Nokia X30 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: A Detailed Comparison

The Nokia X30 and Samsung Galaxy S23 FE represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The X30 prioritizes longevity and sustainable design, while the S23 FE aims to deliver a near-flagship experience at a more accessible price point. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is the superior choice. Its significantly more powerful Exynos 2200 (or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the US) chipset and brighter display offer a smoother, more immersive experience. While the Nokia X30 boasts impressive battery endurance, the S23 FE’s faster charging and overall performance outweigh this advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia X30 Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2022, September 012023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 21Available. Released 2023, October 05
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.9 x 73.9 x 8 mm (6.26 x 2.91 x 0.31 in)158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, 450 nits (typ), 700 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - InternationalOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - USA
ChipsetQualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - USA
GPUAdreno 619Xclipse 920 - InternationalAdreno 730 - USA
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 13Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2 - 128GB UFS 3.0 - 256GB-
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06"-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30/60fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
Single16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm10 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radio, RDSUnspecified
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired, PD3.025W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsCloudy Blue, Ice WhiteMint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, Tangerine
ModelsTA-1450, TA-1443SM-S711B, SM-S711B/DS, SM-S711U1, SM-S711U, SM-S711W, SM-S7110, SM-S711N
Price$ 399.00$ 219.95 / C$ 327.90 / £ 248.99 / € 272.00 / ₹ 34,999
SAR-0.80 W/kg (head)     0.72 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.79 W/kg (head)     1.37 W/kg (body)0.76 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 94h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -27.5 LUFS (Good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 403732 (v9) GeekBench: 1920 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Nokia X30

  • Exceptional battery life (94h endurance)
  • Eco-conscious design and materials
  • Competitive price point

  • Significantly weaker processor
  • Dimmer display
  • Limited camera capabilities

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

  • Powerful Exynos 2200/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Faster charging and wireless charging

  • Shorter battery life compared to X30
  • Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
  • Higher price

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 985 nits compared to the Nokia X30’s 746 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the S23 FE’s higher peak brightness provides a more dynamic and visually appealing image. The S23 FE’s panel technology is likely to be more advanced, potentially including LTPO for adaptive refresh rates, though this isn’t explicitly stated in the provided data. The Nokia X30’s display, while adequate, will appear dimmer and less vibrant in comparison.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the S23 FE is expected to deliver superior image quality due to its likely larger sensor and more advanced image processing. While specific sensor details are missing, Samsung’s flagship heritage suggests a more sophisticated camera system. The S23 FE likely benefits from features like optical image stabilization (OIS), which the X30 may lack. The Nokia X30’s camera will likely perform adequately in good lighting conditions, but will struggle in low-light scenarios compared to the S23 FE. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and unlikely to significantly impact image quality.

Performance

The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE utilizes either the Exynos 2200 (international) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA), both built on a 4nm process, while the Nokia X30 is powered by the 6nm Snapdragon 695 5G. The Exynos 2200/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 feature more powerful CPU cores – a Cortex-X2 prime core alongside Cortex-A710 performance cores – compared to the X30’s Kryo 660 Gold and Silver cores. This results in significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a much better gaming experience on the S23 FE. The 4nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. The X30’s Snapdragon 695 is sufficient for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Nokia X30 excels in battery endurance, achieving a remarkable 94-hour rating. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE’s active use score of 8:28 hours, while lower, is still respectable. The S23 FE compensates with faster charging – 25W wired with 50% charge in 30 minutes, plus 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging – features absent on the X30. The X30’s 33W wired charging, while supporting PD3.0, will likely take longer to fully charge the battery. The difference in battery life may be less noticeable in real-world usage, especially considering the S23 FE’s faster charging capabilities.

Buying Guide

Buy the Nokia X30 if you prioritize exceptional battery life and a commitment to eco-conscious design, and are willing to compromise on processing power. It’s ideal for users who primarily use their phone for communication, light social media, and basic tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you demand a more responsive experience for gaming, multitasking, and photography, and value a brighter, more vibrant display. This phone is geared towards power users and content creators.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 chip in the S23 FE overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 has been known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained load. However, the 4nm process and Samsung’s thermal management solutions mitigate this issue to a degree. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant (US model) generally performs better in terms of thermal efficiency. Expect some performance reduction during extended gaming, but it shouldn't be a dealbreaker for most users.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Nokia X30 fast enough for daily use?
While 33W charging with PD3.0 is decent, it's slower than the S23 FE’s 25W wired and 15W wireless options. The X30 will take longer to fully charge, but the exceptional battery life means you may not need to charge it as frequently.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 695 in the Nokia X30 handle multitasking compared to the S23 FE?
The Snapdragon 695 is a capable mid-range chip, but it's significantly less powerful than the Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The S23 FE will handle multitasking with far greater ease, allowing you to switch between apps more smoothly and run more demanding applications simultaneously.
❓ What kind of software support can I expect from Nokia for the X30?
Nokia promises 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the X30, which is a competitive level of support. However, Samsung typically offers longer software support for its flagship and FE series devices.