other: the ultra-affordable Nokia C02 and the powerhouse Samsung Galaxy S23. Can a budget phone even compete with a flagship?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 utterly dominates in almost every category. Its superior performance, stunning display, advanced camera system, and exceptional battery life make it the clear winner. The Nokia C02 offers incredible value for its price, but it's aimed at a very different user.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia C02 Samsung Galaxy S23
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, February 232023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, MayAvailable. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildPlastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions148.7 x 71.2 x 10 mm (5.85 x 2.80 x 0.39 in)146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight191 g (6.74 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~295 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size5.45 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUQuad-core 1.4 GHzOcta-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset-Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU-Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12 (Go edition)Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal32GB 2GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 3.1 - 128GB only UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single5 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video720p@30fps8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, HDR10+
Single2 MP12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video720p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging-25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3000 mAh, removableLi-Ion 3900 mAh
Misc
ColorsDark Cyan, CharcoalPhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
Models-SM-S911B, SM-S911B/DS, SM-S911U, SM-S911U1, SM-S911W, SM-S911N, SM-S9110, SM-S911E, SM-S911E/DS
Price-$ 237.95 / C$ 336.75 / £ 255.00 / € 322.41 / ₹ 49,990
SAR-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 101h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1231075 (v9) GeekBench: 4950 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia C02

  • Extremely affordable
  • Simple and easy to use
  • Durable build quality (typical of Nokia)

  • Low performance
  • Basic camera
  • Limited storage
  • Low-resolution display

Samsung Galaxy S23

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Advanced camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Fast charging
  • Premium design

  • Expensive
  • Can be bulky
  • Software bloat (subjective)

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S23 boasts a vibrant, incredibly bright (1198 nits) Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with an infinite contrast ratio, offering stunning visuals. The Nokia C02 likely features a standard LCD panel with lower resolution and brightness, providing a more basic viewing experience. The S23's adaptive refresh rate also contributes to smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S23's camera system is a major highlight, offering exceptional photo and video quality with advanced features. The Nokia C02's camera is likely a simple setup, suitable for casual snapshots but lacking the detail and versatility of the S23.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23 is a beast, delivering blazing-fast performance for demanding games and multitasking. The Nokia C02's quad-core processor is adequate for basic tasks but will struggle with anything intensive. The S23's chipset is in a different league entirely.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S23 provides outstanding battery life, with an endurance rating of 101 hours and active use lasting over 11 hours. It also supports fast 25W wired and 15W wireless charging. The Nokia C02's battery capacity is likely smaller, resulting in shorter battery life, and charging speeds will be significantly slower.

Buying Guide

The Nokia C02 is perfect for users on a tight budget who need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light app usage. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is ideal for power users, photographers, and anyone who demands top-tier performance and features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nokia C02 a good phone for seniors?
Yes, the Nokia C02's simplicity and ease of use make it a good option for seniors who need a basic phone for calls and texts.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy S23 handle demanding games?
Absolutely! The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset in the Galaxy S23 is more than capable of handling even the most demanding mobile games at high settings.
❓ What is the difference between the Nokia C02 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 in terms of storage?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 offers significantly more storage options, typically starting at 128GB and going up to 512GB or even 1TB. The Nokia C02 likely has limited storage, possibly 32GB or 64GB, with limited or no expandability.