Smartphone Comparison: Nokia X20 vs. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Nokia X20 | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-05-12 | 2024-01-18 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro is significantly newer, with potentially better long-term software support and newer technologies. |
| Dimensions | 168.9 × 79.7 × 9.1 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | The Nokia is taller and wider, while the ROG Phone 8 Pro is slightly thinner, making it more pocketable and ergonomic for most users. |
| Weight | 220g | 225g | Nokia X20 is slightly lighter, which might be noticeable during long use. The difference is not substantial. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.78" | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a slightly larger screen for more immersive content consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both have the same resolution, leading to similar sharpness, however, the ROG Phone 8 Pro's AMOLED display will look more vibrant and sharp due to its higher contrast ratio. |
| PPI | 395 | 388 | Both phones have very similar pixel density; the difference is not noticeable in everyday use |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | The ROG Phone 8 Pro offers much richer blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors, as well as superior efficiency when displaying darker content or using dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | The ROG Phone 8 Pro provides significantly smoother scrolling and animations, ideal for gaming and a more premium visual experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | The ROG Phone 8 Pro is dramatically brighter and therefore much easier to use in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a much more powerful chipset, resulting in much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and far superior gaming performance. |
| Antutu Score | 323,425 | 2,020,000 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro scores significantly higher, demonstrating much better overall performance, capable of handling demanding tasks effortlessly. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 750 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a much more powerful GPU, leading to better gaming performance and graphics rendering. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4470mAh | 5500mAh | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a larger battery which will potentially result in a longer battery life, especially during heavy usage. |
| Charging | 18W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | The ROG Phone 8 Pro can be charged much more quickly, minimizing downtime, especially important for gamers and power users. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Lens | 64MP, f/1.79, 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1.00µm, 1/1.56", Sony IMX890 | The Nokia X20 has a higher MP count, but the ROG Phone 8 Pro has a larger sensor, larger pixel size and a more advanced sensor model, likely leading to superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. |
| Selfie Lens | 32MP, f/2.0 | 32MP, 0.70µm, 1/3.2", Omnivision OV32C | Both have the same megapixel count, although the ROG Phone 8 Pro has a smaller pixel size, potentially affecting low light performance, the ROG Phone 8 Pro also has a known sensor model, which is beneficial for analysis. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 32MP, f/2.4, 0.70µm, 1/3.2", Omnivision OV32C | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens, which can be useful for zoomed shots, the Nokia X20 does not have a telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP | None | The Nokia X20 has a dedicated wide-angle lens, allowing for ultra-wide photos. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm, 1/3", Omnivision OV31B | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a wide-angle plus macro camera, which can be useful for both wide and close-up shots. |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP | None | The Nokia X20 has a dedicated portrait mode lens for depth information in portrait photography, the ROG Phone 8 Pro lacks a depth sensor. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | None | The Nokia X20 has a dedicated macro lens, which can take close-up shots, the ROG Phone 8 Pro lacks a macro lens |
| Video | Up to 1080p@60fps; no stabilization | Up to 8K@24fps, EIS, HDR; Yes Stabilization | The ROG Phone 8 Pro offers significantly more advanced video recording capabilities, with higher resolution, stabilization, and HDR support. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, up to 14 | Android 14, up to 16 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro comes with a more up-to-date OS out-of-the-box and has more future support, ensuring a more modern user experience. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Up to WiFi 5 | Up to WiFi 7 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro supports the latest WiFi standard, resulting in faster speeds, lower latency, and a more reliable wireless connection. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3, A2DP, LE, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC, Apt-x Adaptive | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version with more audio codecs, offering better audio quality and connection stability, especially with high-end Bluetooth headphones. |
| 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) | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has more robust GPS support, allowing for more accurate location tracking and navigation. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128GB | 512GB/1024GB | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has much more storage capacity, allowing for more apps, files, and media. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 16GB/24GB | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has significantly more RAM, ensuring smoother performance when multitasking and running demanding applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio | 2 microphones | DTS/DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has superior audio features, resulting in a more immersive audio experience, particularly for gaming and media consumption, including stereo speakers for a better listening experience |
| Security | |||
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | The Nokia X20 has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor which can be a better option to keep your screen clean, The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a basic fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has superior screen protection, offering greater durability against scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | The ROG Phone 8 Pro features additional gravity sensors, which are beneficial for gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Nokia X20 Advantages
- Lower Price: The Nokia X20 is a budget-friendly device, providing good value for the cost-conscious consumer.
