Nokia Lumia 525 vs. Apple iPhone 5s: A Retro Showdown

The Nokia Lumia 525 and Apple iPhone 5s represent different eras of smartphone design and philosophy. The Lumia 525 aimed for affordability and Windows Phone charm, while the iPhone 5s brought significant advancements to Apple's lineup. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 5s, despite its age, edges out the Lumia 525 thanks to its superior processor, more polished iOS experience, and generally better camera. While the Lumia 525 offers a budget-friendly entry point, the iPhone 5s provides a more robust and enduring user experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia Lumia 525	Apple iPhone 5s

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - RM-998	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all models
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - RM-998	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - A1533 (GSM), A1453
4G bands	1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25 - A1533 GSM, A1533 CDMA
Speed	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 39, 40 - A1530

Launch
Announced	2013, November. Released 2014, January	2013, September 10. Released 2013, September 20
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	119.9 x 64 x 9.9 mm, 75.7 cc (4.72 x 2.52 x 0.39 in)	123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in)
SIM	Micro-SIM	Nano-SIM
Weight	124 g (4.37 oz)	112 g (3.95 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Corning Gorilla Glass, oleophobic coating
Resolution	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density)	640 x 1136 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size	4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~59.3% screen-to-body ratio)	4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~60.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.0 GHz	Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8227	Apple A7 (28 nm)
GPU	Adreno 305	PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics)
OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 8, upgradable to 8.1	iOS 7, upgradable to iOS 12.5.7

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	8GB 1GB RAM	16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Single	5 MP, 1/4.0", AF	8 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.0", 1.5µm, AF
Triple	48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (depth)	-
Video	720p@30fps	1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	face detection, HDR, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular
Single	16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm	1.2 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	720p@30fps
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	-	16-bit/44.1kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, LE/ aptX after WP8 Denim update	4.0, A2DP
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS
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, dual-band, hotspot

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

Battery
Charging	15W wired, QC3 9W wireless	-
Music play	Up to 48 h	-
Stand-by	Up to 336 h (2G) / Up to 336 h (3G)	Up to 250 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 17 h (2G) / Up to 10 h 40 min (3G)	Up to 10 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 1430 mAh, removable (BL-5J)	Li-Po 1560 mAh, non-removable (5.92 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Yellow, Red	Space Gray, White/Silver, Gold
Models	LMG910EMW, LM-G910EMW	A1453, A1457, A1518, A1528, A1530, A1533, iPhone6,1, iPhone6,2
Price	About 120 EUR	About 330 EUR
SAR	-	1.12 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.72 W/kg (head) 0.79 W/kg (body)	1.00 W/kg (head) 0.80 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -90.3dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 54h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1219:1 (nominal) / 3.565:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 68dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 69dB
Performance	-	Basemark X: 14341

Nokia Lumia 525

Extremely affordable
Clean Windows Phone interface (at the time)
Decent call quality
Wireless charging (9W)

Outdated processor
Low-resolution display
Limited app availability (Windows Phone)
Plastic build quality

Apple iPhone 5s

Faster processor and smoother performance
Better camera quality
More robust app ecosystem (iOS)
Premium build quality (aluminum)
Generally longer software support (historically)

Older design
Small screen by modern standards
Battery life is aging
Limited storage options (original models)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature 4-inch displays, but the iPhone 5s boasts a higher resolution (1136 x 640 vs. 854 x 480 on the Lumia 525). The iPhone 5s's display also generally offers better color accuracy and viewing angles. While both have impressive contrast ratios (1219:1 nominal, 3.565:1 sunlight), the iPhone 5s's higher resolution gives it a noticeable edge in sharpness.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 5s's camera (8MP) consistently delivers better image quality than the Lumia 525's (5MP). The iPhone 5s captures more detail, has better dynamic range, and produces more accurate colors. While both can record video, the iPhone 5s offers superior stabilization and overall video quality.

Performance

The iPhone 5s's Apple A7 chip (1.3 GHz dual-core Cyclone) significantly outperforms the Lumia 525's Qualcomm MSM8227 (1.0 GHz dual-core). iOS is also generally more optimized for Apple's hardware, resulting in a smoother and more responsive user experience. The Lumia 525 can feel sluggish at times, especially when multitasking.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have endurance ratings of 54 hours, however, real-world usage often differs. The iPhone 5s's more efficient processor and iOS optimization likely contribute to slightly better battery life in practical scenarios, despite the Lumia 525 having a slightly larger battery capacity.

Buying Guide

The Nokia Lumia 525 is ideal for users on a very tight budget who are comfortable with the Windows Phone operating system and prioritize affordability over premium features. The Apple iPhone 5s is a better choice for those seeking a more refined smartphone experience, a stronger app ecosystem, and a device that will likely receive longer-term software support (though limited now).