The Tecno Phantom 9 and Nokia 7.2 represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a functional Android experience without breaking the bank, they take different approaches to achieving this. The Phantom 9 prioritizes a newer chipset, while the Nokia 7.2 focuses on a refined display experience and a clean software approach. This comparison dives deep into the specifications to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a smoother experience, the Nokia 7.2 emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 660 chipset, built on a 14nm process, offers a more mature architecture and generally better sustained performance than the Tecno Phantom 9’s Helio P35, despite the latter being fabricated on a smaller 12nm node.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - ROW |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - ROW |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 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, July. Released 2019, July | 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 | 158.5 x 75.3 x 7.9 mm (6.24 x 2.96 x 0.31 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 | 164.4 g (5.78 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 99.1 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, Android One |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | 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 | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | Zeiss optics, HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 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 | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Lapland Aurora | Cyan Green, Charcoal, Ice |
| Models | AB7 | TA-1193, TA-1178, TA-1196, TA-1181 |
| Price | About 15000 INR | 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 -93.0dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 69h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1342:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.6 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 139495 (v7), 164484 (v8)
GeekBench: 5440 (v4.4), 1398 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Tecno Phantom 9
- Potentially lower price point
- Newer chipset (Helio P35)
- May offer slightly better efficiency for basic tasks
- Less powerful CPU architecture
- Limited performance for demanding apps
- Display specifications are unknown and likely inferior
Nokia 7.2
- More powerful Snapdragon 660 chipset
- Superior display brightness and contrast
- Cleaner Android experience (historically)
- Slower 10W charging
- May be slightly more expensive
- Older chipset design
Display Comparison
The Nokia 7.2 boasts a significantly more refined display experience. Its measured peak brightness of 585 nits, coupled with a 1342:1 contrast ratio, ensures excellent visibility even in outdoor conditions. While the Phantom 9’s display specifications are unavailable, Nokia’s panel provides a demonstrably superior visual experience. The contrast ratio, though nominally stated, is a key indicator of deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, enhancing media consumption. The lack of detailed display specs for the Phantom 9 suggests a more basic panel, likely with lower brightness and contrast.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, Nokia historically focuses on computational photography, potentially offering better image processing even with similar hardware. The absence of specific details for the Phantom 9’s camera suggests a more basic implementation, likely relying heavily on software enhancements. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on either device is largely irrelevant, as image quality is typically poor due to the small sensor size.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Nokia 7.2’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 (14nm) utilizes Kryo 260 cores – a custom design offering better performance-per-watt than the generic Cortex-A53 cores found in the Tecno Phantom 9’s MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm). While the 12nm process *should* theoretically offer better efficiency, the Snapdragon 660’s architectural advantages and more efficient core design translate to a smoother user experience, particularly in multitasking and demanding applications. The Phantom 9’s CPU configuration (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) is less optimized for sustained performance compared to the Snapdragon 660’s (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver).
Battery Life
Both the Tecno Phantom 9 and Nokia 7.2 share an endurance rating of 69 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Nokia 7.2’s 10W charging is significantly slower than what is becoming standard, meaning longer recharge times. The Phantom 9’s charging speed is not specified, but even with similar wattage, the Snapdragon 660’s more efficient architecture might contribute to slightly better real-world battery performance despite the identical endurance rating.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Phantom 9 if you need a phone for very basic tasks like calls, messaging, and light social media use, and are heavily constrained by budget. Its newer chipset *might* offer slightly better efficiency for these tasks. Buy the Nokia 7.2 if you prefer a more responsive user experience, enjoy media consumption with a brighter and higher contrast display, and value a cleaner, more streamlined Android experience with guaranteed updates (historically a Nokia strength).
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 660 in the Nokia 7.2 handle modern mobile games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
The Snapdragon 660 is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low for a smooth experience. It won't deliver the same performance as flagship chipsets, but it's a significant step up from the Helio P35 in the Phantom 9 for gaming.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Tecno Phantom 9 and Nokia 7.2?
Nokia is known for its commitment to a clean, near-stock Android experience with guaranteed software updates. This means fewer pre-installed apps (bloatware) and faster updates. Tecno's HiOS, while functional, typically includes more pre-installed apps and a less frequent update schedule.
❓ Is the 12nm process of the Helio P35 in the Phantom 9 a significant advantage over the 14nm process of the Snapdragon 660?
While a smaller process node generally indicates better efficiency, the Snapdragon 660’s Kryo CPU cores and overall architecture are more optimized for performance and power management. The architectural advantages outweigh the slight process node difference in this case.
