Looking for a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank? The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo and Nokia 6.2 are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Nokia 6.2 edges out the S5 Neo thanks to its more modern chipset, brighter display, and impressive battery life. While the S5 Neo offers a familiar Samsung experience, the 6.2 provides a more future-proof and enjoyable overall experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903F | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - ROW |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - ROW |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - IN |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, August. Released 2015, August | 2019, September 05. Released 2019, October 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in) | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 145 g (5.11 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm) | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2 | Adreno 509 |
| OS | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Android One |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF | - |
| Triple | - | 16 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1.0µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (excl. India) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | 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, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+
S-Voice | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Music play | Up to 73 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 15 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable | Li-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray, Gold | Ceramic Black, Ice |
| Models | SM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VL | TA-1200, TA-1198, TA-1201, TA-1187 |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| SAR | 1.03 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) | 1.04 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.46 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body) | 0.97 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 73h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1525:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 65dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 79dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 114947 (v7), 140736 (v8)
GeekBench: 4882 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 5.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | 1525:1 contrast ratio, 580 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 65dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 79dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 114947 (v7), 140736 (v8)
GeekBench: 4882 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 5.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo
- Familiar Samsung UI
- Durable build quality (typical of S5 series)
- Expandable storage (likely microSD card slot)
- Older chipset
- Lower display brightness
- Likely shorter battery life
- Less future-proof software updates
Nokia 6.2
- Modern Snapdragon 636 chipset
- Brighter display
- Exceptional battery life
- More future-proof software updates
- Clean Android experience
- 10W charging is relatively slow
- Camera details are limited
Display Comparison
The Nokia 6.2 boasts a significantly brighter display at 580 nits compared to the S5 Neo's likely lower brightness (spec not readily available). Both offer a 1525:1 contrast ratio, suggesting good black levels, but the Nokia 6.2's brightness advantage makes it more usable outdoors. The Nokia 6.2 likely has a more modern display technology as well.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specs are missing. However, given the Nokia 6.2's newer chipset and likely more modern camera sensors, it's expected to deliver slightly better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The Nokia 6.2 may also offer more advanced camera features.
Performance
The Nokia 6.2's Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 is a more modern and efficient chipset built on a 14nm process, compared to the S5 Neo's Exynos 7580 at 28nm. This translates to noticeably better performance and efficiency in the Nokia 6.2, handling apps and multitasking with greater ease. The Snapdragon 636's Kryo cores also offer a performance boost.
Battery Life
The Nokia 6.2 shines in this category with an impressive endurance rating of 73 hours. The S5 Neo's battery life is likely shorter, though specific figures are hard to find. The Nokia 6.2's efficient chipset contributes significantly to its exceptional battery performance.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo is a good choice for users deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem who prioritize a familiar interface and don't need cutting-edge performance. The Nokia 6.2 is ideal for those seeking a longer-lasting battery, a brighter display, and a more modern processor for smoother performance and future software updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo still worth buying?
It's a viable option if you're heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem and prioritize a familiar interface over cutting-edge performance. However, the Nokia 6.2 offers a more modern and future-proof experience.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Nokia 6.2 is likely to receive more frequent and longer-lasting software updates due to Nokia's commitment to Android updates.
