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

The smartphone landscape is vast, ranging from ultra-affordable options to premium flagships. Today, we're pitting two extremes against each other: the budget-friendly Nokia C1 2nd Edition and the powerhouse Apple iPhone 14 Pro. This comparison will reveal which phone offers the best value and performance for your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Pro utterly dominates in almost every category – performance, camera, display, and features. However, the Nokia C1 2nd Edition provides basic functionality at an incredibly low price point. It's a clear win for the iPhone, but the Nokia serves a specific budget-conscious market.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia C1 2nd Edition Apple iPhone 14 Pro
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 - A2890, A2892
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 - A2890, A2892
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 - A2891
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, stainless steel frame
Dimensions148 x 71.8 x 9.3 mm (5.83 x 2.83 x 0.37 in)147.5 x 71.5 x 7.9 mm (5.81 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)206 g (7.27 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)1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size5.45 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~72.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 91.7 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT LCDLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUQuad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetUnisoc SC7731eApple A16 Bionic (4 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, 1TB 6GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single5 MP12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video720p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesLED flashHDR
Single5 MP12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 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 (L1+L5), 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 3200 mAh (12.38 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlue, PurpleSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
ModelsTA-1380A2890, A2650, A2889, A2892, iphone15,2
PriceAbout 50 EUR$ 395.67 / C$ 693.35 / £ 403.99 / € 492.99
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.15 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 86h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 968412 (v9) GeekBench: 5346 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia C1 2nd Edition

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

  • Very limited performance
  • Low-resolution display
  • Basic camera
  • Outdated software

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Top-tier camera system
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Long software support

  • High price
  • Limited customization options
  • No expandable storage

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro boasts a significantly superior display with a peak brightness of 1791 nits and an infinite contrast ratio. Its ProMotion technology offers adaptive refresh rates for smoother scrolling. The Nokia C1 2nd Edition's display is adequate for its price range but lacks the vibrancy, resolution, and advanced features of the iPhone.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced features, and impressive video recording capabilities. The Nokia C1 2nd Edition's camera is functional but produces noticeably lower-quality photos, especially in low light.

Performance

The A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro is in a different league compared to the Unisoc SC7731e in the Nokia C1 2nd Edition. Expect lightning-fast app loading, seamless multitasking, and effortless gaming on the iPhone. The Nokia struggles with demanding tasks and may exhibit noticeable lag.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive endurance ratings (86h). However, the iPhone 14 Pro's faster charging capabilities (wired and wireless) provide a significant advantage in terms of convenience.

Buying Guide

The Nokia C1 2nd Edition is ideal for users needing a simple, affordable phone for calls, texts, and basic apps. The iPhone 14 Pro is for users who demand top-tier performance, a stunning camera, and a premium experience, regardless of cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nokia C1 2nd Edition good for gaming?
No, the Nokia C1 2nd Edition's processor is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle very basic games, but performance will be limited.
❓ How much does the Nokia C1 2nd Edition cost?
The Nokia C1 2nd Edition is typically priced under $100, making it one of the most affordable smartphones on the market.
❓ What iOS version does the iPhone 14 Pro ship with?
The iPhone 14 Pro ships with iOS 16. It is upgradable to iOS 17 and beyond.
❓ Does the iPhone 14 Pro support Qi2 wireless charging?
Yes, the iPhone 14 Pro supports Qi2 wireless charging, but it requires iOS 17.2 or later.