Smartphone Comparison: Nokia X20 vs. Asus ROG Phone 8
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Nokia X20 | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-05-12 | 2024-01-18 | Asus is significantly newer, with more modern features and potentially longer software support. |
| Dimensions | 168.9 × 79.7 × 9.1 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | Nokia X20 is larger, might be less pocketable. Asus ROG Phone 8 is more compact for easier handling. |
| Weight | 220g | 225g | Nokia X20 is slightly lighter, but the difference is minimal. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.78" | Asus offers slightly more screen real estate for immersive viewing. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same sharpness for everyday use. |
| PPI | 395 | 388 | Both offer similar pixel density for a sharp screen. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Asus has superior display quality with deeper blacks, better contrast, and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | Asus provides a much smoother experience, especially in gaming and scrolling. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | Asus display is vastly brighter, making it usable in direct sunlight. Nokia X20 brightness is unknown, making its outdoor use questionable. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Asus chipset is significantly faster, offering better performance in all tasks, including gaming and demanding apps. |
| AnTuTu Score | 323,425 | 2,020,000 | Asus has drastically superior performance for resource-intensive tasks, multitasking, and gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 750 | Asus has superior graphics processing for smoother gaming and video rendering. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4470mAh | 5500mAh | Asus has a larger battery, likely providing longer battery life. |
| Charging | 18W fast charging | 65W fast charging | Asus charging is much faster, getting the battery back up to full charge rapidly. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera Resolution | 64MP, f/1.79, 0.80 µm pixel size | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56" sensor, 1.00 µm pixel size, Sony IMX890 sensor | Nokia X20 has a higher resolution but Asus has a larger sensor with bigger pixels which can improve low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.0 | 32MP | Both offer similar front-facing camera capabilities |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | None | Nokia X20 has a dedicated wide-angle lens for more flexible shooting. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP depth sensor | None | Nokia X20 has a depth sensor for portrait photography. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | 5MP, f/2.4 | Asus provides a higher resolution for macro photography, capturing more details. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.2 | Asus offers a hybrid lens that captures both wide-angle and macro shots. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30/60fps; No stabilization | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; EIS | Asus provides superior video quality with higher resolutions, smoother framerates, HDR, and stabilization. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, Autofocus, Touch focus, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, White balance, ISO, Exposure comp, Scene mode, Self-timer | 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital/Optical stabilization, Gimbal, Autofocus, Touch/Continuous/Manual focus, Laser Autofocus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance, ISO, Exposure comp, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night mode | Asus has more advanced camera features and stabilization for improved images and videos. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, up to Android 14 | Android 14, up to Android 16 | Asus has a newer OS with potentially longer software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | Asus supports newer Wi-Fi standards for faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.3 LE, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC, Apt-x Adaptive | Asus supports newer Bluetooth with better audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Asus has broader satellite support for better location accuracy. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB | 256GB | Asus offers more internal storage for apps, media, and files. |
| RAM | 6GB or 8GB | 12GB or 16GB | Asus has considerably more RAM, improving multitasking and gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither device offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | 2 microphones | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Asus offers enhanced audio with stereo speakers, more immersive sound, and better voice capture. |
| Security | |||
| Features | side-mounted fingerprint | basic fingerprint sensor | Nokia X20 has a more advanced side-mounted fingerprint sensor, but its exact functionality is unspecified. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Asus provides better screen protection against scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Asus includes an additional Gravity sensor for advanced functions and gaming experiences. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Nokia X20 Advantages:
- Potentially better wide-angle and portrait photography: Offers dedicated lenses for wide-angle and portrait shots.
- Slightly lighter: Might be slightly more comfortable for prolonged handling, however it's a minor difference.
- Side mounted fingerprint scanner: Potentially a faster and more intuitive experience.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with higher brightness and 165Hz refresh rate for better visuals, especially outdoors and for gaming.
- Far Superior Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers a significantly better and smoother experience for all tasks.
- Larger Battery and Much Faster Charging: Longer battery life and faster recharge time for extended use without downtime.
- Advanced Camera System: Higher quality main sensor, with a macro+wide lens and better video recording capabilities including 8K recording, HDR and stabilization.
- Newer Software and Connectivity: Comes with Android 14 and benefits from newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards.
- Enhanced Audio: Stereo speakers and better audio processing.
- Better Build Quality: Superior screen protection with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
- More RAM and Storage: Higher storage capacity and better multitasking capabilities with more RAM.
- Broader Satellite support: Better and more precise GPS accuracy
Trade-offs:
- The Nokia X20 is significantly older, which could impact software support. The Asus ROG Phone 8 is clearly the more modern phone and is designed for advanced gaming and multitasking capabilities.
- While the Nokia X20 boasts a higher resolution main camera, the Asus ROG Phone 8 offers a superior camera setup with larger pixels, better low-light performance, and versatile video capabilities.
- The Nokia X20 does offer a more comprehensive set of individual lenses, but the Asus ROG Phone 8 combines a macro and wide angle lens which makes it more versatile.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Nokia X20 Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users: Those seeking a basic phone with 5G connectivity at a lower price point.
- Users prioritizing certain camera features: Those who need a dedicated wide-angle and depth sensor but are not looking for high quality photos and videos.
- Users who need a reliable basic phone: Simple everyday usage scenarios such as social media browsing and calls.
Specific Use Cases:
- Everyday tasks (calls, browsing, basic apps)
- Casual photography and video in well lit scenarios.
- Users who prefer a side mounted fingerprint reader
Asus ROG Phone 8 Ideal Users:
- Gamers: Users who demand top-tier gaming performance and a high refresh rate display.
- Power users: Those who require fast performance, extensive multitasking and reliable long battery life
- Multimedia enthusiasts: Users who value high quality media consumption with a vibrant display, loud speakers and advanced video recording.
- Photography and videography enthusiasts: Users who desire high quality images, versatile lenses and great quality video recording.
- Users who want to future-proof their device: The ROG Phone 8 comes with the newest chipset, better connectivity, faster charging and an overall more powerful package.
Specific Use Cases:
- High-performance mobile gaming.
- Demanding video editing and creation.
- Extensive multitasking and app usage.
- High-quality content consumption (video streaming).
- Superior photo and video capturing capabilities
- Future-proofing investment in a high-end phone.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Nokia X20 offers basic functionality at a lower price. However the value is questionable due to the vastly superior offering of the Asus.
- The Asus ROG Phone 8 offers premium features and performance that justify its higher price tag for those who need it.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case? (Gaming, basic use, photography, etc.)
- How important is display quality and performance? (Am I a heavy user, gamer, or will a basic display suffice?)
- What is my budget? (How much am I willing to invest for top-tier features?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget-conscious, Basic User): If you prioritize basic phone functions and budget is a primary concern, the Nokia X20 might suffice, though it is significantly outdated.
- Scenario 2 (Gaming and Performance): If you are a mobile gamer or power user who demands top-tier performance, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is the superior choice.
- Scenario 3 (Multimedia and Camera): If you value superior display, audio, and camera capabilities, and want a device that has an all-around premium experience, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is the clear winner.
My Choice
I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 8.
While the Nokia X20 has its place as a budget-friendly option, the Asus ROG Phone 8 simply offers a vastly superior user experience across the board. The difference in performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and overall features is so significant that it justifies the higher price for me. I value a phone that can handle demanding tasks, offer a great multimedia experience, and have a long battery life. The ROG Phone 8 provides just that. Although it is more expensive, it's an investment that provides a better, more enjoyable, and more reliable experience for a longer time. The Nokia X20 is simply too dated and lacking in key features and performance to be a viable option for my needs.
