Earlier today, Nokia launched their new low-end smartphone in the Philippines — the Nokia 1. This new smartphone aims to take a large piece of the pie in the budget market, which actually has the biggest number of consumers in the country.
The Nokia 1 will go against rivals like the widely popular Xiaomi Redmi 5A. Both are priced under Php5k and are built to make every penny you would spend worth it.
So whether you’re just looking for a backup device, your first smartphone, or maybe you’re just utterly curious — I’m pretty sure you’re here because you want to know which between the two actually offers better value for the money.
To answer that question, here’s our Xiaomi Redmi 5A and Nokia 1 specs comparison.
| Nokia 1 | Xiaomi Redmi 5A | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) | Android 7.1.2 Nougat MIUI 9 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby Nano SIM format | Dual SIM Dual Standby Nano SIM format |
| Display | 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS 854 x 480 resolution ~271ppi | 5.0-inch HD IPS 1280 x 720 resolution ~296ppi |
| Processor | 1.1GHz MediaTek MT6737M quad-core processor | 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 quad-core processor |
| RAM | 1GB RAM | 2GB |
| GPU | Mali-T720 | Adreno 308 |
| Storage | 8GB internal storage expandable via microSD up to 128GB | 16GB internal expandable via microSD up to 256GB |
| Front camera | 2-megapixel | 5-megapixel f/2.0 aperture |
| Rear Camera | 5-megapixel | 13-megapixel f/2.2 aperture Phase detection autofocus LED flash |
| Security | PIN unlock Lock Pattern | PIN unlock Lock Pattern |
| Connectivity | HSPA+ 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2 GPS, A-GPS FM Radio microUSB 2.0 | HSPA+ 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth 4.1 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS FM Radio microUSB 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 133.6 x 67.78 x 9.5mm | 140.4 x 70.1 x 8.35mm |
| Weight | 131g | 137g |
| Color | Warm Red Dark Blue | Champagne Gold Rose Gold Platinum Silver Gray |
| Battery | 2150mAh Removable | 3,000mAh Non-removable |
| Price | Php4,290 | Php4,390 |
The Xiaomi Redmi 5A clearly crushed the Nokia 1 in this specs comparison. But then, if you look at the price difference, it’s really impossible for Nokia’s bet to win this one.
But that doesn’t mean that the Nokia 1 is an all-out loser in this fight. For starters, this device comes with all of the necessities consumers would need from a smartphone. And to be honest, that’s really what most people could expect from a low-end smartphone like this.
For its price, the Nokia 1 is a smartphone with 4G LTE — which is a rare feat for a device of this caliber. Also, the device runs on the newer Android 8.1 Oreo, which is way better than the 7.1.2 Nougat running on the Redmi 5A.
The software is also based on Android Go, a lightweight version of Android specifically tailored for smartphones with low-end hardware to help them run smoother than expected.
But if you really want to go extra, and you can stretch your budget a little bit more, the Xiaomi Redmi 5A is an excellent option.
This handset has a better and larger display, runs on a more efficient and powerful processor, has twice the RAM and storage capacities, bigger battery, and better cameras. In short, it’s an overall better device.
But then again, it comes at a higher price. So if you really don’t need all those extras, then you might be better off settling with the Nokia 1.
In my opinion, I’d rather spend the extra Php100 and get the Redmi 5A for Php4,390 than settle with the Nokia 1 for Php4,290. How about you? Which one would you pick? Let us know in the comments below.