Since its comeback in 2017 through HMD Global, Nokia has become a great player of midrange smartphones worldwide.
Last year, Nokia 7 Plus has caught users attention who prefer upper-midrange smartphone yet feels like a flagship for an affordable price.
Read: Nokia 7 Plus vs Huawei Mate 20 Pro: ZEISS and LEICA Camera Battle
In December, Nokia has announced 7 plus’ successor, Nokia 8.1 that has improved its camera performance in lowlight with its optical image stabilisation capability. Earlier this month, Nokia launched its newest midrange offering Nokia X71 in Taiwan with triple-ZEISS camera system at the rear.
But which is better when it comes to specifications? Let’s find out.
| Nokia 8.1 | Nokia X71 | |
| Display | 6.2-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD | 6.4-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD |
| Design | Gorilla Glass 3, aluminum side | Scratch-resistant glass and polycarbonate |
| CPU | Snapdragon 710 octa-core | Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor |
| GPU | Adreno 616 graphics | Adreno graphics |
| RAM | 4GB | 6GB memory |
| Memory | 64GB | 128GB internal |
| Rear cameras | 12MP + 13MP dual Carl Zeiss lens | 48MP main Sensor + 8MP wide-angle + 5MP depth sensor for bokeh, ZEISS optics |
| Selfie camera | 20MP front AI camera | 16MP front-facing |
| Connectivity | Dual SIM, WiFi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G VoLTE | 4G LTE A, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi ac, GPS |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor at the rear |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh, Quick Charge | 3500 mAh, Quick Charging |
| OS | Android One on Android 9.0 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie, Android One |
| Colors | White, Blue, Metal Grey | Black with copper accent |
| Price | $400 or P20,000+ Philippine pesos before taxes | $380 or P19,000+ est. price in the Philippines (may vary due to taxes) |
| Release date | December 2018 | April 2019 in Taiwan, est. April to May in the Philippines |
Nokia 8.1 and Nokia X71 are not yet available in the Philippines but has caught a lot of attention due to their premium design and notable specifications all over the world.
Table of Contents
Build and Design
In terms of the design, Nokia X71 stands out, thanks to its all-screen display with a punch-hole camera. Last year, when Nokia 8.1 was launched, HMD Global followed the notch display trend. On the other hand, when it comes to the over-all build, the latter will surely win against the former as it was built in solid block of 6000 series aluminium body.
Display
When it comes to display technology, Nokia 8.1 has Full HD+ PureDisplay technology capable of HDR. It means more crisp and vivid color reproduction than other ordinary smartphones in the market today.
Cameras
Both devices have ZEISS optics which is notable for its high quality lenses. Nokia X71 has triple-rear ZEISS cameras that include a 48MP primary camera, 8MP wide-angle, and 5MP depth sensor for bokeh effects. More features make Nokia X71’s cameras win against Nokia 8.1 despite having optical image stabilisation.
But in selfies, Nokia 8.1 has an advantage since it has a larger sensor size of 20MP for capturing more details with AI recognition.
Performance
When it comes to performance, Nokia 8.1 has the latest midrange chipset, Snapdragon 710. This processor is more power-efficient and better performer than Nokia X71’s 660 processor.
Read: Nokia 8.1 full specs revealed – 20MP AI camera, SD 710, $400 price
Battery
Both devices have 3,500mAh battery capacity that the company promises its 2-day battery endurance.
Verdict
it actually depends on the user in which of these devices wins. For a normal user who loves photography, we recommend Nokia X71 since it has a larger sensor and features like wide-angle capability which is good for landscape photography. But if you consider yourself a gamer who spends so much time playing online games, we recommend Nokia 8.1 as it has a better and higher chipset, plus PureDisplay technology capable of HDR display that looks excellent.
We just hope that these two devices will become available in the Philippines. We can’t wait!
Read: Nokia X71 or 8.1 Plus launched: Punch Hole screen, 48MP camera, P19k price