- Dedicated Macro Lens and Portrait Mode: The Nokia X20 includes a macro lens for close-up photography and a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: The side-mounted fingerprint sensor offers a practical and ergonomic user experience.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Advantages
- Superior Performance: The ROG Phone 8 Pro's high-end chipset provides unparalleled speed and responsiveness for demanding applications and gaming.
- Significantly Better Display: The AMOLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate delivers a far more vibrant, smooth, and enjoyable viewing experience, especially in sunlight due to its higher brightness.
- Better Cameras: Larger main camera sensor with larger pixel size, plus a dedicated telephoto lens and wider angle capabilities lead to better photography performance, particularly in low-light and when zooming. It also offers advanced video recording features like 8K recording and stabilization.
- Faster Charging and Larger Battery: The ROG Phone 8 Pro's faster charging and larger battery capacity provide a vastly better experience for heavy users and gamers, who need long-lasting power and quick recharges.
- Advanced Connectivity: Support for the latest WiFi and Bluetooth standards offers a more reliable and faster connection experience.
- Higher RAM and Storage: The ROG Phone 8 Pro's high RAM and storage ensure that the user never runs out of storage or faces lag when multitasking.
- Superior Audio: Enhanced audio via stereo speakers, DTS/DTS X and triple microphone setup provides a more immersive and clearer sound experience.
- Better Build Quality: The ROG Phone 8 Pro has better screen protection with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
- More comprehensive sensor suite: The ROG Phone 8 Pro features additional gravity sensors, which are beneficial for gaming
Significant Trade-offs
- Price: The ROG Phone 8 Pro is significantly more expensive than the Nokia X20.
- Nokia X20 Lacks Premium Features: The Nokia X20 misses out on many premium features present in the ROG Phone 8 Pro, such as a high refresh rate display, powerful chipset, and advanced camera capabilities.
- ROG Phone 8 Pro Lacks Dedicated Macro/Portrait: The ROG Phone 8 Pro does not offer a dedicated macro or portrait mode, however it does feature a Wide Angle plus macro lens
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Nokia X20
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious consumers, those who need a basic smartphone for everyday tasks, and casual photographers.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday web browsing, social media, and messaging
- Taking occasional photos with a variety of lenses
- Users who do not require high-end gaming or performance
- Reliable but affordable communication device
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
- Ideal User: Gamers, power users, content creators, and tech enthusiasts who want the best performance and features.
- Use Cases:
- High-performance gaming, using demanding applications, video editing, and intensive multitasking.
- High-quality photography and videography, including professional video content creation.
- Users who need a premium media consumption experience with a superior display and audio.
- Users who need extremely fast charging and long battery life.
- Those seeking a device with the latest technologies, including WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Price-to-Value Ratio
The Nokia X20 offers a good price-to-value ratio for a basic user, while the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro justifies its higher price with superior performance and many advanced features, suitable for users who need top-of-the-line performance and quality.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The ROG Phone 8 Pro is much more expensive, which is the primary trade-off compared to the Nokia X20
- What are my primary use cases? If gaming, content creation, or heavy multitasking are priorities, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is the better option. If basic usage is the main requirement, the Nokia X20 is sufficient.
- How important are display, camera quality, battery life, and performance? The ROG Phone 8 Pro excels in all these areas, if you can afford it.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Limited Budget: If the budget is the main constraint, the Nokia X20 provides a good, balanced experience at a much lower price.
- Scenario 2: Performance is Key: If high-performance gaming or other demanding tasks are the primary use, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the clear choice.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Usage: If a balanced experience is required for a casual user who cares about photography, the Nokia X20 would be fine. If the user needs better photography, a great display, smooth performance and long battery life, the ROG Phone 8 Pro would be the only choice.
Personal Choice and Why
Given the options, I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro.
Here’s why:
- Future-Proof Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is a game-changer, providing performance that will remain top-tier for years. This is important to me, as it would prevent the phone from becoming obsolete in the short-to-medium term.
- Premium Display Experience: The AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate is significantly more enjoyable for consuming media and playing games. The higher brightness is also crucial for outdoor usage.
- Advanced Camera Capabilities: While it does not have dedicated macro or portrait lenses, the overall camera system is superior due to its better sensors, dedicated telephoto lens and advanced video options such as 8K recording and stabilization, and the superior image processing, would allow for quality photos and videos.
- Long-Lasting Battery and Fast Charging: The combination of a larger battery and fast charging means I can use the phone all day and charge it quickly when necessary.
- Overall User Experience: The combination of top-tier performance, display quality, and build quality would provide a significantly better user experience.
While the Nokia X20 is a respectable phone, particularly for its price, the ROG Phone 8 Pro justifies its premium price with vastly superior technology. As someone who values a high-performance, premium device with cutting-edge features, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is the obvious choice.
