Nokia C1 2nd Edition vs. iPhone 14: Can a Budget Phone Compete?

The smartphone landscape is vast, ranging from ultra-affordable options to premium powerhouses. Today, we're pitting two extremes against each other: the budget-friendly Nokia C1 2nd Edition and the flagship Apple iPhone 14. This comparison will help you decide which device best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 utterly dominates in performance, camera quality, and overall user experience. However, the Nokia C1 2nd Edition offers incredible value for those on a tight budget. It's a clear win for the iPhone, but the C1 provides essential functionality at a fraction of the cost.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia C1 2nd Edition Apple iPhone 14
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2882, A2884
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2882, A2884
SpeedHSPA 21.1/5.76 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPAGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 eMMC 5.11, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2883
Launch
Announced2021, July 052022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 27Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions148 x 71.8 x 9.3 mm (5.83 x 2.83 x 0.37 in)146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight154 g (5.43 oz)172 g (6.07 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~295 ppi density)1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size5.45 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~72.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT LCDSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUQuad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetUnisoc SC7731eApple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUMali-400 MP2Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11 (Go edition)iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal16GB 1GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
FeaturesLED flashDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single5 MP12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video720p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesLED flashHDR
Single5 MP12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video720p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximityFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Ion 2500 mAh, removableLi-Ion 3279 mAh (12.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlue, PurpleMidnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red, Yellow
ModelsTA-1380A2882, A2649, A2881, A2884, A2883, iphone14,7
PriceAbout 50 EUR€ 344.00 / $ 277.58 / £ 300.00 / ₹ 64,900
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.16 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.60 W/kg (head)     1.44 W/kg (body)0.98 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 90h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 817125 (v9) GeekBench: 4761 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia C1 2nd Edition

  • Extremely affordable
  • Decent battery life
  • Android Go Edition (optimized for low-end hardware)
  • Durable build quality (typical of Nokia)

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

Apple iPhone 14

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Excellent camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Seamless iOS ecosystem

  • High price
  • Limited customization compared to Android
  • No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 boasts a significantly brighter and higher-quality display with excellent contrast and color accuracy. Its 804 nits peak brightness makes it easily viewable outdoors. The Nokia C1 2nd Edition's display is adequate for basic use but lacks the vibrancy and clarity of the iPhone 14. Expect lower resolution and less impressive color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14's camera system is a major selling point, delivering exceptional photo and video quality. It excels in various lighting conditions and offers advanced features. The Nokia C1 2nd Edition's camera is functional but produces lower-resolution images with less detail and dynamic range. Expect significant differences in image quality.

Performance

The A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 is a beast, offering blazing-fast performance for demanding games and apps. The Unisoc SC7731e in the Nokia C1 2nd Edition is a budget chipset, resulting in noticeably slower performance. Expect lag and limitations when multitasking or running resource-intensive applications on the C1.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the iPhone 14 achieving an endurance rating of 90 hours. The Nokia C1 2nd Edition, with its smaller screen and less demanding processor, also provides solid battery life, likely exceeding a full day of moderate use. The iPhone 14 also benefits from faster charging capabilities (wired and wireless).

Buying Guide

The Nokia C1 2nd Edition is ideal for first-time smartphone users, those needing a basic device for calls and messaging, or as a secondary phone. The iPhone 14 is perfect for users who demand top-tier performance, a stunning camera, and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nokia C1 2nd Edition good for gaming?
No, the Nokia C1 2nd Edition's chipset is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle basic games, but expect low frame rates and potential lag.
❓ How much storage does the Nokia C1 2nd Edition have?
The Nokia C1 2nd Edition typically comes with limited internal storage (often 32GB), but it supports microSD card expansion for additional storage.
❓ Does the iPhone 14 have expandable storage?
No, the iPhone 14 does not offer expandable storage. You must choose the storage capacity you need at the time of purchase.
❓ What is Android Go Edition?
Android Go Edition is a lightweight version of Android designed for devices with limited RAM and storage. It optimizes performance and reduces data usage.