Nokia Lumia 520 vs. Apple iPhone 8: A Clash of Eras

The Nokia Lumia 520 represents a bygone era of affordable Windows Phone devices, while the Apple iPhone 8 embodies modern smartphone technology. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide which phone best suits your needs and budget.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 8 decisively wins in almost every category – performance, camera quality, and display technology. However, the Lumia 520 remains a compelling option for those seeking an incredibly budget-friendly device with surprisingly good battery life, though severely limited functionality.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia Lumia 520	Apple iPhone 8

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - RM-914	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
Speed	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-917	-

Launch
Announced	2013, February. Released 2013, April	2017, September 12. Released 2017, September 22
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions	119.9 x 64 x 9.9 mm, 75.7 cc (4.72 x 2.52 x 0.39 in)	138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
SIM	Micro-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	124 g (4.37 oz)	148 g (5.22 oz)
	-	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Ion-strengthened glass
Resolution	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density)	750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size	4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~59.3% screen-to-body ratio)	4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
	-	3D Touch display & home button

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.0 GHz	Hexa-core (2x Monsoon + 4x Mistral)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8227	Apple A11 Bionic (10 nm)
GPU	Adreno 305	Apple GPU (three-core graphics)
OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to 8.1	iOS 11, up to iOS 16.7.12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	8GB 512MB RAM	64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 256GB 2GB RAM
	-	NVMe

Main Camera
Features	-	Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Single	5 MP, f/2.4, 28mm (wide), 1/4.0", AF	12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), PDAF, OIS
Video	720p@30fps	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	Face detection, HDR, panorama
Single	-	7 MP, f/2.2
Video	-	1080p@30fps
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	FM Radio	No
USB	microUSB 2.0	Lightning, USB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	-	15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
Music play	Up to 61 h	-
Stand-by	Up to 360 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 14 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 9 h 40 min (3G)	Up to 14 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 1430 mAh, removable (BL-5J)	Li-Ion 1821 mAh, non-removable (6.96 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Yellow, red, cyan, white/black	Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Red
Models	-	A1863, A1905, A1906, A1907, iPhone10,1, iPhone10,4
Price	About 70 EUR	About 210 EUR
SAR	0.77 W/kg (head)	1.32 W/kg (head) 1.36 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	1.09 W/kg (head)	1.19 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -82.3dB / Crosstalk -81.8dB	Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -80.4dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 49h	Endurance rating 66h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 834:1 (nominal) / 1.161:1 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1395:1 (nominal), 3.957 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 68dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 66dB	Voice 71dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 80dB
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 237594 (v7) GeekBench: 10214 (v4.4) GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Nokia Lumia 520

Extremely affordable
Long battery life
Durable build
Simple and easy to use

Outdated hardware
Slow performance
Low-resolution display
Limited app selection
Basic camera

Apple iPhone 8

Powerful performance
Excellent camera
High-quality display
Seamless iOS experience
Wireless charging
Regular software updates

Expensive
Limited customization options
Non-expandable storage
Lightning connector

Display Comparison

The iPhone 8 boasts a significantly superior display with a much higher contrast ratio (1395:1 nominal, 3957:1 sunlight) compared to the Lumia 520 (834:1 nominal, 1161:1 sunlight). The iPhone 8's display is brighter, sharper, and offers better color accuracy, making it a much more enjoyable experience for media consumption and general use. The Lumia 520's display is adequate but noticeably less vibrant.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 8's camera is a clear winner, offering superior image quality, better low-light performance, and advanced features like Portrait Mode. While the Lumia 520's camera is functional, it struggles in challenging lighting conditions and produces noticeably lower-quality images. Video recording capabilities are also significantly better on the iPhone 8.

Performance

The iPhone 8's A11 Bionic chip is in a different league compared to the Lumia 520's Qualcomm MSM8227. The iPhone 8's hexa-core processor delivers significantly faster performance for multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications. The Lumia 520 can feel sluggish at times, especially when running multiple apps or navigating complex interfaces.

Battery Life

Both phones offer a similar endurance rating (66h vs 49h), suggesting comparable real-world battery life. However, the iPhone 8's more efficient hardware and iOS optimization likely contribute to its slightly better longevity despite the Lumia 520's larger battery capacity.

Buying Guide

The Nokia Lumia 520 is ideal for users on a very tight budget who prioritize long battery life and basic functionality. The Apple iPhone 8 is perfect for those who want a powerful, feature-rich smartphone with a great camera and seamless iOS experience, and are willing to pay a premium.