Nokia 1 vs Lava Z50: Android Go smartphones get into a fight

Nokia 1 and Lava Z50, the two Android Go smartphones fight the battle.

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Back in December 2017, Google announced the Android Oreo (Go edition) platform aimed at the low-end and entry-level smartphones. The platform has lighter versions of Android apps those will function smoothly on entry-level smartphones with a maximum of 1GB of RAM. A couple of months following the announcement of this platform, a few smartphones running the same were unveiled at the MWC 2018 tech show in February.

 
Nokia 1 vs Lava Z50: Android Go smartphones get into a fight

While brands such as ZTE, Alcatel, HMD Global and Lava announced their Android Oreo (Go edition) smartphones at the tech show, the Indian market has witnessed the launch of two such models so far. Back in the last week, the Lava Z50 was launched in India at a price point of Rs. 4,400. Following the same, HMD Global has brought the Nokia 1 Android Go smartphone to the country at Rs. 5,499. Given that there are two such entry-level smartphones in India now, we have come up with a comparison to know which one is a better buy.

Design

Design

Nokia 1 and Lava Z50 are made of polycarbonate. Of the two, the Nokia 1 has a slightly rounded design. And, what makes the Nokia 1 interesting is that the company has played well with the incorporation of Xpress On covers in attractive colors thereby paving way for a customized look. The Xpress On covers are available in four colors and are priced at Rs. 450. Moreover, the Nokia 1 is IP52 certified to protect it from splashes of water.

Display

Display

On the specifications front, both the Lava Z50 and Nokia 1 smartphones are almost identical. These smartphones are fitted with identical 4.5-inch displays with FWVGA resolution of 854 x 480 pixels translating to an average pixel density of 218 ppi. The Nokia phone has an IPS LCD panel while the Lava offering has the Gorilla Glass protection.

Hardware and Storage
 

Hardware and Storage

On the hardware front, both the smartphones use the same MediaTek MT6737 processor paired with Mali-T720 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM and 8GB storage space. The Nokia 1 has a hybrid SIM slot supporting expandable storage up to 128GB. On the other hand, the Lava Z50 supports 64GB expandable storage but there is a dedicated microSD card slot on board. The Nokia 1 has a 2150mAh battery and Lava Z50 uses a 2000mAh battery.

Also read: Nokia 1 Android Go smartphone now up for sale; top features

Software

Software

As mentioned earlier, both the smartphones run Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition), which renders up to 50% improved performance with optimizations. The Go apps make sure that only minimum RAM is used ensuring a smooth performance. Also, these devices are free from bloatware and ensure efficient data consumption.

Camera

Camera

Again, Nokia 1 and Lava Z50 have a 5MP primary camera at the rear accompanied by LED flash. While Nokia 1 has a 2MP selfie camera, the Lava phone is better with a 5MP selfie camera at the front along with LED flash for low-light selfie shots. Interestingly, the Lava Z50 comes with software-based bokeh mode for the front and rear cameras.

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Verdict

Verdict

Lava Z50 and Nokia 1 are almost on par on the specifications front but there are notable differences. If a customizable and durable smartphone is your choice, then you should opt for the Nokia 1. We say ao as Nokia phones are known for the build quality and this one has IP52 certification and interchangeable back overs. On the other hand, if you are looking out for a good camera phone within the sub-Rs. 5,000 price range, the Lava Z50 can be a good one for you as it comes with a better selfie camera and flash as well.

Pricing wise, the Nokia 1 is relatively more expensive with a price tag of Rs. 5,499 and this might set you back if you have a really tight budget. The Lava Z50 is priced at Rs. 4,400. Moreover, both the smartphones are available with offers from telecom operators. Though there are offers, the Lava phone becomes more affordable as it comes with the Airtel cash back offer of Rs. 2,000 taking its effective price down to Rs. 2,400. In addition to this, Lava is offering a free one-time screen replacement within one year as well. Nokia 1 gets Reliance Jio's 60GB of free 4G data and a cash back of Rs. 2,200 taking it to Rs. 3,299.

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