The Realme 5s and Nokia 7.2 represent distinct approaches to the budget smartphone market. The Realme 5s prioritizes longevity and sustained performance, while the Nokia 7.2 aims for a more refined visual experience. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device best suits your priorities.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and consistent performance, the Realme 5s emerges as the clear winner. Its significantly superior endurance rating (143h vs 69h) and more efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset outweigh the Nokia 7.2’s slightly brighter display.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - ROW |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - ROW |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (2CA) 450/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps or LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - IN |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, November 20. Released 2019, November | 2019, September 05. Released 2019, September 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.6 x 9.3 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.37 in) | 159.9 x 75.2 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| | Weather-sealed ports & loudspeaker | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, Android One |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes (excl. India) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Crystal Purple, Crystal Blue, Crystal Red | Cyan Green, Charcoal, Ice |
| Models | RMX1925 | TA-1193, TA-1178, TA-1196, TA-1181 |
| Price | About 270 EUR | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.44 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -90.1dB |
Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 143h
|
Endurance rating 69h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1412:1 |
Contrast ratio: 1342:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 89dB
|
-29.6 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 139103 (v7), 168635 (v8)
GeekBench: 5596 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 139495 (v7), 164484 (v8)
GeekBench: 5440 (v4.4), 1398 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 5s
- Exceptional battery life (143h endurance)
- More power-efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Higher contrast ratio for vibrant visuals
- Slower charging speed (10W)
- Display brightness not explicitly stated
Nokia 7.2
- Brighter display (585 nits)
- Slightly higher CPU clock speeds
- Potentially more refined software experience
- Significantly shorter battery life (69h endurance)
- Less power-efficient Snapdragon 660 chipset
Display Comparison
The Nokia 7.2 boasts a brighter display, reaching 585 nits, compared to the Realme 5s’s unmeasured peak brightness. However, contrast ratio is similar at 1342:1 for the Nokia 7.2 and 1412:1 for the Realme 5s. While the Nokia 7.2’s higher brightness is beneficial in direct sunlight, the Realme 5s’s contrast ratio contributes to deeper blacks and a more vibrant image in typical indoor conditions. Both displays lack high refresh rates, common in this price bracket, focusing instead on color accuracy and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature a photo/video-centric camera setup, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the Realme 5s’s focus on overall value suggests a more aggressive camera tuning for social media sharing, while Nokia traditionally prioritizes color accuracy and natural image processing. The absence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device suggests reliance on software stabilization, potentially impacting low-light video quality.
Performance
The Realme 5s utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm), while the Nokia 7.2 features the older Snapdragon 660 (14nm). The 11nm process node of the SD665 translates to improved power efficiency, contributing to the Realme 5s’s superior battery life. Although the Nokia 7.2’s CPU has slightly higher clock speeds (2.2 GHz vs 2.0 GHz), the architectural improvements and efficiency gains of the SD665 likely result in comparable, if not better, real-world performance. Both phones share an octa-core configuration with the same Kryo 260 core arrangement, but the SD665’s Adreno 610 GPU offers a modest graphical advantage.
Battery Life
The Realme 5s’s endurance rating of 143 hours is a standout feature, dwarfing the Nokia 7.2’s 69-hour rating. This substantial difference is directly attributable to the Snapdragon 665’s power efficiency and potentially a larger battery capacity (though not specified). Both phones support only 10W wired charging, meaning neither offers particularly fast charging speeds. Expect approximately 2-3 hours for a full charge on both devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 5s if you need a phone that will reliably last through a full day – and then some – of heavy use, and if you value consistent performance over peak brightness. Buy the Nokia 7.2 if you prioritize a brighter, more visually appealing display and prefer a slightly more polished software experience, understanding that you’ll likely need to charge it more frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 660 in the Nokia 7.2 struggle with demanding games like PUBG?
While the Snapdragon 660 can run PUBG, you’ll likely need to lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The Snapdragon 665 in the Realme 5s, with its more efficient architecture, may offer a slightly smoother experience, but neither phone is designed for high-end gaming.
❓ How much faster is the Realme 5s to charge from 0-100% compared to the Nokia 7.2, given they both have 10W charging?
The charging speeds are likely very similar, around 2-3 hours for a full charge on both devices. The Realme 5s’s larger battery (implied by its longer endurance) might take slightly longer to fully replenish, but the difference will be minimal.
❓ Is the difference in endurance rating (143h vs 69h) noticeable in everyday use?
Absolutely. The Realme 5s will comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the Nokia 7.2 may require a top-up charge before the end of the day, especially with features like GPS or video streaming enabled.
