The Tecno Camon 15 Air and Nokia C300 represent two distinct approaches to the ultra-budget smartphone market. The Camon 15 Air, leveraging MediaTek’s Helio P22, aims for affordability, while the Nokia C300, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 662, attempts to offer a more refined experience. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which device delivers the best value for everyday users.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and a smoother overall experience, the Nokia C300 emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 662 chipset, built on an 11nm process, provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Tecno Camon 15 Air’s Helio P22, despite the slower 10W charging.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28 | LTE |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 13. Released 2020, April 13 | 2023, June 02 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, June 14 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 76.5 x 9 mm (6.48 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 166.7 x 76.6 x 8.6 mm (6.56 x 3.02 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~80.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, HIOS 6.0 | Android 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Quad-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, portrait, night |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lenses | - |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | Yes |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | - |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Malachite Blue, Ice lake Blue, Misty Gray | Blue |
| Models | CD6, CD6S | - |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 60 EUR |
Tecno Camon 15 Air
- Potentially lower price point.
- May offer faster charging (spec not provided).
- Functional for basic smartphone tasks.
- Inferior processor performance.
- Less efficient chipset.
- Likely slower app loading times.
Nokia C300
- Superior processor performance (Snapdragon 662).
- More efficient chipset (11nm process).
- Smoother multitasking and app experience.
- Potentially better camera image processing.
- Slower 10W charging.
- May be slightly more expensive.
- Likely similar display quality to the Tecno.
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Given the context data focuses on processing power, we can infer both likely utilize LCD panels common in this price bracket. The absence of specifications like resolution or refresh rate suggests a focus on cost reduction. Bezels are likely substantial on both, and color accuracy will be standard for budget devices. The real difference will be in software optimization for color profiles, a detail not provided.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is difficult. However, it’s safe to assume both phones feature basic camera systems geared towards casual photography. The absence of information regarding sensor size or optical image stabilization (OIS) suggests neither device will excel in low-light conditions. Image processing will likely be the key differentiator, with Nokia potentially offering more refined algorithms due to Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) capabilities within the Snapdragon 662. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses in this segment suggests their utility is limited, serving primarily as marketing features.
Performance
The core differentiator lies in the chipsets. The Nokia C300’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm) is a significant upgrade over the Tecno Camon 15 Air’s MediaTek Helio P22 (12nm). The 11nm process node of the Snapdragon 662 translates to improved power efficiency and thermal performance, allowing for sustained performance under load. Furthermore, the Snapdragon 662’s CPU configuration – a combination of 4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver cores – offers a more sophisticated architecture than the Camon 15 Air’s homogenous Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 setup. This means the Nokia C300 can intelligently allocate tasks to the appropriate cores, boosting efficiency. Users will experience faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the Nokia C300.
Battery Life
The Nokia C300’s 10W wired charging is a clear disadvantage compared to what might be offered by the Tecno Camon 15 Air (spec not provided). However, the Snapdragon 662’s superior power efficiency could offset this. The 11nm process node consumes less power than the Helio P22’s 12nm node, potentially resulting in longer battery life despite a similar capacity (assumed). Real-world usage will determine the actual difference, but the Nokia C300 has the potential for comparable or even better battery endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Camon 15 Air if you need a functional smartphone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media, and your budget is extremely limited. Buy the Nokia C300 if you prefer a more responsive user interface, occasional gaming, and a chipset that will likely handle software updates more gracefully over time, even if it means sacrificing faster charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Nokia C300 struggle with demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
While the Snapdragon 662 isn't a gaming powerhouse, it's capable of running PUBG Mobile at medium settings with acceptable frame rates. Expect some occasional stuttering, but it's a significantly better gaming experience than the Helio P22-powered Tecno Camon 15 Air, which would likely require the lowest settings and still struggle.
❓ Is the 10W charging on the Nokia C300 a dealbreaker?
The 10W charging is slow by modern standards, taking several hours for a full charge. However, the Snapdragon 662's power efficiency means you may not need to charge as frequently. If you're diligent about topping up overnight, it shouldn't be a major inconvenience.
❓ How will software updates be handled on each device?
Nokia generally provides more consistent and timely software updates than Tecno. The Snapdragon 662 also tends to have better software support from developers. This means the Nokia C300 is likely to receive Android version updates and security patches for a longer period.
