Budget smartphones have really come into their own over the past few years, with manufacturers honing the art of offering great features at affordable prices. The Nokia 5.4 is the latest in a long line of such devices, boasting such selling points as a quad-lens rear camera, 4,000mAh battery, a 6.39-inch display, as well as a modest $249 price tag. However, while it looks good enough at first glance, it certainly has plenty of competition to fend off, with the Moto G Power (2021) being arguably the best sub-$200 smartphones you can buy today.
With an even bigger 5,000mAh battery and a pretty 6.6-inch display, the Moto G Power has plenty to worry the Nokia 5.4 and its fans. But how exactly does each phone weigh up against the other? We answer this question with a head-to-head comparison. This should help you decide which is the best budget Android phone for you.
If you’re interested in looking at other phones, check out our articles on the best cheap phones for 2021, as well as the best Android phones.
Specs
| Nokia 5.4 | Moto G Power (2021) | |
| Size | 161 x 76 x 8.7mm (6.34 x 2.99 x 0.34 inches) | 165.3 x 75.9 x 9.5mm (6.51 x 2.99 x 0.37 inches) |
| Weight | 181 grams (6.38 ounces) | 206.5 grams (7.30 ounces) |
| Screen size | 6.39-inch LCD | 6.6-inch LCD |
| Screen resolution | 1560 x 720 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~269 pixels per inch) | 1600 x 720 pixels, 20:9 ratio (266 pixels per inch) |
| Operating system | Android 10 | Android 10 |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB | |
| MicroSD card slot | Yes | Yes |
| Tap-to-pay services | Google Pay | Google Pay |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 |
| RAM | 4GB, 6GB | 3GB, 4GB |
| Camera | Quad-lens 48-megapixel, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth rear, 16MP front | Triple-lens 48MP, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth rear, 8MP front |
| Video | 4K at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 30 fps | 1080p at 60 fps |
| Bluetooth version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Ports | USB-C, headphone jack | USB-C, headphone jack |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes, rear-mounted | Yes, rear-mounted |
| Water resistance | No | No |
| Battery | 4,000mAh | 5,000mAh Fast charging (15W) |
| App marketplace | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
| Network support | Most major U.S. carriers | Most major U.S. carriers |
| Colors | Polar Night, Dusk | Flash Gray, Polar Silver |
| Prices | $249 | $200 |
| Buy from | Nokia, Amazon, Best Buy | Motorola, Amazon, Best Buy |
| Review score | 2 out of 5 stars | 3.5 out of 5 stars |
Design, display, and durability
The Nokia 5.4 and Moto G Power (2021) look roughly similar to the casual observer, although there are some subtle differences. While they each feature an edge-to-edge display with a punch-hole selfie camera in the top-left corner, the Nokia 5.4 sports slightly larger bezels, particularly at the bottom of its screen. At the same time, its overall design isn’t really different from last year’s 5.3, with the circular module for the rear camera lenses looking a little tired. By comparison, the Moto G Power’s square module (with nicely rounded corners) looks a little more modern. Both devices have a fairly cheap plastic back.
Don’t expect to set the world alight with either phone’s display. The Moto G Power’s 6.6-inch screen contains 1600 x 720 pixels, while the Nokia 5.4’s 6.39-inch display has 1560 x 720. This difference is negligible, with both phones also using LCD technology for their displays, meaning that they aren’t quite as vivid and as detailed as phones with an OLED or AMOLED screen. That said, reports indicate that the Moto G Power maxes out at a brightness of 500 nits, while the Nokia 5.4 only goes up to 400, making it a little dim by comparison.
Neither phone comes with an official IP durability rating, although the Moto G Power does feature a water-repellent coating. This is a slight difference, but when combined with the fractionally nicer design and brighter screen, we’re giving this opening round to Motorola’s phone.
Winner: Motorola Moto G Power (2021)
